With a keen focus on improving the lives of children age prenatal through five, the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board has awarded funds for the upcoming fiscal year.

Utilizing funds from Iowa’s Department of Education and Health and Human Services, early childhood programs in Hardin and Marshall County will strengthen, empower and support families and children. The total allocation for these services is $529,142.

The Board has focused its priorities around the following services:

• Family Support and Home Visitation — These programs include home visits that are designed to strengthen protective factors, including parenting skills, increasing parental knowledge of child development and increasing family functioning and problem-solving skills. The contracted programs are:

• Child Abuse Prevention Services — Building Healthy Families

• Green Belt Home Care – Thrive by Five

• Mid Iowa Community Action — Early Head Start

• Childcare Services and Support — These programs are designed to increase the quality and capacity of childcare environments each offering different opportunities.

• Center for Child Care Resources and Referral — Includes funding for a childcare consultant, childcare provider incentives, and training opportunities.

• Mid Iowa Community Action, Head Start Wrap Around — Provides funding for wrap around preschool so that parents obtain or retain employment.

• Mid Iowa Community Action, Child Care Nurse Consultant — A registered nurse who provides on-site consultation, training and technical assistance to early childhood care and education providers. Childcare and early education businesses may call or send questions to a CCNC about health and safety policies, health programs, health of personnel and specific child health or safety issues.

• Preschool Transportation — Provides transportation for preschool students to/from childcare development homes.

• Pineview Preschool — Iowa Falls Community School District (Hardin County residents only)

• East Marshall Community School District

• Preschool Tuition scholarships — Qualified children living below 200 percent poverty are eligible for a preschool tuition scholarship with a sliding fee scale. Some restrictions may apply. Scholarships are available at the following preschools: Cougar’s Den Preschool, Pineview Preschool, Marshalltown Community School District (Fisher & Hoglan Elementary), Good Shepherd Preschool, Sonshine Preschool, Hubbard Radcliffe Preschool and West Marshall Trojan Tots Preschool.

• Early Literacy Services — Small Talk, operated through the Marshalltown Public Library, is a program for parents that uses regular feedback from LENA technology to help increase interactive talk in order to close the early-talk gap, support kindergarten readiness and build stronger families.

The board would like to congratulate these programs who will provide quality programs and services in the next year. For more information about these programs, including contact information, visit: www.iowarivervalleyeca.com/about-our-programs.html

The Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board is a volunteer board that awards Early Childhood grants to ensure young children will be healthy physically, mentally, socially and spiritually in Hardin and Marshall County. Their focus is on the five result areas: healthy children, secure and nurturing families, secure and nurturing childcare environments, children ready to succeed in school and safe and supportive communities. Currently, Board Membership opportunities are available for residents who live or work in Hardin or Marshall County and would like to help children grow and succeed.

For more information about the board, contact Carrie Kube at iarivervalleyeca@gmail.com or visit www.iowarivervalleyeca.com/about-our-board.html

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Carrie Kube is the director of the

Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area