Iowa is taking an exciting step to help young children grow and thrive with the creation of a new Center of Excellence for Early ACCESS. This new center is part of a statewide plan to make sure every child, no matter where they live, can get the best possible start in life.

The Center of Excellence will focus on improving how early intervention services are provided to infants and toddlers who have delays or disabilities. These services are part of Iowa’s Early ACCESS program, which supports children from birth to age three. Families in the program work with caring professionals who come to their homes or child care centers to help their children meet important developmental milestones.

The new Center of Excellence will help make sure that these services are the same high quality across the entire state. It will guide and train professionals–such as speech therapists, physical and occupational therapists, and early childhood specialists–so they can better support families. The goal is to give parents and caregivers the tools and confidence they need to help their children learn and grow every day.

The Center of Excellence is being developed through a partnership between Central Rivers Area Education Agency (AEA) and Keystone AEA. Both AEAs have been leaders in supporting Iowa’s youngest learners, and now they are combining their knowledge and experience to help all children in the state. The purpose of these centers is to share effective, research-based practices and ensure children with disabilities receive the best support possible.

Through collaboration with partners such as the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Child Health Specialty Clinics, the Center will continue the important mission of Early ACCESS: helping families early so children can reach their full potential.

As this new Center of Excellence begins its work, Iowa families can look forward to even stronger support, more resources, and brighter futures for their youngest learners.

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Annette Hyde is the Executive Director of Special Education with Central Rivers AEA, with offices in Cedar Falls, Clear Lake and Marshalltown. She is also the Administrator of Special Education Services at Keystone AEA, based in Elkader. She can be reached at ahyde@centralriversaea.org. Central Rivers AEA serves over 5,000 K-12 educators in 18 counties of north central Iowa to improve outcomes for over 60,000 students.