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 a significant portion is 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 child care sites and increase the likelihood that changes can be made and sustained.

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 Environmental Rating Scale 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.

Another outgrowth of this project is collaboration among service providers for this audience. This is helping to assure that child care providers receive coordinated, consistent recommendations and assistance in implementing recommended changes that will improve child care quality.

Impact:
To date, the ISUE family life specialist and Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Director and Home Consultant have conducted 19 Early Childhood Environment and Family Day Care Home Rating Scale assessments in Lee and Van Buren Counties. Findings have been shared with child care providers and funds have been provided for quality improvement.

However, there has been a need for more comprehensive, long term technical assistance and consultation to help child care providers implement recommendations from the assessments. The ISUE and CCRR staff have involved the services of the Child Care Nurse Consultant for Lee/Van Buren Counties for follow-up for health and safety issues. The Child Care Nurse Consultant has met individually with center directors and home providers to discuss and create action plans for improving health and safety at these sites. In addition, the Empowerment-funded Early Learning Coordinator also receives copies of the assessment report and works with providers to implement changes in environment, interaction, language and reasoning activities and other areas needing improvement.

This one-on-one, in-depth and long term follow-up is leading to greater changes in quality than the assessment and follow-up consultation alone. It is making good use of resources and helping to achieve the goal of improving child care quality.

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