Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Two of the factors influencing the quality of child care for children birth to age five are the practices of the child care provider and the environment in which care is provided. To meet continuing center licensing and home registration requirements and improve quality of care in Jones County, child care providers have requested that educational classes be offered within the county and funding sources be made available to make needed environmental changes.

Response:
To meet the educational requests of providers, 11 classes were offered in Jones County from October 2006 to May 2007 with 76 providers attending at least one class. Thirty-one providers completed the four sessions of the Better Kid Care Series and ten providers attended various classes in the Child Net Series with four providers completing the ten modules. The Child Care Resource Coordinator, for which ISU Extension serves as the fiscal agent, provided the coordination and marketing of these educational classes. To increase the quality of childcare environments, Jones County Empowerment awarded $12,240 in mini-grant funds to 15 centers and home providers.

Impact:
In a survey conducted by ISU Extension in September 2007, providers were asked to indicate specific changes which have been made as a result of participating in classes or receiving a mini-grant. Surveys were sent to 177 providers and responses were received from 54. Some of the environmental changes resulting from receiving mini-grants included:
•Playground has been made safer. •Have fenced in yard now.
•Set up activity areas in my house.
•Better organized play area
•Purchased a changing table to give a private and safe place for staff to assist children with toileting accidents. It also assists the center with meeting DHS licensing requirements.
•Updated facility to meet DHS guidelines/suggestions.
•A new sink area allows students a much safer and cleaner area to clean up and wash hands.
•Purchased a First Aid kit for our classroom to meet IQPPS standards.
•Improvements of equipment for gross motor skills for preschool.
•Purchased new baby beds and toy cupboard which helped us organize the baby/toddler room better.

Some of the changes in practices as a result of educational classes were:
•Took out insurance policy.
•Bought more appropriate toys; started sand & water play time.
•Changed the way I handle misbehaving kids with peace table.
•I use more musical instruments and dance in my room.
•Make sure anything damaged or broken is thrown away.
•Kids are trying more foods that we talked about in the nutrition class.
•Started a file for a portfolio on each child.
•We are now doing child observation and assessment on each child.
•Used and implemented ideas talked about at the classes, rearranged rooms and took pictures to make labels.

Additional Team Members/Community Partners Involved:
Child Care Resource Coalition (Jones County Empowerment, CCR&R, Community Health, AEA, Child Care Center , HeadStart)

Contact:
Phyllois Zalenski
Jones County Extension
605 E Main St
Anamosa, IA 52205
319-462-2791
zalenski@iastate.edu