Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral is set to visit Skiff Medical Center Tuesday evening to hold an informational and support meeting in hopes to bring more child care providers to the area and state.
CCR&R is working to bridge the gap in child care shortage in Jasper County.
“Jasper County is experiencing a child care shortage, especially for second or third shift care and infant care. Family child care has traditionally met these specific demands in communities,” CCR&R Recruitment and Retention Specialist Brenda O’Halloran said.
CCR&R supports quality child care throughout the state of Iowa. The program is available to assist families in selecting child care providers who best meet the needs of a child and their family.
Child care consultants provide on-site consultation to licensed preschools, centers, non-registered home providers and child development home providers.
The meeting is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Service Room on the basement level of Skiff Medical Center. Attendees msy be current child care providers or those who are interested in starting a family care business.
Attendees will visit with O’Halloran to discuss how CCR&R can support local child care providers.
“Both experienced providers and those just thinking about starting a child care business will be able to discuss challenges and opportunities to meet this growing demand,” O’Halloran said.
CCR&R referred 50 families and 88 children to child care providers in Jasper County in 2016.
Also in Jasper County in 2016, 55 percent of child care providers were center based programs, 33 percent of child care providers were registered child development homes and 8 percent were child care homes.
In 2016, the most requested child care in Jasper County was for children who were infants to 12 months old
CCR&R is funded by the Iowa Department of Human Services through the Child Care Development Fund.
Contact Kayla Langmaid at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or klangmaid@newtondailynews.com