Child Care Providers Receive Training

Situation:
Child Care providers in northwest Iowa continually need training to meet state requirements for their license.

Action:
Resource and Referral at Mid-Sioux Opportunities contracts with ISU Extension Family Life Field Specialists to do two hour trainings for the providers in their area two or three times per year. Topics are picked as a result of surveying providers for their training needs. The following data comes from providers who attended a two hour training session on Fingersplays Plus - Sioux and Cherokee counties the past two years.

Impact:
39 evaluations returned out of 40 participants for the two workshops:

In what ways do you plan to improve your child care program as a result of this training?

2 - I plan to make improvements to the health and safety of my child care setting

5 - I plan to make improvements to my program's business practices

33 - I will have more activities for the children to choose from

3 - I plan to improve the quality of my program's meals and snacks

17 - I have a better understanding of child development and my role as a care provider

2 - By attending this training, I will improve the relationship with my parents/families

1 - Teach them finger plays

1 - Fun activities to do with my kids

1 - Help times of transition

What action steps will you take to make these improvements?

21 - Purchase materials

18 - Rearrange the environment

8 - Change my philosophy

9 - Take more training

1 - Plan time for songs and fingerplays

1 - Have a lot of fun

3 - Make more time for finger plays

2 - I am going to use and enjoy the ideas on the finger play cards.

This program is one of the several that are conducted with the providers in NW Iowa We will continue to partner with Mid-Sioux Opportunities as program needs arise. They have been a strong partner in the Child Care Lasts a Lifetime campaign.

From these trainings I have met several providers who call our office on a regular basis for resources. I have one provider that conducts a child care fair in Hawarden every spring and has use our Playground Safety materials each year.

Contact:
Rhonda Rosenboom
Extension Field Specialist/Family Life
Box 99
Primghar IA 51245
Phone 712-957-5045; Fax 712-957-5065
E-Mail rrosenb@iastate.edu

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