CHILD CARE ALLIANCE RESPONSE TEAM (CART)
CART provides Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation to children in HHS Licensed and Registered Childcare Programs, other legally operating childcare programs, or DE Preschools as deemed necessary, considering services offered through other funding sources, avoiding any duplication of services in Cedar and Jones counties. Programming focuses on building caregiver resilience, competence, and confidence around preventing and reducing the impact of challenging behaviors. Services aim to strengthen programs and system capacity to increase social-emotional awareness and knowledge, enhance reflective confidence and competence, and promote culturally responsive, and equity-informed practice in the adults that surround and support young children, all through a relational lens of support.
Services contracted through Grant Wood Area Education Agency
Contact GWAEA at 319-399-6746 or http://gwaea.org/referral
CHILD SAFETY ITEMS & AGE APPROPRIATE BOOKS
When available, funds support the purchase and education of safe sleep and safe transportation materials including pack n' plays and cart seats. Infant and toddler kits loaded with age appropriate items and early childhood books are also distributed to children and families throughout the ECI area.
Program managed by the Cedar/Jones ECI Director.
Contact the Director at 319-551-3402 or sherri.hunt@jonescountyiowa.gov
DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program that mails free books to children from birth to age five. Specially selected, high-quality books are mailed each month to participating children at no cost to the family. Eligibile children must reside in Cedar or Jones counties and be registered with the United States Postal System at the address where the books are mailed to.
Program managed by the Cedar/Jones ECI Director.
https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/
Contact the Director at 319-551-3402 or sherri.hunt@jonescountyiowa.gov
EARLY HEAD START WAGE ENHANCEMENT
Operation of an Early Head Start classroom in the Anamosa HS/EHS Center for an extension from seven hours a daya to ten hours a day. Funds support the addition of a third EHS staff program to enhance wages and expand programming. Additional programming supports the increase of access to quality early care and education opportunities for young children and their families. Classroom services 8 children 18 months - 3 years of age.
Expansion services are provided at the Anamosa Head Start/Early Head Start Center in Jones County and contracted with HACAP.
Contact the center at 319-462-4336 or
Christi Regan at 319-393-7811 or cregan@hacap.org.
HOME VISITATION
Parents As Teachers (PAT) Programming is based on the belief that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. PAT is a voluntary in-home visitation program that provides early childhood parent education and support for parents.
Services in Cedar County are contracted with Lutheran Services in Iowa
and with Young Parents Network in Jones County.
Contact Lutheran Services in Iowa at 563-288-4171 or melissa.tucker@lsiowa.org.
Contact Young Parents Network at 319-364-8909 or mmyers@ypniowa.org.
PRESCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
This program provides Preschool Scholarships throughout Cedar and Jones counties to children whose families meet income guidelines of up to 200% of poverty level to give children the opportunity to attend preschool who otherwise would not have attended due to financial constraints. Assistance with costs often extends hours of regular preschool programming.
Program managed by the Cedar/Jones ECI Director.
Contact the Director at 319-551-3402 or sherri.hunt@jonescountyiowa.gov
Our Partners
