United WE Receives Futures First’s Betsy Vander Velde Award for Advancing Childcare Access
Annual award recognizes United WE’s research and policy work to strengthen childcare systems and support working families
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oct. 19, 2026 – Futures First, a Kansas City nonprofit working to give every child a strong foundation for the future, honored United WE, a nonpartisan think-and-do tank, with the Betsy Vander Velde Award at the organization’s annual gala on October 16. The award recognizes an individual or organization in the Kansas City community committed to improving the lives of at-risk children and families. It honors Betsy Vander Velde, who served as president and CEO of Futures First, formerly The Family Conservancy, for 21 years before retiring in 2014.
“Receiving the Betsy Vander Velde Award is especially meaningful because it recognizes a commitment to children and families that is deeply connected to United WE’s work to strengthen women’s economic participation,” said Wendy Doyle, president and CEO of United WE. “Childcare is essential economic infrastructure. When families cannot find care, it affects parents’ ability to work, employers’ ability to retain talent and communities’ ability to grow. We are grateful to Futures First for this recognition and for the important work they do every day alongside children, families, caregivers and early educators.”
United WE has worked in Missouri and Kansas to better understand barriers affecting the availability and sustainability of childcare and to advance practical, research-backed solutions. In Missouri, research commissioned by United WE found that the state lost nearly 11,000 licensed childcare slots between 2019 and 2023 and identified barriers including complex licensing requirements, high startup costs and inconsistent state and local processes. United WE has continued working with policymakers and partners as Missouri modernizes its childcare licensing system while preserving essential health and safety protections.
In Kansas, United WE commissioned research examining the relationship between childcare licensing, access and provider sustainability. The research helped inform United WE’s support for efforts to create a more coordinated early childhood system. The Kansas Office of Early Childhood officially opened July 1, 2026, consolidating nearly 20 early childhood programs, including childcare licensing and assistance, within one agency.
“United WE brings an important research and policy perspective to challenges that Futures First sees every day in our work with children, families and early educators,” said Paula Neth, president and CEO of Futures First. “That shared commitment to practical solutions and stronger communities makes this recognition especially meaningful, and we are proud to present United WE with this year’s Betsy Vander Velde Award.”
About United WE
United WE is a nonpartisan think-and-do tank working to strengthen the economy and democracy by increasing women’s labor force participation. For 35 years, United WE has turned data into action and action into measurable impact through research, policy and programs. Headquartered in Kansas City, United WE is rooted in the heartland with research, partnerships and policy relevance that extend nationally. Learn more at united-we.org.
About Futures First
Futures First builds up the people who nurture young lives. For nearly 150 years, the organization has worked alongside Kansas City families and communities, providing parents, caregivers and early educators with the tools, guidance and support they need to help children succeed — mentally, socially and academically — from the very beginning.
Media Contact:
Breanne Fritcher, Director of Marketing and Communications, United WE
bfritcher@united-we.org
