Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
The quality of child care available to parents in Northwest Iowa has been a concern of parents and professionals for several years. To meet this need the local empowerment area of Buena Vista , Crawford and Sac counties has worked to provide several opportunities to local child care providers in the form of education and monetary support. While the intend of these efforts is worthy they felt the need to move into a more consistent system that would allow them to follow and support their area providers throughout their efforts to become a high quality child care providers.

Response:
Iowa State University Extension has been identified as the teachers of a key training for child care providers related to environmental rating scales. These scales are also intergrated into the state of Iowa 's Quality Rating Scale system- which helps parents to identify high quality child care providers. To acheive a high rating on this scale providers must work on several levels of education, one of which includes attending an Iowa State University Extenison rating scale training and at a higher level to have an independent observer from the university come out and rate the quality of the child care providers environment. The local empowerment coordinator felt that the providers in the area needed support in addition to what was provided though the Quality Rating Scale system.

After discussion with the Family Life Field Specialist, a comprehensive plan was developed. The extension contact was contracted to develop and provide an additional study group learning format for both family child care providers and center child care providers. Each of these series provided the the participants with 8 additional hours of education related the environmental rating scales. Additionally through these series participants were able to complete an entire child care self assessment and child care improvement plan, and receive feedback that process. Both of these documents provides are compenent to assist them in their movement throuhg the Quality Rating Scale System.

In addition to the education opportunity, each provider that attended the series is now eligible to have an environmental rating scale observation conducted on their care setting by an inter rater reliable Iowa State University Extenison Field Specialist. Following the observation, the provider will receive written and oral feedback from the specialist. This again is made possible do the commitment of the local empowerment area to finanically support these additional educational opportunities.

Impact:
Twentyfour providers attended the two study group series that were offerred. Of these 24 participants, 23 completed a child care self assessment and child care improvement plan. The area Quality Rating Scale specialist has reported an increase in number of providers that have begun the system process in that three county area. The providers themselves have self reported that they gained additional information through the study group process. Several noted that the series caused them to make changes in the type of activities that they engaged the children in and the arrangement of the environment in which they provide care. Others noted that while they had been the profession several years this series caused them to re-evaluate their actions and make changes that they otherwise would not have.

The empowerment area has reported satisfication in the quality of education that is being provided and feel that this allows them to provide more targeted monetary support that can be directly linked to improving the quality of care provided in the three county area. The observation stage is just beginning and providers will begin signing on for this stage in the next two months.

 

Other Staff/Team Members/Community Partners Involved:
Annette Koster, Buena Vista, Crawford, and Sac County Empowerment Coordinator

Contact:
Eugenia Hanlon
Calhoun County Extension
521 4th Street, PO Box 233
Rockwell City, IA 50579
712-297-8611
ehanlon@iastate.edu