4 R Kids ECI Newsletter
Volume 5 - January 2013

Greetings! 

The legislative session begins January 14, 2013. Iowa has fared better than most states in regards to the state's budget. It appears as though that Iowa will begin the legislative session with more revenues than last year. The 4 R Kids ECI Area Board has set their legislative priorities which are:
  • Restore funding to the 2008 levels
  • Provide for flexibility
  • Collaboration among state agencies

Comparing 2008 funding allocations to 2013, there has been a statewide reduction of more than 38% or more than $17,400,000. Bring that down locally to the 4 R Kids ECI Area, there has decrease of more than $573,000. Cost of doing business along with required state mandates have taken a toll on the funding allocated to ECI which has resulted in less service delivered which has affected the number of families that need to be served.

 

ECI areas are required to strictly adhere to categorical funding streams, which prohibits us to meet the needs locally. If an area has funding in a certain category, but has a great need that does not fit that category, families are not able to be served. Providing local boards with funding flexibility is crucial in order to meet local needs of families.

 

Collaboration at the local level is a natural, however at the state level that seems to be missing. Did you know there are two definitions of preschool, one from the Department of Education and one from the Department of Human Services? This is very confusing when providers are required to meet the demands of two different state departments. Requiring collaboration at the state level will alleviate confusion and duplication.

 

Early Childhood Iowa Day on the Hill is March 12. I hope all early childhood partners will join me at our state capitol to share your story and advocate for our most vulnerable children.

 

Debra Schrader

4 R Kids Excutive Director

 

 

 
Iowa Kids Count  

The Iowa Kids Count Book is out you can request a hard copy or download the pdf at Iowa Kids Count or call the Child and Family  Policy Center at 515-280-9027 and request a hard copy. The Iowa Kids Count Book if full of recent data by county and is a friendly read.

       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 or work in Adair and Madison 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 www.4rkids-eci.org.

 

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 www.4rkids-eci.org. 

Child Care Resource and Referral 

While web referrals are available 24/7, parent referral counselors are available to answer questions and complete a more individualized search of the CCR&R provider database.  Phone referrals at 1-800-722-7619 ext 3563 or 515-246-3563 are available:

  • Monday-Thursday  7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
  • Fridays 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
  • Saturdays 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Parents may also email questions or request a referral list at [email protected]

 

 

 2010 Iowa Child and Family
Household Health Survey

A comprehensive survey was conducted the represents children ages 0-5 in Iowa. Here are a just few items of interest from the Iowa survey. You can find the complete report at the 2010 Iowa Household Survey.  Here are a few of the findings from the survey.

 

Demographics of Young Children in Iowa

About 20% of children age 0-5 years are living below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Among all of Iowa's children ages 0-18 years who are living below the FPL, about 30% are between the ages of 0 and 5 years

 

Health Status of Young Children in Iowa

Young children in Iowa were in generally good health, with over 90% of children reported as having excellent (67%) or very good (25%) overall health status. There was a statistically significant difference by income level in the reported health of Iowa's youngest children.

 

Dental Health, Access, and Coverage

Over three-quarters (80%) of children ages 0-5 years in Iowa have dental insurance. However, children in the lowest income group (up to 133% of the FPL) were most likely to have dental insurance, with 94% compared to children in higher income groups. Ten percent of Iowa's young children have received dental care services in a WIC Clinic.

Did You Know?

5,967 children under the age of 6 were abused in 2011? Here are the numbers by County.

9 Adair County

57 Dallas County

13 Madison County

62 Warren County

 

There are child abuse prevention councils in each County to combat issues related to child abuse.  If you would like more information about child abuse efforts go to the Prevent Child Abuse Iowa website.

Preschool
Experience 

85.4% of kindergartners this fall had a preschool experience. Here is how it breaks down by County.

 

96.3 %Adair

83.6% Dallas

85.0% Madison

88.1% Warren

 

Do you know how many babies are born?

 

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health there were 1,748 live births in the 4 R Kids Area for 2011. This is a decrease of 4.4% from the previous year. Below is how it breaks down by county.

 

Births by County

77 Adair

1,027 Dallas

143 Madison

501 Warren

Did you know that there is 1 birthing hospital in the 4 county area, which is barely  in Dallas County by about 25 feet.

 

4 R Kids ECI Area Board Meeting Dates

January 17, 2013

Calvary Baptist Church in  Indianola

 

February 21, 2013

Location TBD in Greenfield

 

March 21, 2013

Farmers Merchant Bank in Winterset

 

April 18, 2013

Adel Library in Adel

 

May  16, 2013

Calvary Baptist Church in Indianola

 

June 20, 2013

Location TBD in Greenfield

 

Board meetings are at 6:30 P.M.

Debra Schrader, 4 R Kids Executive Director

4 R Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board

1011 Pear Avenue

Prescott, Iowa 50859

641-344-2250

[email protected]


Join Our Mailing List

4 R Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board Vision
"Every child beginning at birth will be healthy and successful"