Early Childhood Programs

The quality of life for young children has taken on considerable emphasis over the past decade. Research has shown much about brain development and how that development is so crucial to an individual’s earliest years in life. Educators, early childhood specialist, health professionals and other experts have learned much over the past years of study about how we as humans learn. Taking that knowledge along with the idea that most people want children to be safe, ready to enter school and ultimately live successful, happy lives; early childhood education initiatives have grown. The schools, government, and non-profit agencies are focusing in on how they respectively can contribute to providing an opportunity for young children (0-5) to participate in environments where they are secure and nurtured. Early Childhood Initiatives are not only focusing on a child being prepared to enter school and succeed, but also focus on having healthy children; providing safe, nurturing child care opportunities; and helping families and communities be safe, caring, and nurturing environments in which to learn and grow.

The State of Iowa has taken note of the needs of children during their early years and in 1998 established through legislation the Iowa Community Empowerment Initiative. The purpose of creating the community empowerment initiative is to empower individuals and their communities to achieve desired results for improving the quality of life for children 0-5 and their families. It is believed that the desired results identified by communities, with the support of the state, will be achieved as individuals, governments, and agencies work collaboratively within communities. It is believed that local individuals in local communities working together will identify and implement the best means for attaining the desired results. The role of the Iowa Empowerment board and the State is to support and facilitate growth of community responsibility.

Empowerment communities will develop the capacity and commitment for achieving the results of:
* Healthy Children
* Children Ready to Succeed in School
* Safe and Supportive Communities
* Secure and Nurturing Families
* Secure and Nurturing Child Care Environments

The Department of Education has formed the Iowa Early Childhood Network to promote the optimal development and education of all young children by providing leadership and support to the collaborative efforts of families, schools, and communities.

Schools are becoming more involved with the younger child as they learn more from research on how quickly the brain develops throughout those early years. Schools are starting preschools and early childhood programs, providing parent education and partnering with other organizations to address early childhood issues. Working with the above programs and partners is hoped to help bring children ready to enter kindergarten, ready to learn and to succeed. Some schools, such as those in Polk County have received funding through their local empowerment board to provide preschool services to those children you can not afford it, to provide a literacy liaison to help parents in areas of how they can help their child learn and develop.

The Iowa Child Care & Early Education Network provides vision, leadership, and support for the child care and early education field and will promote state policies and partnerships to the development and learning of all children.

The Child and Family Policy Center was established in 1989 by former Iowa Legislator Dr. Charles Bruner to better link research and policy on issues vital to children and families, and to advocate for outcome-based policies to improve child well-being. The Center was founded by Tanager Place, a charitable organization in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.