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| Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) offers many different services to support Iowa child care programs. Our Child Care Consultants work hard to build a connection with providers in order to support individual and program goals that contribute to the success, growth and quality of their business. These connections are made by working side-by-side with providers, including listening to and supporting the direction they want to take in their early childhood careers. |
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Child Development Home Providers can complete the ChildNet series, a 25-hour professional development class that provides the foundational skills needed to operate a successful child care business. Upon completion of the class, providers may choose to become ChildNet Certified. To achieve certification, a child care consultant will meet on-site with the child care provider, where they work together to meet specific criteria that show the provider has implemented the improvement practices they learned during the classes.
Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) is a quality rating and improvement system available to licensed child care centers, registered child development homes and Department of Education preschools. IQ4K provides five levels of quality (building blocks) that programs can achieve and continue to improve on. By implementing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), IQ4K allows programs to assess their current grade across all areas of programming and devise a structured plan to increase the overall level of program quality. Child Care Consultants and IQ4K Specialists work side by side with programs to help them achieve a quality grade.
While each program may have different talents, we are proud to share the journey of one Northwest Iowa program:
Recently, Shanna Barton, a Child Development Home provider in NW Iowa, achieved ChildNet Certification and reached IQ4K level 2. Shanna and her Child Care Consultant, Amber Kollbaum, met weekly to work together on completing individual components for each quality measure. The time spent together helped them to build a great working relationship. Each time they met, they set goals and created action plans, which helped to guide Shanna on her path toward an IQ4K rating. During this process, Shanna was also able to build her skills and comfort level in working with technology as she completed the online application, for which she expressed excitement about the confidence she gained. Shanna’s goal moving forward is to continue her quality improvement work and reach IQ4K level 3 next year. Congratulations Shanna!
"Collaborating with my CCR&R Child Care Consultant has been a beneficial experience to celebrate the great things I am already doing in my program while learning new tactics to add to daily routines and activities to implement. We had a great dialogue back and forth to workshop ideas which, inspired me to dive deeper into implementing practices and partnerships. Supportive collaboration throughout the visits allowed me to accomplish tasks and keep momentum and motivation strong. Along the way, we celebrated many milestones and achievements. As a home provider who is very busy, the flexibility with both in-person and virtual meetings assisted my schedule and progress," states Shanna.
Some of the highlights of our collaborations so far include:
- Getting ChildNet Certified and ChildNet Certified Renewed
- Completing the IQ4K Application and receiving a rating
- Building resources to share with families
- Sharing ideas and learning together through personal experience
- Handbook Refinement
- Developed milestone tracking process and meeting individual needs of participants
- Aligning curriculum and care practices with those needs
- Technology support, which included navigating barriers
If your child care program is looking for assistance with professional development planning, action plans, goal setting, continuous quality improvement, environment observations, room arrangement, behavior concerns, creating policies or any number of other free services offered by CCR&R, be sure to visit with your CCR&R Child Care Consultant! Our mission is to support quality child care to ensure Iowa’s vision is met - Every child, beginning at birth, will be healthy and successful. |
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We're Stronger Together!
Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral is excited to launch a new Peer to Peer Series this year – CHILD CARE CONNECTIONS!
Child Care Connections supports child care providers who share a passion for the early childhood field. Looking for an opportunity to learn and network with other early childhood professionals? Join Child Care Resource & Referral for one or all of the online events! Below are the topic areas that have been and will be covered this year.

Registration is required and these events are not eligible for HHS training credit hours.
For more information, contact your CCR&R Community Development Specialist or check out our webpage: Welcome to Child Care Connections!
Lucky DOOR PRIZE winners will be drawn during each event for those that attend! |
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| Here's what Providers have to say so far... |
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Staff Recruitment:
Retention Strategies and Solutions
"Can't wait for Part 2! There was so much good information, and my mind was going 100 mph! Being able to re-watch the video will be very helpful and will help me to go my Board with new ideas. THANK YOU!" |
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Understanding Business Financial and Tax Practices for Family Child Care
"Loved the policy and finance piece!"
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| Register Now for Our Upcoming Events! |
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Gratitude for Uniqueness
Speaker: Kim Crafton
November 7, 1:00 p.m.
Gratitude extends beyond cultural diversity to embrace all aspects of individual uniqueness. |
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Let's eConnect
Speaker: Rebekah Hungate
February 6, 6:30 p.m.
Learn to love Child Care Management Systems (CCMS). Together we will discover the heart of CCMS and how it can improve your business! |
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Outdoor Exploration
Speaker: TBD
June 6, 1:00 p.m.
More than just a playground, review options for outdoor exploration and summer enrichment programs for your child care program. |
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Professional Development
Wanting to find high-quality professional development in your county?
Looking for that perfect virtual training to support your child care program goals?
Need help with your HHS i-PoWeR Professional Workforce Registry account?
Well, look no further than the Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral Training webpage!
With just one click, CCR&R can support those professional development needs you have within your child care program. Located on the CCR&R website, the Training Page is a great first start when you are ready to organize your professional development plans and goals.
Child care providers can find the most recent regional training calendars and statewide online professional development opportunities under “Training Announcements,” as well as the new Environment Rating Scale Options from Iowa State University Extension & Outreach!
Curious about what CCR&R Foundational Training to take?
Click on the Foundational Training name to view a brief description of the training, the training credit available, and the training audience it is intended for. Choose what educational areas you want to explore and if you are ready to enroll, the quick i-PoWeR link will direct you to the Iowa Early Childhood and School Age Professional Workforce Registry login page.
Another set of great resources on this page are the i-PoWeR “How-To” Video Clips, which cover topic areas ranging from creating a username and password to linking roles as child care staff or finding and printing your professional development record.
If at any time you have questions about the trainings listed or need additional support, we have regional Training Specialists who are in your area and here to assist you! |
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Easier Access to Child Care Resources: A New Online Solution
We are thrilled to unveil an exciting development that promises to simplify accessing essential Child Care Resource and Referral Publications and resources for our statewide child care providers, partners and community members. |
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Introducing the New Online Resource Hub
Starting now, you can request and reorder resource materials directly from our website as needed. This user-friendly option has been designed with your needs in mind, ensuring swift access to some of our most utilized resources.
Streamlined Navigation for Your Convenience
Recognizing the importance of easy access, we've integrated this new resource/supply page into various sections of our website. You'll find direct links on key pages, including:
- Communities
- Employers
- Families
- Contact Us
- R/R (Community Development Staff page)
- Bulletin Board
Our goal is to make it easier for community members to share information about our valuable services. We invite all our partners, child care providers and community members to explore this new resource page and its streamlined approach to requesting and reordering materials. Your commitment to the well-being and development of Iowa's children is greatly valued and we hope to continue finding new ways to support those efforts!
For additional information or immediate access to these resources, please use the Supply Request Form on the CCR&R webpage. |
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Emergency Preparedness - What to consider when updating/testing your plan.
The last thing anyone wants is for an emergency situation to occur. Past disasters have shown that disasters can have a significant impact on a community’s child care infrastructure. A strong, stable child care infrastructure allows parents and communities to respond to and recover from major disasters and emergencies.

Your Emergency Preparedness Plan is there to aid you if an emergency disaster situation occurs. This plan should be assessed and updated regularly to make sure it is still accurate and usable. A few suggestions to keep in mind as you develop or update the emergency plan for your program:

- Keep your plan simple so you and your staff can remember the important steps to take when an emergency happens.
- Keep your plan in a place where it is available for reference.
- Train on and practice your plan so everyone knows what needs to be done. You and your staff's actions should be instinctive and decisive.
- Update your plan at least annually. Make necessary changes after conducting drills or an actual event.
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Funding Opportunities
Quickly access child care funding opportunities to support your child care business here. |
Guidance from HHS
The latest guidance information for child care businesses can be found on our NEWS webpage. |
Iowa Quality for Kids
IQ4K® allows programs to assess their current grade across all areas of programming and devise a structured plan to increase the overall level of program quality.
Learn more by visiting our webpage here. |
i-PoWeR Navigation
How-to video clips for navigating i-PoWeR are posted on the bottom of the training page here. |
Community Services
Communities searching for child care solutions can connect with a Community Development Specialist to learn more. Connect here. |
Emergency Planning
Emergency Preparedness templates and video series available here.
Families can find supports here. |
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Milestones Matter!
Did you know…understanding the different stages of child development can help reduce challenging behaviors in the child care setting?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has FREE resources that can guide you through the typical age-related developmental milestones for further understanding behind a child’s actions.
Click here to learn more! |
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Starting a Business
We offer free services to help potential providers start a home child care businesses here. Then select the Getting Started topic. |
Stay Connected
Sign up for CCR&R and HHS updates:
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Child Care Taskforce Report
Governor Reynolds launched the Child Care Taskforce on March 10, 2021, to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the child care shortage and barriers to work around child care in Iowa. The final report can be found here.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and statewide child care partners have announced many new programs to help child care providers in Iowa.
Be sure to review funding opportunities that may support your business:
Reach out to your CCR&R Child Care Consultant with questions. |
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| Training Reimbursement Program |
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Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) is now rolling into its second year as the new Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In continued support of providers obtaining necessary professional development for their IQ4K goals, funding from HHS became available in March 2023 to reimburse all IQ4K-eligible programs for the cost associated with IQ4K-mandated training. Eligible participants will receive $20 for every hour designated program staff spent in IQ4K-mandated training. CCR&R works with providers to receive, review and direct IQ4K training reimbursement payments once completed documents are submitted.
Providers who have utilized this program have expressed thanks and appreciation for this type of support, as striving to accomplish their IQ4K goal can take much staff time and effort. |
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Here's what Providers have to say so far...
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“Our IQ4K Specialists were incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. IQ4K is much more complex than QRS, so having the extra support was very appreciated.
The best feature of the IQ4K system is the color coding of each section. This made it so much easier to keep track of what was completed and what still needed to be worked on.
The ability to work on the application online rather than having to submit paper copies and wait for it to be reviewed and sent back if needed really helped to speed up the process.“ |
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“The IQ4K process has provided our program with insight on how to make positive changes in our program to continue to increase the quality of our early childhood program.
I believe that there is always room to improve, and this process lays out so many different ways to make improvements whether it is through professional development, relationships with families and the community, or the childcare environment.” |
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| To learn more about the IQ4K Training Reimbursement Program and how we can support your business, visit the IQ4K website or talk with our CCR&R Child care team today! |
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Bonus Resource from Kaya, the Quality Kangaroo!

With Iowa’s child care providers striving for the highest standards, CCR&R has also created a new Marketing Toolkit to help programs share their hard work and achievements with their families, community and stakeholders. Within the IQ4K Marketing Toolkit, providers can find resources that can help them build a plan and share the details of their continuous quality improvement successes!
Click the link below Kaya and scroll to the bottom of page to check out the new toolkit. |
| Don't forget to follow Kaya, the Quality Kangaroo, on Facebook for the scoop on all things IQ4K! |
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| Child Care News Around Iowa |
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Operational Data Store (ODS)-
Data Collection for Iowa's Child Care Professionals |
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working to update information on child care programs in Iowa. Some programs received a survey link to answer questions about your child care program. THANK YOU for responding!
The survey asks how many children you want to care for (desired capacity, which may be less than your licensed/registered or non-registered capacity), how many slots you have open at your child care program (vacancies), and the rates you charge families for child care. Answering the questions on your computer, tablet or cell phone will only take about 5 minutes.
Why is your programs rate information important?
Rates are kept anonymous and used only for reporting purposes. Programs can use CCR&R rate information to set competitive rates in their community. HHS uses rate data collected by CCR&R to conduct bi-annual Market Rate Surveys. Market rate information collected is used to set Child Care Assistance (CCA) payment rates to child care providers and programs. The questions on this survey are one part of your child care program’s profile that is stored by Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R).
More information about the importance of updating your profile and a video on how to log into the Provider Portal NDS can be found here. You can watch this video on Iowa's Operational Data Store and read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) with answers document to learn more.
Thank you in advance for helping make Iowa’s child care information more complete. You are helping families spend less time searching for child care. You are also helping to keep your child care program fully enrolled. Even if you’re already fully enrolled, the accuracy of the information can show where more child care is needed in the state.
Do you have questions?
Please submit them using this form or contact your CCR&R Child Care Consultant. |
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Data at Your Fingertips
New child care data sheets... coming in NOVEMER! These sheets will provide point-in-time data for CCR&R to share information about the child care landscape in each county and across Iowa. This data is important for communities to understand the child care availability and needs to make educated decisions on how to best support families and child care programs.
Please remember to keep your data current by logging in to update your provider profile on NDS and/or completing the monthly vacancy updates sent via email. If you need more information on either of these options, please contact your local CCR&R Child Care Consultant. |
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Child Care Collaborative of Iowa
Update on provider participation in financial management coaching and use of Child Care Management System (CCMS) software
It is very exciting to see the continued growth in the number of child care programs taking advantage of financial management coaching with Child Care Collaborate of Iowa (CCCI). Along with coaching, CCCI offers state-funded monthly subscriptions to brightwheel or Playground and technology grants to support the program’s implementation of the software.
Below is a county-level map and breakdown in the percentage of programs participating in financial management coaching and Playground or brightwheel CCMS software. We launched this project on October 1, 2022.
A couple of resources you’ll want to check out if you have not done so already include:
- A short video (1:32 minutes), “Maggie Has More Time For The Kids,” to help providers and intermediaries begin to understand the next Shared Services Project strategy currently underway… understanding current supply of child care by child age category, current vacancies available in each program and demand for child care.
- An Opportunities Exchange brief (4 pages), “Iowa Leads the Way: How Modern Technology Can Improve Access to High-Quality Child Care,” that provides an overview of the data bridge Iowa created between the two state-contracted CCMS vendors, Playground and brightwheel and the child care subsidy system, KinderTrack.
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CCCI continues to hear from providers about the positive impacts they’ve experienced from business coaching and implementing a CCMS.

If this is a program you would be interested in learning more about:
Don't forget to follow CCCI on Facebook for the scoop on how to strengthen business practices! |
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| Program Caseload - click to enlarge |
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Iowa Child Care Workforce Study
The 2023 Iowa Child Care Workforce Study is complete and the full report is available.
The purpose of this study was to generate a deeper understanding of who Iowa’s child care workforce is and the challenges they are facing. Iowa’s child care providers are committed to work they find meaningful, and the majority would like to remain in the field as long as possible.
Unfortunately, Iowa faces critical challenges in recruiting and retaining providers due to low wages and lack of sustainable educational advancement opportunities. Findings from the recent 2023 Iowa Child Care Workforce Report offer a statewide perspective on provider needs and provide recommendations to advance the state of our workforce.

Stay tuned for more findings and highlights to be released in the coming months and engage with state leaders to consider recommendations from this statewide initiative led by the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children and conducted by partners at Iowa’s Integrated Data System for Decision-Making. |
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| We are Iowa's #1 Resource for All Things Child Care |
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Recruitment
CCR&R is excited to announce our recruitment texting campaign in Iowa. Our community development team designed this marketing tool to help folks who are considering starting a career in early childhood education. This new platform guides participants through options to consider before starting a new, rewarding career in child care.
Start your career in early childhood education! Text: startchildcare to 59925 |
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Looking For Child Care Services
Parent Referral texting offers a way for parents to connect with our online referral options. This parent text campaign will send no more than six texts offering referral assistance and tips to help parents with their search. Our texting system is automated and personal responses may be delayed.
Start your search today! Text: IAchildcare to 59925 |
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Provider Text Messaging
CCR&R offers text messaging to ensure we are delivering information and important updates to early childhood education professionals as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Sign up today! Text: IowaCCRR to 59925 |
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EP Text Messaging
Our Emergency Preparedness team has created a series of reminders and tips to help your child care program. When signing up, you will receive one or two texts a month to review planning requirements and a reminder to run drills.
Preparing Now to Protect Later
Sign up today! Text: IowaEP to 59925 |
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| Funding provided by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services through the Child Care Development Fund |
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