Quality Early Childhood Environments

Iowans work hard.

According to the U.S. Census, Iowa ranks second in the nation for families with children under six where both parents or the only parent in the household works.

Consequently, future family and local community prosperity is linked to accessing quality early childhood development.

Quality early childhood growth includes:

• The assurance that all children have the opportunity to develop intellectually, socially and emotionally.
• The awareness that good “brain architecture” (or the inner structure of the brain) involves positive and repeated interaction with attentive adults exposing children to a variety of experiences.
• The reduction of frequent stress from fear, hunger or interactions with adults under stress – factors that weaken or damage brain structure by inhibiting brain cells from growing and forming connections.

The QECE mission is the improvement of Linn County center-based child care. This involves:

• Networking with local centers to improve the quality of early care and education for children 0-5 years of age;
• Use of nationally recognized Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scales authored by Harms, Clifford and Cryer;
• Trained evaluators and consultants assisting participating centers with the development of center improvement plans;
• Opportunities for participating child care centers to improve their programs through equipment and material grants; and
• Funding by Linn County Community Empowerment in partnership with United Way of East Central Iowa

QECE is

• Currently working with 34 licensed child care centers and staff [33% of the 102 licensed centers in Linn County].
• This is a 23% increase in center participation from last year’s participation; and
• The involvement of 1763 local youth.

As more parents and care providers become aware of the dynamics of early childhood growth, we look for their involvement in this project and its continued growth for our future prosperity.

Click on the "Resource" tab on the HACAP website for the latest version of the Caring Imprints Newsletter listing QECE trainings and activities.
Linn County Early Childhood Education Directory.pdf (49.8 k)