ECDC Earns Multiple Honors from Kansas State Department of Education
By Beth Walker • Aug 26, 2024
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in child nutrition and wellness at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) 2024 Best Practice Awards. These awards celebrate innovative practices that align with the Kansans CAN vision, which focuses on enhancing the quality of education and wellness programs throughout the state.
During the Kansas State Board of Education Meeting in August, ECDC was honored for its outstanding contributions under the Child Nutrition & Wellness Program. The center, which has been a cornerstone in childcare services in the Wichita community for 14 years, has actively participated in the Child and Adult Care Food Nutrition Program for over a decade. Stacy Fuller, Envision's Vice President of Rehabilitation Services, and Teresa Houston, Director of ECDC, attended the ceremony where ECDC received not one, but two prestigious awards: the Kansans CAN Impact Wellness Award and the Kansans CAN Serve Local Foods Award.
The Kansans CAN Serve Local Foods Award highlights partnerships between program sponsors and local farmers, encouraging the use of fresh, locally grown produce in child nutrition programs. At ECDC, this award is a testament to their dedication to providing children with farm-to-table experiences.
Hallee Canfield-Jones, ECDC Supervisor, expressed the significance of this award, stating, “At ECDC, we are passionate about connecting our students with fresh, local produce. Through our partnership with Common Ground Producers and Growers Inc., our students enjoy a variety of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables each week, such as cantaloupe, watermelon, onions, cabbage, and eggplant. We also involve them in hands-on learning through our sensory garden, which was made possible with the help of the Sedgwick County Extension Office Master Gardeners. The students love planting and harvesting herbs and tomatoes, which enriches their understanding of where their food comes from.”
In addition to the Local Foods Award, ECDC was also honored with the Kansans CAN Impact Wellness Award. Kelly Chanay, Director of KSDE's Child Nutrition and Wellness Program, explained the decision: “I felt it was important to recognize Envision with the Impact Wellness Award because the work they’re doing is truly making a difference in the lives of the children they serve. The dedication of ECDC to improving child wellness is inspiring and fills my heart with joy.”
Learn more about the incredible work being done at ECDC.