Iowa Daycare and Child Care Grants
The State Government of Iowa, under the leadership of Gov. Chet Culver, has actively implemented laws to improve child care in the state. Iowa has been aiming for a child safe and nurturing environment in child care settings, and encourages the establishment of more child care facilities to aid parents, especially those who work, in the care of their children.
It is common knowledge that majority of people who are in the child care business may have used their own savings or borrowed money from family and friends to start up their day care center. Most of the time, operating a child care center or day care service causes a strain in the finances. The truth is that there isn’t very much profit to be had from this industry. The plus side though is that the fullfillment and sense of purpose we get from teaching and nurturing children is priceless.
This is why the State Government of Iowa and the federal government has undertaken measures to provide some form of assistance to those engaged in the day care and child care service. Instead of seeking a bank loan, a better alternative to obtain funding for the continued operation of a child care center is to look for grants that are given by many organizations, both government and private.
A single grant may not be enough to sustain the operation of a child care center but is possible to obtain multiple grants to cover the needed capital. The best source of grants for a child care center is the local Child and Family Service Office which can help a child care center access several grant programs.
Operators can also tap local businesses to contribute funds toward the establishment and maintenance of the child care center.
Applying for a grant is not easy but it is not as difficult as others say it is. Most organizations that provide grants have ready application forms which are generally self-explanatory. The basic requirements for availing of a grant include a business license to operate a child care center and a federal tax identification number.
Most grant applications require a grant proposal, which is simply a request for a grant that outlines the reasons why the child care center should be entitled to it. The proposal must explain how the child care center can provide a positive impact on the community that it aims to serve. The proposal must also explain how the grant will be specifically used for.
Different Sources of Grants
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Federal
Federal grants are funded by the different agencies of the federal government. Typically, grants from a federal agency are funneled down to the communities through state agencies.
U.S. Department of Agriculture – It has two agencies with start-up/expansion funding programs:
The Rural Housing Service (RHS) has facility funding available for non-profits or local governments that support child care facilities. (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/index.html)
The Rural Business Cooperative Service has guaranteed loan programs for small business development available for profit child care programs. For eligibility or to apply for any of their programs, contact the state or local Rural Development Office, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd.map.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – The agency has funding programs that support child care services. The Child Care Bureau has several funding programs for child care facilities. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – It supports child care facilities near or within public housing, EZ/EC’s, or low-income areas through facility construction using block grants, programs, and networks. To determine eligibility or to apply for any of their programs, contact the state HUD office at http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/states
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – It provides small businesses financing options, technical assistance, and child care resource information. Check with your local SBA offices at http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html
U.S. General Services Administration – It has programs that allow the donation of surplus federal personal property to state and local public agencies and qualifying nonprofits, which include child care centers. Please contact http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=10092&noc=T
There are other federal programs that support child care such as:
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) provides child care vouchers to subsidize the cost of care for low-income families as well as funds for state child care quality improvement initiatives. Nearly half of all children receiving CCDF subsidies are between the ages of five and 12. States are required to utilize at least 4 percent of their CCDF funds on quality activities and may also use discretionary funds earmarked by Congress for school-age care quality improvements and/or resource and referral activities. States may choose to use these funds to support initiatives to improve the quality and availability of school-age care, such as training programs or capacity-building grants for afterschool providers.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds, which provide financial support for low-income families, may also be used to support afterschool programs in ways consistent with one or more of the four purposes of the TANF program. States may either directly spend TANF funds on afterschool programs and initiatives, or states can transfer up to 30 percent of their federal TANF allocation to the CCDF. TANF funds transferred to CCDF are subject to all of the CCDF rules and requirements, and can be used to expand out-of-school time capacity-building and quality-enhancement efforts. Direct TANF spending can provide states with additional flexibility when it comes to afterschool care. For example, funds can support services for older youth and can support programs as well as individual subsidies for children.
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) is the only federal funding source that exclusively supports afterschool programs. The purpose of 21CCLC is to support community learning centers that provide students with a broad array of academic enrichment services, including tutoring, homework help, and community service, as well as music, arts, sports, and cultural activities. When the program first began in 1998, the U.S. Department of Education made competitive awards directly to school districts. However, following the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, 21CCLC was converted into a state formula grant program. As a result, the Department of Education awards grants to State Education Agencies (SEAs), which then manage statewide competitions to grant funds to eligible organizations.
Federal Food and Nutrition Programs may support snacks or meals for afterschool program participants. After school programs may be able to receive reimbursements from one of four different food and nutrition programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: the National School Lunch Program: Afternoon Snacks, the Child and Adults Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program and the School Breakfast Program. Reimbursement from these programs can be used to free up funds already spent on meals and snacks to support other program components.
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State
There are several state agencies in Iowa that fund child care assistance programs. Many grants can be obtained through the Family Child Care and Development Grants. Applications can be made through http://www.governmentgrants.us.
In addition, funding sources can be accessed through the following programs of the Iowa Department of Human Services:
Early ACCESS is a partnership between families with young children, birth to age three, and providers from the Departments of Education, Public Health, Human Services, the Child Health Specialty Clinics. The purpose of this program is for families and staff to work together in identifying, coordinating and providing needed services and resources that will help the family assist their infant or toddler to grow and develop.
Early Childhood Special Education
Early childhood special education services for children, three to five years of age and their families are provided by area education agencies and local school districts.
Professionals with training and expertise in special education services implement the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B. support the educational needs of young children and families, birth to five years of age. Early childhood special education professionals provide training and serve as a resource to early childhood providers in community settings such as preschool, child care and Head Start programs to meet the developmental learning needs of young children.
Also, families and early childhood providers may request information about appropriate expectations for children’s development.
Early Head Start is a locally operated, federally funded program that provides a comprehensive child development program serving pregnant women and children birth to three with guidance, information and direct services to foster healthy development of children and their families.
Even Start is a Federally funded program that supports improving the educational opportunities of the Nation’s low-income families by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy program.
Community Empowerment was established by 1998 state legislation to create a partnership between communities and state government to improve the well being for children, prenatal through 5, and their families. There are 58 Community Empowerment Areas ( CEA ) that represent Iowa’s 99 counties. The Iowa Department of Education is represented on the state-level Iowa Empowerment Board and the state technical assistance team to provide support for local CEAs and promote early care, health and education serivces.
The Shared Visions Parent Support programs provide family support for high-risk children in approximately 15 counties. Programs provide individual and/or group opportunities for families to obtain information focusing on parenting skills, child growth and development, building of self-concept, nutrition, positive guidance techniques, family resource management, parent literacy, and access to an array of supportive services from a network of agencies that are available to families.
Voluntary early childhood state standards and information are provided for implementation of quality early learning child (Early Learning Standards) and program (Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards) developmentally appropriate practices.
Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children
The purpose of Iowa’s Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children is to provide an opportunity for all young children in the State of iowa to enter school ready to learn by expanding voluntary access to quality preschool curricula for all four-year-old children. The allocation of funds for the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program is intended to improve access to quality early childhood education and provide a predictable, equitable and sustainable funding method to increase the number of children participating in quality programs.
Therefore, the four-year-old preschool funds should increase the number of children participating in quality programs. The statewide program was established May 10, 2007 when Governor Chet Culver signed HF 877.
Every Child Reads 3-5 (ECR 3-5) is a statewide initiative led by the Iowa Department of Education to enhance the literacy development of preschool children. The goal is to expand the capacity of early care and education systems (including early childhood care and education providers) to use language, reading, and writing strategies to enhance the literacy development of children 3 to 5 years of age.
The Early Elementary Innovative Grants are supported by state funds to assist districts in addressing the needs of kindergarten through third grade students at-risk of educational failure. These targeted funds support low pupil-teacher ratios, class size reduction, parent involvement, utilization of services provided by other community agencies, developmentally appropriate practices and innovative program designs.
The Iowa Early Childhood Network is a leadership group of Early Childhood specialists from each area education agency who meet monthly to provide technical assistance to early childhood programs within their region.
Iowa Early Intervention Block Grant Program
The program’s goals for kindergarten through grade three are to provide the resources needed to reduce class sizes in basic skills instruction to the state goal of seventeen students for every one teacher; provide direction and resources for early intervention efforts by school districts to achieve a higher level of student success in the basic skills, especially reading skills; and increase communication accountability regarding student performance.
Address:
Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 E 14th St
Des Moines IA 50319-0146 -
Private
Private foundations that are based or operating in the State of IOWA, as well as those operating nationwide, can also be tapped as source of funding for the establishment and operation of child care business, support for parents and families to avail of child care services, and the training of professionals in the field of child care. Some of these foundations are the following:
Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines is a donor-driven public foundation whose purpose is to improve the quality of life in Greater Des Moines through philanthropy. The Community Foundation utilizes a strategic grantmaking plan which furthers its Leadership Agenda. Through its grantmaking and community programs, the Community Foundation is committed to allocating substantial resources to specific strategies and outcomes. Areas of funding interest include Arts & Culture, Community Betterment, Education, Health, Children, Youth & Families, Workforce Development.
Contact Information:
http://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/
Finkbine Mansion
1915 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515.883.2626
Fax: 515.883.2630
Email: info@desmoinesfoundation.orgGrantmaking is limited to projects that support the development of children ages birth through 18 years old. We consider grant proposals that further the Foundation’s mission for people in the communities where the founders did business. These communities are: Alabama – Limestone County; Indiana – DeKalb, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and Whitley Counties; Iowa – Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Rihggold and Union Counties.
Contact Information:
http://www.dekkofoundation.org/The Harrah’s Foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on three categories: Seniors – community-based programs that enhance the lives of seniors are our primary philanthropic initiative.
Education – community-based programs that enhance educational opportunities and resources for students seeking higher education.
Civic – broadly defined as local programs that are vital to the success of each of our communities. These include community-based and faith-based organizations dealing with children and families, adults, the environment, health care, the arts, etc.
Requests must be submitted through Harrah’s Entertainment properties – the corporate office will not accept any requests for funding. You may mail your proposal directly to the property located nearest to your community. Geographic funding focus: AZ, CA, IL, IN, IO, LA, MS, MO, NC, NJ, NV, PA, TN.
Contact Information:
http://www.harrahsfoundation.com/
harrahsfoundation@harrahs.comRockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF)
RBF is dedicated to promoting the well-being of all people in the transition to global interdependence. One of the goals of the fund’s Education Program is to promote universal, quality education and care for pre-K children by using a comprehensive approach to their development, including concerns for health, safety, and readiness to learn. Strategies include supporting development of public policies that promote universal access to early childhood programs, and advancing the professional development of early educators.
Contact Information:
http://www.rbf.orgAreas of interest of the Peter Kiewit Foundation for grantmaking purposes are broad and include the arts, education, children and families, community development, health, and human services. The Peter Kiewit Foundation funds programs, facilities, and capital projects. The Foundation is interested in receiving applications for specific, defined projects or programs, but generally excludes funding requests for support of debt retirement, operational deficits, hospitals or health care facilities.
Geographic Focus: the State of Nebraska, Western Iowa within 100 miles of Omaha, community of Sheridan, Wyoming, the community of Rancho Mirage, California.
Contact Information:
http://www.peterkiewitfoundation.org/
Peter Kiewit Foundation
8805 Indian Hills Drive, Suite 225Omaha, Nebraska 68114
Story County Community Foundation
The mission of the Story County Community Foundation is to foster private giving, strengthen service providers and improve the conditions of the county. Areas of funding interest include Children Y Youth, Arts & Culture, Civic Involvement, Education, Health, Mental Health, Human Services.
Contact Information:
http://www.storycountyfoundation.org/
Story County Community Foundation
416 Douglas, Suite 202
P.O. Box 1666
Ames, IA 50010-1666
515-232-9200
www.storycountyfoundation.org
email: storycounty@storycountyfoundation.org
