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Child care campaign focuses on quality Child care lasts a lifetime – make sure it’s quality care. That’s the theme of a new campaign from Iowa State University Extension and partnering organizations starting in April. The effort coincides with the Month of the Young Child and Prevent Child Abuse Month. The Iowa Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (IAFCS), ISU Extension and College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and American Association of University Women–Iowa have been working with local partners such as empowerment boards and Child Care Resource and Referral, according to Kris Gross, IAFCS public policy chair.
“IAFCS wanted to address the quality of child care in Iowa as a policy issue. Because of their expertise, ISU Extension and the College of Family and Consumer Sciences were perfect partners,” Gross said. “This is an opportunity to make a real difference for children.” Quality early education during the first two years of life is the most cost effective and efficient way to prepare children to succeed in school and in life, said Lesia Oesterreich, an ISU Extension family life specialist. “Recent research with the Midwest Child Care Consortium shows that Iowa child care is lower in quality, particularly in home-based child care, than Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas,” Oesterreich said. ISU Extension
specialists are working with teams in several Iowa communities to build
awareness of and educate about the need for quality child care.
The campaign has five messages: Later, community forums will be held for families, providers and community leaders to examine alternative approaches for improving and ensuring quality care for all children. To learn more, see the Child Care Lasts a Lifetime web site. |
The Extension Connection is a quarterly publication of Iowa State University Extension. Laura Sternweis, editor, lsternwe@iastate.edu Nondiscrimination statement and information disclosures Last update: April 2004 MORE NEWS * Quick response to BSE issue reaches nationwide audience * Funding boosts entrepreneurism * Universal design kitchen: One kitchen can fit all * 4-H builds leaders for the future * Go the distance to lighten up Iowa |
