CCR&R Tips

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          Lending a Helping Hand

          In Warren and Madison Counties

Provider Tips:  

1.  It is crucial for families to be involved in their child's early education.

Send individual emails to families to share positive information about their child's activities and accomplishments.

2.   The Child Care Home Consultant offers:

  • Answers to questions about state registration
  • Answers about the number of children allowed in a home
  • Assistance in selecting the most appropriate registration category for you
  • Answers to questions about building a successful small business
  • Assistance in creating a healthy, safe, child-friendly environment
  • On-site technical assistance visits four times in the first two years of registration
  • Continuing technical assistance/consultation visits at the provider’s request
  • Telephone or e-mail assistance anytime
  • Interpretation of new state initiatives
  • Explanation of the benefits of registration
  • Explanation of additional income potential

3.   How do I become ChildNet Certified?

  Caregivers are allowed one year to complete all of the requirements to achieve ChildNet Certification.  Requirements are as follows:

  • Complete all ten ChildNet modules
  • Register as a Child Development Home provider with the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS), meeting all requirements
  • Participate with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
  • Maintain liability insurance coverage for your child care business
  • Complete certification in First Aid
  • Complete certification in adult, child, and infant CPR
  • Complete certification as a Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter
  • Successfully complete a home visit by CCR&R staff
  • Currently caring for children other than their own

ChildNet Certification must be renewed every two years.  ChildNet classes do not need to be repeated, unless identified in an action plan. To renew your ChildNet Certification, you must complete 32 hours of training (16 hours each year), keep items 4-8 (above) current, schedule another home visit, and maintain DHS registration requirements.

 

Contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral office

for more details!

 

Parent Tips: 

  • More and more, research tells us that our children’s healthy development depends on safe and positive experiences during the first few years of life. If you are a parent who works during these early years, choosing good child care is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your child.  
  • You may want to visit several different child care programs, either centers or family child care homes, before you decide which one is best for your family. Call each child care program and schedule an appointment for your visit. Once you are there, stay for at least an hour to watch activities, check the surroundings, and ask questions.

  • The Daily Parent newsletter offers the latest information on child development issues, gives practical everyday suggestions for busy parents and child care professionals. The Daily Parent is distributed in communities through CCR&R agencies and child care providers. Read recent issues at http://www.childcareaware.org/en/subscriptions/dailyparent/. The Daily Parent is funded by Citi Foundation, New York.

Iowa QRS - What is it & how does it help you?

The QRS was developed:

  • to raise the quality of child care in Iowa
  • to increase the number of children in high-quality child care settings
  • to educate parents about quality in child care

There are five levels in the QRS.  For a program to be rated at:

  • Level 1:  all the Level 1 criteria must be met. 
  • Level 2:  all the Level 1 and Level 2 criteria must be met. 
  • Levels 3-5:  all the Level 1 and Level 2 criteria must be met, and then the program must earn a minimum of one point in each of the Level 3-5 categories.  For levels 3-5, the level is determined by the total number of points earned. 

Q.  Who Can Participate?
A.  -  Registered child development homes
     -  Licensed child care centers, including preschools,   Head Start, Early Head Start, and afterschool programs
     -  Child care programs that are operated by school districts

Q.  Is there a list of Iowa's QRS-Rated Providers
A.  A list of Iowa's recognized providers can be found on the Department of Human Services' QRS website:
                                              www.dhs.state.ia.us/irqs

Check Back Frequently for More Tips!

 

Warren and Madison County (515) 961-5067

 

 kgpierson 8/11/2010