The Kansas State Alliance of YMCAs proudly presented its first-ever YMCA Legislative Champion Awards on March 10, 2026, during State Advocacy Day at the Kansas Capitol. The inaugural awards recognized Kansas City–area legislators Dinah Sykes and Sean Tarwater for their leadership in expanding access to child care and strengthening support for working families in the Kansas City metro and across the state.
Chase Blasi, Senate Majority Leader from Wichita, was also recognized as a 2026 Legislative Champion.
The award highlights their bipartisan efforts to advance House Bill 2045 — landmark legislation passed last year that modernizes Kansas’ early childhood and school age system, reduces unnecessary regulatory barriers, and supports workforce development.
The law streamlines licensing for new and existing sites under the new Kansas Office of Early Childhood. It fosters collaboration between state licensing and the fire marshal’s office to provide consistency and efficiency in licensing requirements for before and after school programs including those the Y operates in elementary schools.
For families in the Greater Kansas City region and across Kansas, these reforms carry real impact. As the largest provider of child care in Kansas, the YMCA serves thousands of children each year through before and afterschool programs, summer day camps, and early learning programs. Modernized systems and reduced barriers allow the Y to serve more families, support more educators, and respond more effectively to community needs statewide.
“Child care is more than a service — it’s the foundation that allows families to work, businesses to grow, and children to thrive,” said Jennifer Bruning, Executive Director of the Kansas State Alliance of YMCAs. “We are grateful for leaders like Senator Sykes and Representative Tarwater who understand the real-life impact of these policies on Kansas families.”
