SHIP EARLY CHILDHOOD IOWA
SHIP's Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) program exists so that Ida and Woodbury Counties develop the capacity and commitment for using local, informed decision making to achieve desired results for Iowa’s young children and their families.
SHIP’S ECI Mission Statement: Every child, beginning at birth, will be healthy and successful.
ANNOUNCEMENT 11/13/26:
SHIP is pleased to offer funding for early care and education scholarships for eligible children in Ida and Woodbury Counties. Applications will be processed and approved based on financial need. You can find the eligibility guidelines and more details explained in SHIP’s Early Care and Education Scholarships policy.
Applications received prior to December 15, 2026 for approved preschool scholarships for eligible children will retro back to the beginning of the current school year and approved childcare scholarships for eligible children will retro back to November 1, 2026.
The deadline for applications to be submitted is December 15, 2026 to be considered eligible for retroactive status. Any applications received after December 15th will be eligible to start from the month the application is received. Applications can be accepted throughout the year but are dependent upon the availability of funds.
Preschool and childcare providers are responsible for signing up eligible families for scholarships and turning in all paperwork to SHIP. Families should complete the application form and return it along with income verifications to the provider so they can be submitted for review.
If approved, SHIP will notify the provider and the provider will bill for the monthly tuition costs and track the scholarship participants.
Any eligible program or provider that wants to participate will sign a contract with SHIP that outlines the expectations required for the scholarship program.
Applications will only be accepted from childcare and preschool providers. Families must work with their care providers to apply.
Questions? Please contact Dawn Sickelka at dsickelka@siouxlandship.org
SHIP Early Childhood Iowa Grant Awards 2026
On May 15, 2026, the SHIP Board awarded the following grants to the agencies and programs listed below. Each Early Childhood Iowa grant starts July 1, 2026 and ends June 30, 2027. This is Year 1 in a 3-year grant cycle.
Crittenton Center: Resource Center $208,622 ($175,000 Home Visitation, $33,622 discretionary)
Crittenton Center: Stella Sanford Child Development Center: Extended Access $115,396
Crittenton Center: West High Infant Care Center $106,846
Lutheran Services in Iowa: HOPES program $67,185
Mary Treglia Community House: Preschool program $101,657
Mid-Sioux Opportunity: Ida County Preschool program $26,310
Native American Child Care Center: Preschool Program $28,213
Rosecrance Jackson Recovery Centers: Little Inspirations Childcare $19,530
SHIP: Administration and Program Coordination $168,469
Siouxland District Health Department: HOPES Program $350,000
Siouxland District Health Department: iSmile Oral Health Program $92,089
Early Childhood Iowa Annual Reports
SHIP Early Childhood Iowa FY2024 Annual Report
SHIP Early Childhood Iowa FY2023 Annual Report
SHIP Early Childhood Iowa FY2022 Annual Report
Early Care & Education Scholarships
SHIP offers tuition assistance for child care and preschool to eligible low-income Ida and Woodbury County families, who are not eligible for Child Care Assistance (CCA) through the State of Iowa.
SHIP Application - Preschool
SHIP Policy - Early Care & Education Scholarships
Early Childhood Minutes
Early Childhood Minutes
SHIP’s Early Childhood Iowa committees (one in Ida County, one in Woodbury County), typically meet quarterly. These committees make recommendations to the SHIP Board of Directors.
To obtain minutes from an ECI Committee meeting from earlier than the above posted, please contact Kerri Hall: khall@siouxlandship.org.