Trending
With a keen focus on improving the lives of children aged prenatal through five, the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board has awarded funds for the upcoming fiscal year. Early childhood programs in Hardin and Marshall County will strengthen, empower, and support families and their children. The total allocation for these services is $529,000.
The Board has focused its priorities on the following services:
Family support home visitation is designed to strengthen protective factors, including parenting skills, increasing parental knowledge of child development, and increasing family functioning and problem-solving skills. The contracted program is Child Abuse Prevention Services -- Building Healthy Families.
Childcare Services and Support is designed to increase the quality and capacity of childcare environments each offering different opportunities in consultation, and provider incentives provided by Child Care Resource and Referral. Mid Iowa Community Action, Head Start Wrap will offer wrap-around preschool so that parents obtain or retain employment and a Child Care Nurse Consultant who will provide on-site consultation, training, and technical assistance to early childhood care and education providers in the areas of health and safety.
Preschool Transportation is provided to students to/from childcare development homes, eliminating a barrier for working parents. This will be provided by East Marshall Community School District.
Preschool Tuition scholarships are offered to qualified children living below 200% poverty. Scholarships are available at the following preschools: Cougar's Den Preschool, Good Shepherd Preschool, Sonshine Preschool, and West Marshall Trojan Tots Preschool.
Early Literacy Services is offered through Small Talk at the Marshalltown Public Library. With this unique program, parents use LENA technology to read to their children.
There are two new programs this year! The Strengthening Center will provide Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services to early learning programs in Hardin and Marshall County. Child Abuse Prevention Services will also provide Car Seat Safety events across Hardin and Marshall County, and have an emergency supply of car seats available.
We would like to congratulate these programs that will provide quality programs and services in the next year. For more information about these programs, including their contact information, please visit: http://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 our board, contact Carrie Kube at [iarivervalleyeca@gmail.com%20]iarivervalleyeca@gmail.com or visit http://www.iowarivervalleyeca.com/about-our-board.html