Improving Child Care Quality

Problem:
Research studies conducted by Iowa State University Extension clearly show that there is a critical need to improve the quality of child care in Iowa. Much of the care is mediocre and even inadequate or unsafe for young children.

It is very important for ISUE to work with partners to make an impact on the problems in the child care field. Successful partnerships bring needed resources to programming and increase the likelihood that changes can be sustained.

Extension Response:
ISUE has developed effective programming initiatives that are working to raise the quality of child care programs. State, regional and local projects are all needed to make long term, lasting changes in the quality of care for young children.

ISUE in Lee and Van Buren Counties has worked in partnership with Child Care Resource and Referral staff to conduct evaluations of child care centers, preschool and family day care homes. This project has been funded for 3 years by Children First, Lee/
Van Buren Empowerment. Consultations with the child care providers are leading to improvement in the quality of child care in these 2 counties.

Impact:
In the current fiscal year, the Children First-Lee/Van Buren Empowerment Board made a decision that any child care providers who receive empowerment grant funding will be mandated to participate in an environment assessment. The Request for Proposals states:

Child care providers who are grant funded must agree to participate in an environment assessment (to be administered by a contracted agent of Children First) before funding will be released. The purpose of this assessment is to help providers identify strengths as well as opportunities for improvement, thereby enhancing the quality of the child care environment. This assessment will be provided at no cost to the grantee, utilizing the appropriate assessment tool as follows:
• FDCRS (Family Day Care Rating Scale)
• ECERS (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale)
• ITERS (Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale)

ISUE and Child Care Resource and Referral continue to be the agencies chosen to conduct the environment rating scales.

Contact:
Mary Crooks
Extension Field Specialist/Family Life
317 Van Buren Street, Wapello, IA 52653
Phone 319 523-2371; Fax 319 523-2375
E-mail: mcrooks@iastate.edu