Early Childhood Programs

The Iowa Early Childhood Initiative was established by legislation during the 1998 Iowa legislative session in an effort to create a partnership between communities and state government with an initial emphasis to improve the well-being of families with young children.

The purpose of creating Early Childhood Iowa is to empower individuals and their communities to achieve desired results for improving the quality of life for children through the age of five and their families.

It is believed that the desired results identified by communities, with the support of the state, will be achieved as individuals, governments, and agencies work collaboratively within communities.

It is believed that local individuals in local communities working together will identify and implement the best means for attaining the desired results.

The role of the Early Childhood Iowa Board and the State is to support and facilitate growth of community responsibility.

SHIP Early Childhood Iowa Grant Awards 2017

The SHIP Board awarded the following grants to the agencies and programs listed below. Each Early Childhood Iowa grant starts July 1, 2016 and ends June 30, 2017. Each grant is eligible for renewal for the following year (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018) if funding is available:

Comunity Action Agency of Siouxland: Child Care Nurse Consultant $81,800

Community Action Agency of Siouxland: Early Head Start $48,080

Crittenton Center: HOPES Program $174,408

Crittenton Center: Resource Center $180,155

Crittenton Center: West High Infant Care Center $69,300

Ida County Kids Fest Child Health Fair $2,000

Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children: WAGE$ Program $20,000

Jackson Recovery Center: Sanctuary Child Care $30,000

Mary Treglia Community House: Parent Child Program $19,666

Mid-Sioux Opportunity: Early Childhood Professional Development $13,518

Siouxland District Health Department: HOPES Program $233,625

Siouxland District Health Department: iSmile Oral Health Program $77,700

Western Iowa Tech Community College: Early Childhood Continuing Education Scholarships $16,850

SHIP also awards preschool and child care scholarships for tuition assistance to low income families for the 2016-17 year. To see the list of quality providers and to download the application to apply for assistance, please visit these pages:

http://siouxlandship.org/early-childhood/preschool-programs/

http://siouxlandship.org/early-childhood/childcare-programs/

Early Childhood Professional – Continuing Education

Are you an Early Childhood professional working in Ida or Woodbury counties that would like to further your education? SHIP’s Early Childhood Iowa program proudly funds scholarships for ECI professionals to continue their early childhood education at Western Iowa Tech Community College.

WITCC Early Childhood Scholarship Application Summer 2017

WITCC Early Childhood Scholarship Application Fall 2017

Early Childhood Iowa Annual Reports

SHIP Early Childhood Iowa FY2016 Annual Report

SHIP Early Childhood Iowa FY2015 Annual Report

Ida County ECI Committee

Mikka Belson, Citizen
*Brenna Franken, Northwest AEA
Lindsey Gilbert, Community Action Agency of Siouxland
Megan Miller, Siouxland District Health Department
Cindi Prather, Plains Area Mental Health
Kim Schroeder, Mid-Sioux Opportunity
Dick Sievers, Mid-Sioux Opportunity
Melony Storm, Parent Partner

Woodbury County ECI Committee

Terrie Binneboese, United Way of Siouxland
Kim Burrack, Sioux City Community School District
Cindy Chettinger, Northwest Area Education Agency
Erica DeLeon, Siouxland YMCA
Lindsey Gilbert, Community Action Agency of Siouxland
Mary Groen, Northwest Area Education Agency
Erica McWell, Stella Sanford Child Development Center
Jackie Navrkal, Mid-Sioux Opportunity Child Care Resource & Referral
Rachael Ostermyer, Head Start
Mona Scaletta, Siouxland District Health Department
*Kim Schroeder, Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Child Care Resource & Referral

*denotes Committee Chair

Ida & Woodbury County Community Plan

Ida & Woodbury County Community Plan 2013

For more information on the Ida or Woodbury County Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) Committee, please contact Kerri Hall at: (712) 222-6394, or email: khall@siouxlandship.org.