CHILD CARE ALLIANCE RESPONSE TEAM (CART)
This intervention program provides behavioral support for children ages birth to 5 who are experiencing challenging behaviors in childcare settings and are not identified as having special education needs. Services help children so they can maintain their childcare placement & improve their social/emotional assets & be ready for school. CART is available to accept individual child and classroom referrals.
CART program also provides training and coaching to expand the skills of providers in childcare settings using the PBIS Train-Coach-Train model to improve nurturing and responsive relationships and provide high quality, supportive environments keeping children both physically and mentally healthy and safe--thereby increasing social, behavioral, and academic outcomes.
Services contracted through Grant Wood Area Education Agency
Contact GWAEA at 319-399-6746 or http://gwaea.org/referral
CHILD CARE NURSE CONSULTANT (CCNC)
Child Care Nurse Consultation (CCNC) is an evidence-based practice that follows established role guidance set by Healthy Child Care Iowa to improve the quality of health and safety in childcare businesses. CCNCs support home and center based childcare programs in their efforts to create environments that promote wellness in children aged 6 weeks to 5 years by providing outreach, on-site assessment, education, training, referral, special health care needs planning, and QRS/IQ4K assessments.
Services contracted through
the Hawkeye Area Community Action Agency for Jones County
and Genesis VNA for Cedar County.
Contact Diana Strahan at HACAP at 319-393-7811.
Contact Michele Cullen at Genesis Health at 563-244-4923.
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 PROGRAM EXPANSION
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 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
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN CHILD CARE
Through work with Registered Child Development Homes and Licensed Child Care Centers, this initiative provides financial incentives to encourage improving quality in childcare environments. Examples of support include dramatic play, science, infant/toddler, and fine motor kits, support for immediate provider needs, training support, Quality Rating System support and participation stipends, and quality improvement grants.
Program is managed by Cedar/Jones ECI Director
and partners with Child Care Resource & Referral Region 5.
Contact the Director at 319-551-3402 or sherri.hunt@jonescountyiowa.gov
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