Photo: Left to Right – Bethany Davis, Director of Data Evaluation & Impact, Jill Norris, Regional Child Care Administrator for Two Rivers Region, Angela Cooper, Regional Child Care Administrator for Cumberland Region, and Kate Dean, Director of Community-Based Partnerships & Strategy
By Bethany Davis, M.A.Ed.
Director of Data Evaluation & Impact
Regional Child Care Administrator, The Lakes Region
Child Care Aware® of Kentucky: Resource and Referral Network
Child Care Aware® of Kentucky has been recognized as one of six national finalists for the prestigious Wings of Innovation Award, presented at the Wind Beneath Your Wings Summit hosted by TOOTRiS. This honor celebrates groundbreaking efforts to improve child care systems across the country.
During the summit, Child Care Aware® of Kentucky showcased its innovative use of Work-Life Systems (WLS) to identify and assess barriers that prospective child care providers face in the state. By leveraging this data-driven approach, the organization has made significant strides in understanding why many potential providers opt not to pursue licensing.
A key component of this success is the work of Health & Safety Coaches, who diligently document provider feedback and licensing challenges. Their efforts have resulted in a robust collection of quantitative data, which is shared with the Division of Child Care to inform policy decisions and drive systemic improvements.
This recognition underscores the organization’s commitment to enhancing Kentucky’s child care landscape and supporting providers through thoughtful, evidence-based solutions.
Child Care Aware® of Kentucky is the statewide regional network for Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services supporting access to safe, affordable, quality child care for families and professional development for child care providers and trainers. Child Care Aware of Kentucky® is housed at the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky. The Human Development Institute is Kentucky’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service. We work on improving lifelong opportunities and services for individuals with disabilities, their families, and the community. For more details about Child Care Aware® of Kentucky, visit: www.childcareawareky.org
For more details on the award and other honorees, visit: https://tootris.com/edu/blog/ccrr/innovative-minds-bold-solutions-the-2025-wings-of-innovation-ccrr-award-winners/
