Service Strategy

1999-2000 Work Plan

Priority Area 1(A)

Add new, or expand existing, sites for comprehensive preschool/Head Start opportunities or home-based programs (e.g., Parents as Teachers), in areas currently unserved or underserved throughout Polk County

1. Establish new preschool (early childhood center) at Watrous Elementary and Wright Elementary

• Underserved south side area; high waiting list

2. Establish Head Start Home Visiting Project at Mitchellville Elementary

• Program moves to center-based in 2000
• Underserved SE Polk Area; waiting list

3. Remaining dollars for Des Moines Public Schools preschool slots

Priority Area 1(B)

Provide financial assistance for currently unserved, at-risk children residing outside the Des Moines Public School (DMPS) district to access high quality pre-school education programs

1. Provide vouchers to parents of high-risk children outside Des Moines Public Schools to access high quality preschool

Priority Area 1(C)

Expand the availability of wrap-around preschool/child care services to ensure that working parents of at-risk children have access to high quality part-day preschool programs

1. Wrap-around priority to children selected in 1A
2. Propose wrap-around at Hispanic Educational Resources for Mia Escuelita children
3. Unallocated dollars will be targeted to unexpected contingencies

Priority Area 1(D)

Provide training for preschool and child care center staff on early detection of and intervention for communication delays/disorders; and screening and therapy for communication delays or disorders among children ages 2-5 at child care centers and preschools

1. Using the Smooth Talkers Program, screening, therapy and staff training will be provided to at least ten (10) child care centers

Service Strategy

Recommendations

Priority Area 2(A)

Develop a coordinated assessment and referral system to identify and link families in need of parent education and/or family support services (e.g., home visiting, case management) to the most appropriate service provider in the community

1. Develop a database of Maternal and Child Health services/parent education, etc. for families with children prenatal – 5 years. Means of access:

• Set on web-site
• Printed materials
• First Call for Help Data base

Priority Area 2(B)

Expand and enhance the capacity of existing, effective family support programs to identify and serve more high-risk families

1. Family Support Advisory Group will:

• Define individual programs by age, geography, eligibility, access point, services, performance outcomes
• Incorporate this information into a continuum

Priority Area 2(C)

Increase capacity to provide customized services and emergency assistance to families to meet basic needs

1. Provide emergency and other material assistance and services to families identified through the family support pool

Priority Area 2(D)

Encourage participation in and completion of voluntary parent education programs among low-income parents with young children

1. Encourage the participation and completion of voluntary parenting education classes and activities by low-income families with children 0-5.
2. Coordinate Parent Education monthly through Child Care Resource and Referral Center Parent Education Coordinating Committee

Priority Area 2(E)

Expand the availability of temporary respite care services for families at high risk of child abuse or neglect, and create the capacity for site-based crisis care for infants and young children for short-term care.

1. Commit up to $120,000 for respite care/crisis nursery/ drop-in child care using existing respite child care continuum.

Priority Area 2(F)

Increase utilization of primary and preventive health care among women and children by expanding maternal and child health services for high risk pregnant women and young children; increase the availability of family planning services to low income and vulnerable women and teenagers; and assist families in enrolling in new and existing health insurance programs.

1. Continue existing funding strategies

• Maintain current funding at Ankeny
• Expand funding levels at SE Polk Schools and Hispanic Educational Resources based on numbers served

1. Fund family planning services/ supplies for low income women and teens through the three (3) main family planning providers for low income women.
2. Hire 3 to 4 outreach staff through Americorps to enroll children in HAWK-I program.

Service Strategy

Recommendations

Priority Area 3(A)

Streamline accessibility for parents eligible for subsidized child care by standardizing intake procedures, decreasing the number of forms required, shortening the time for eligibility determination.

1. Lobby for a single point of entry system.
2. Establish standards for eligibility to be determined at the time of application for those parents who have all necessary information/documentation.

Priority Area 3(B)

Stabilize the financial condition of targeted non-profit child care centers that serve a high proportion of subsidized children by bridging the gap between the state reimbursement rate and the local market price of center-based child care and increasing enrollment, and guaranteeing funding to providers during conditional eligibility period.

1. Establish contractual arrangements between the targeted child care centers and the PCCEAB to provide a subsidy to the center for the difference between the state reimbursement rate and the market price of child care.
2. Provide a guarantee of payment for child care, at the targeted centers, for those children who are conditionally eligible and are later determined to be ineligible.

Priority Area 3(C)

Improve the quality of targeted child care centers by supporting NAEYC accreditation process, underwriting CDA training costs for staff and attracting and retaining quality staff by increasing salaries.

1. The goal of the Initiative is to facilitate and coordinate the progression of Polk County child care providers towards greater levels of knowledge, professionalism and quality.

Priority Area 3(D)

Improve the operational efficiency of targeted non-profit child care centers by providing technical assistance in various administrative and business functions and facilitating sharing of services and resources.

Priority Area 3(E)

Increase the number of certified (ChildNet) and accredited family day care homes, particularly those serving infants and/or providing 24-hour or shift care, in selected geographic areas of need through recruitment, community-based training, and provider incentives; and increase training for child care providers.