Early Childhood Iowa Area Board

Newsletter

Volume 8 - October 2013

Greetings! 

The 4 R Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board has issued their FY2014 Legislative Agenda - Restore Funding to the FY2008 funding levels; demand for services have risen, but the 4 R Kids ECI area funding has been reduced by more than $548,000 since FY08 - the area went from $1,545,634 in FY08 to $997,066 in FY14.  Additionally, flexibility will be restricted as the categorical funds have made it increasingly difficult to meet the local needs.
  
The 4 R Kids ECI Area Board will undergo a tedious process during FY2014, called Levels of Excellence. The Levels of Excellence is rating system by which an area board is designated, and includes the following four levels: probation, compliant, quality, and model.  The 4 R Kids ECI Area Board is required to submit a portfolio no later than December 30, 2013 then next spring Early Childhood Iowa will conduct a site visit that consists of a 2 1/2 hour visit with the 4 R Kids ECI Area Board, a 1 hour visit with community partners, and a pre and post visit with 4 R Kids ECI staff.  Recommendations for a rating will be provided to the Early Childhood Iowa State Board June 2014. We will anxiously await the outcome next spring.
  
Inclosing I want to leave you with what President Obama stated during the State of Union Address on February 12, 2013.

 

"Every dollar we invest in high-quality early childhood education can save more than seven dollars later on -- by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime. In states that make it a priority to educate our youngest children,... studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own. We know this works. So let's do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind. Let's give our kids that chance."

 

Debra Schrader

4 R Kids Executive Director

      Medicaid and Births

About half the births in the United States are paid for by Medicaid - a figure higher than previous estimates - and the numbers could increase as the state-federal health insurance program expands under the Affordable Care Act, according to a study just released.

All pregnant women with incomes below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, just below $15,300 for an individual, are eligible for Medicaid, and many states provide coverage to women earning well above that amount. In Iowa 40.46% of all births are paid for by Medicaid. Here is a list of all.Medicaid Births by state.

 

 Growing Trends
  • 1 in 40 households with children under age 18 had at least one child whose personal information was compromised (Child Identity Theft Report 2012)
  • 26% of child identity theft victims were 6-10 years old in 2012 (Child Identity Theft Report 2012)
  • Children 35 times more likely to be the target of identity theft than adults (Child Identity Theft Report 2012)
  • Many child identity theft victims don't find out about the rime until they turn 18 and begin applying for college loans, credit cards or jobs.
  • Your Childs 10 digit social security number is the identifier most likely to be stolen by an identity criminal (Child Identity Theft Report 2012)
  • Child identity fraud survey respondents reported knowing he individual responsible for the crime 27% of the time (Child Identity Theft Report 2012)
  • U.S. travelers spend $147.6 billion on lodging (U.S. Travel association)
  • One tank trips- visit your state tourism website for ideas on destinations you can reach on a full tank of gas

 

Hold The Date
 

Warren County Toddlerfest

March 29, 2014 9:00-11:00

 

Dallas County Toddlerfest

April 12, 2014 10:00-12:00

 

Madison County

Toddlerfest

TBD

 

 Did You Know?
Young people under the age of 25 make up approximately 1/2 of the world's population?
  

 

Free Dental Clinic

 

The Iowa MOM is a two-day free dental clinic for any child or adult that needs dental services, regardless of income or previous dental history.

 

 

When:

Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19, 2013,

Where:

Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA.

Time:

The clinic opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes when they have reached capacity that day

Other Information: Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis, you are strongly encourage to come early and expect long lines

For more information click on Free Dental Clinic

  

 

Debra Schrader, 4 R Kids Executive Director

4 R Kids Early Childhood Iowa Area Board

1011 Pear Avenue

Prescott, Iowa 50859

641-344-2250

4rkids-eci.org

[email protected]


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