Advocate
Rest Stop
Welcome to the Advocate Rest Stop of the IA Roadmap for child care Success. We’ve named it that because it’s the perfect place to get what you need before you get back on the road to child care solutions in your area.
You’ve landed here because, based on your responses, you want to help increase access to child care in your area. We think these resources will be most helpful to you, but you are welcome to peruse the other action pages as well.
Iowa Health & Human Services
If you are looking:
- To see what the state has funded for child care
- For state grants for child care
- For new rules and regulations on child care
Child Care News & Initiatives | Health & Human Services
Iowa Health & Human Services regulates child care through licensing and quality rating programs to ensure safe, high-quality care. Providers must meet health and safety standards, complete mandatory training, and undergo background checks, while the department investigates concerns as needed.
Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral
If you are a regulated child care provider looking for:
If you are looking for:
- ChildNet Certification
- A CCR&R orientation, interview, or training
- Information to be sure you’re in compliance and using best practices
- Technical assistance to survey your workforce
- A way to stay informed with data
- How to learn more about your current landscape in your community and/or county
- Resources on child care solutions
- Technical assistance to survey your workforce
Community Development Specialist
Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) supports quality child care in Iowa by providing training, professional development, and consultation to child care providers while helping them meet state regulations. CCR&R also assists families in finding quality child care through free, confidential referrals and collaborates with communities to improve child care access.
Starting the Conversation Around Child Care Solutions: Child care is an essential part of a community's critical infrastructure. When creating strategies for your community's economic development, don't forget to include planning around child care. CCR&R Community Development Specialist can help facilitate discussions and solutions in your community; think of us as your conversation guide.
Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children
If you are:
- Interested in joining the Iowa child care coalition
- Looking for state funding that providers can use
- Interested in learning more about T.E.A.C.H. and Wage$
Advocacy & Recommendations – Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children
Iowa AEYC promotes high-quality early learning for each and every child, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.
Iowa Women's Foundation
If you are looking for:
- Information on community child care solutions across the state.
- Technical assistance to create child care solutions for your community
- Child care grant opportunities
Child Care Solutions for Businesses | Iowa Women's Foundation
The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) has a primary focus on shattering the barriers to economic self-sufficiency for Iowa’s women and girls. We do this because when Iowa’s women and girls are successful, our businesses thrive, our communities flourish, and Iowa wins.
State Legislators
If you are:
- Looking to find your state legislator to discuss child care initiatives
Iowa Legislature - Find Your Legislator
The Iowa Legislature is the state’s lawmaking body, responsible for drafting, debating, and passing laws that govern Iowa. Comprised of the Senate and House of Representatives, it establishes the state budget, sets policies, and represents the interests of Iowa residents.
Preschool Continuum of Care Grant
If you are:
- Trying to find Supply and Demand for your community
Statewide CSF graphic
If you are:
- Trying to create more child care spaces in your community
- Advocating to increase child care wages at the child cares in your Community
Child Care Solution Funds
If you are:
- Trying to create more child care spaces in your community
- Advocating to increase child care wages at the child cares in your Community
