You Can Help Make Sure Young Children are Counted in the 2020 Census

Did you know the 2010 Census missed over 1 million young children? There are multiple reasons why, but often times it is out of confusion (i.e., the child lives in more than 1 household or in a multi generational household) or not understanding the importance of counting young children in the census.

However, getting an accurate count of children in the census is important for our local communities. It helps local government plan for the future and it determines the funding levels and services young children receive from the federal government (services such as: schools, child care, housing, public transportation and medical care). Not counting young children can mean your community misses out on funding and services that help its citizens thrive and grow. Below are a few resources you may want to consider sharing with parents:

"We are ECI” Strategic Plan 2019-2022

Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) recently adopted a new strategic plan informed by a comprehensive needs assessment including data from stakeholders across the early childhood system. You can view a copy of this new plan on ECI’s website here .

CCR&R Annual Report

Child Care Resource & Referral released their 2019 Annual Report focusing on child care solutions for communities and businesses. You can review statewide happenings here .

How Engaged are Your Families?

In child care, the majority of your day is spent interacting with children, but how you interact with and engage families can have a large impact on your program. Family members are a child’s first teachers and have an enormous impact on a child’s growth and development. However, many families are unsure of concrete ways to support their children’s development and/or have limited knowledge of typical child development. Working with families to engage them in ways to support their child and your program can be a win win for everyone! The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) summarized what we know about Family Engagement into Six Principles. We’ve included 2 below and you can find the rest on NAEYC’s website here.

Programs and teachers engage families in ways that are truly reciprocal. Programs and families benefit from shared resources and information. Programs invite families to share their unique knowledge and skills and encourage active participation in the life of the program. Caregivers seek information about children’s lives, families and communities and integrate this information into their curriculum and teaching practices.

Programs provide learning activities for the home and in the community. Programs use activities at home and in the community to enhance each child’s early learning. This can also encourage and support families’ efforts to create a learning environment beyond the program.

What Happens to my CCA Timesheets?

Have you ever wondered what happens once your Child Care Assistance (CCA) timesheet is submitted to the Department of Human Services (DHS)? The steps below outline the process that DHS goes through to transform your timesheet into your payment.

Example:

Early Childhood Iowa (ECI)

This website contains ECI’s new strategic plan, along with news and information about the ECI system. There are both local and state-level opportunities to be involved with the early childhood work happening in Iowa.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

NAEYC has a webpage specifically for families. The “Browse Articles by Topic” feature can be a good resource if you are trying to share information on specific topic with families.

Find CCR&R Services in your county:

Northwest Iowa Region 1

Northeast Iowa Region 2

Southwest Iowa Region 3

Central Iowa Region 4

Southeast Iowa Region 5