Iowa State University Extension Training and Technical Assistance Makes a Difference in the Quality of Child Care in Southwest Iowa
Field Specialists Mary Hughes and Pat Anderson

Problem:
The Midwest Child Care Research Study data documents that the quality of childcare is below the desired quality level across the state of Iowa. Childcare providers need advanced training, and often need technical assistance to help them implement quality improvements.

The training available through Child Care Resource and Referral has provided foundational basic training to meet the needs of providers entering the field. However, providers who have completed these basic training opportunities were unable to access training that would take them beyond meeting the basics to a more advanced level of practice.

Response:

In fiscal years 2002-7 Iowa State University Extension Families Specialists, Pat Anderson and Mary Hughes, created several special initiatives designed for child care providers to advance beyond entry level quality with these area partners: Empowerment Boards, Child Care Resource and Referral, and Iowa Western Community College

Locally these projects are called: Quality Improvement Project (QIP) and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Child Care Edition 2006-7. These projects have been funded by empowerment with yearly increases since 2004, and consist of high quality training with a multi-session approach, use of the Environment Rating Scale to measure ‘before’ and ‘after’ quality, as well as technical assistance to individual sites.

As a part of the State Quality Initiative, 12 different series of the Environment Rating Scales has been provided in family day care, infant-toddler care-giving, preschool and center-based-care.

Impact:

There are 18 providers who have been accepted into the Quality Rating System above the minimum entry level. Of these 18 providers 9 have received multi-session series training and technical assistance from ISUE Families Specialists. Iowa State University Extension in Southwest Iowa leads the state in the number of providers who have entered the new Quality Rating System.

Contact:

Mary Hughes Family Life Field Specialist 3501 Harry Langdon Blvd Council Bluffs, IA 51503-7837 Phone 712-366-7070; Fax 712-366-7024 Email mhughes@iastate.edu

Pat Anderson Iowa State University Extension, W. Pottawattamie County ISD-Careers Bldg. 3501 Harry Langdon Blvd. Council Bluffs, IA 51503 Phone 712-366-7070; Fax: 712-366-7024 Email pander@iastate.edu