4 R Kids ECI Newsletter
Volume 3 - July 2012 |
Greetings!
Why Invest in Early Childhood initiatives?
Research shows that return on investments in quality early care and education yields at least $8 for every $1 invested. Here is why it is so important:
At-risk children are:
- 25% more likely to drop out of school
- 40% more likely to become a teen parent
- 50% more likely to be placed in special education
- 60% more likely to never attend college
- 70% more likely to be arrested for a violent crime
Investing in quality early learning programs is the most efficient way to affect school and life success and to reduce social expenditures later, according to research by Prof. James Heckman, a Nobel laureate in economics from the University of Chicago. Returns are greatest for the most at-risk children. For that population in particular, quality early learning programs can result in reduced costs later on special education, remedial classes, and even incarceration. Heckman's research also shows early interventions for disadvantaged children "raise the quality of the workforce, enhance the productivity of schools and reduce crime, teenage pregnancy, and welfare dependency. They raise earnings and promote social attachment."
Simply put...investing now...saves money later. The 4 R Kids Early Childhood Area Board thank you for your continued investment in Iowa's future.
Sincerely,
Debra Schrader, Executive Director |
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FY2013 Grants Awarded
The 4 R Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board is pleased to announce that the following agencies have been awarded grants in excess of $1,000,000 for FY2013 services.
Agency Program/Service
Lutheran Services in Iowa Intensive home visitation services
Partners in Family Development Home visitation services
Adair County ISU Extension Home visitation servi
Dallas County Public Health Short term home visitation
Dallas County ISU Extension Provider training and quality supports
Orchard Place/CCRR Child care provider training
New Opportunities Child care nurse consultant services
Warren County Health Services Child care nurse consultant services
Adair County ISU Extension Group based parent education
Dallas County ISU Extension Preschool enrichment services
For detailed comprehensive map of the above resources, contact Debra Schrader, [email protected] |
4 R Kids ECI Board Membership
Volunteer opportunities are available for residents of Adair, Dallas, Madison, and Warren counties to serve on the local 4 R Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board.
There are currently two board positions open on the thirteen member board. Both positions are open to any citizen who shows care and compassion for early childhood activities and reside in Adair, Dallas, Madison, and Warren County. You may refer to state ECI State Tool LL for board membership requirements.
The 4 R Kids ECI Area Board is responsible for the early childhood funding that flows in to the four county area of Adair, Dallas, Madison, and Warren from the state of Iowa. Currently the funding supports home visitation, parent education, preschool scholarships, preschool health screenings, preschool professional development, preschool quality improvement, child care quality and service coordination. It is also the responsibility of the 4 R Kids ECI Area Board to encourage collaboration of all early childhood services in our area.
The 4 R Kids ECI Area Board meets 12 times a year on the third Thursday of the month rotating in Adair, Dallas, Madison and Warren County at 6:30 P.M. Board terms are for three years. Current information about the 4 R Kids ECI Area Board can be found at 4 R Kids.
For more information about volunteering to serve on the 4 R Kids ECI Area Board, contact Executive Director, Debra Schrader or 641-344-2250. Persons may also request a board membership application or you may apply online at 4 R Kids under the Board tab. |
Data Sources
State Data Center
The state Data Center of Iowa has a multitude of data. You can find the sources of where data is keep such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, ethnicity, and many different population and data sets. You can even find population data by zip code! For more information to the Iowa Data Center.
Iowa Family Policy Project
The calculations that compose the federal poverty guidelines assume food is the largest expense, as it was in the 1960s, and that it consumes one-third of a family's income. Today, however, the average family spends less than 1/6 of its budget on food. Omitted entirely from the guideline, child care is a far greater expense for families today with 23.5 million women with children under 18 in the labor force.Transportation and housing also consume a much larger portion of a family's income than they did 45 years ago. To find out more go to the Iowa Policy Project.
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Growing Strong Families Earns
Iowa Family Support Credential
The Growing Strong Families program administered by Adair County I.S.U. Extension earned the Iowa Family Support Credential on April 13, 2012. The Iowa Family Support credential has been recognized by the Iowa Legislature as an indication of quality practice. The Iowa Legislature encourages all family support programs to have either a national or state credential indicating that the program is meeting quality standards.
Congratulaions to Growing Strong Families for earning this prestestigious standing in the state of Iowa. |
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Did You Know? |
According to the most recent data from CCRR, the average cost for an infant (age 0-11 months) in a DHS licensed child care center by County is:
$112 - Adair
$198 - Dallas
$174 - Madison
$180 - Warren
(These are weekly costs) |
For more child care data go to CCRR |
Working
Families |
According to to the Iowa Family Projct, an estimated 74% of working single parent families in Iowa earn less than the minimum amount needed to meet basic needs. For more data |
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Baby's Brain |
Brain structure is shaped, either positively or negatively, by a baby's day-to-day interactions with those who principally provide the child's care. |
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4 R Kids ECI Area Board Meeting Dates |
July 19, 2012
Farmers Merchant Bank in Winterset
August 16, 2012
Location TBD in Adel
September 20,2012
Calvary Baptist Church in Indianola
October 18, 2012
Greenfield City Hall in Greenfield
November 15, 2012
Farmers Merchant Bank in Winterset
December 13, 2012
Location TBD in Adel
Board meetings are at 6:30 P.M. | |
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