An initiative to empower individuals and their communities to achieve desired results to improve the quality of life for children ages birth to 5 and their families.

““Every child, beginning at Every child, beginning at birth, will birth, will be healthy and be healthy and successful.”successful.”

Vision“Our community will assist families in nurturing their children in a safe and supporting environment, which will provide the opportunity in preparing our children for a safe and healthy future.”

Mission“To ensure the collaboration within our community that will provide our families with young children the resources and opportunities necessary to have the highest quality of life possible.”

Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early Childhood Iowa Priorities

Provide a comprehensive program of parent support and education to families with children ages 0 – 5.

Increase the availability of affordable quality childcare for all times of the day while improving connections between families and providers.

Improve the quality of early childhood care and education through professional development and support to providers.

Provide an early childhood education experience to children before entering kindergarten.

Harrison County Shelby CountyJenny Seuntjens - Secretary James

BurmeisterMike Bunde Pat DavittRon Riley Cindy Burchett –

Vice Chair

Monona CountyAnne LivermoreJanice HildrethAmy Maule - Chair

Primary Responsibilities The Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early Childhood

(HMS ECI) Board is responsible for the oversight and management of Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early Childhood Iowa funds.

Additionally the HMS ECI Board is responsible for leading a community planning process responsible for developing and implementing the community plan to ensure Harrison, Monona, and Shelby County children enter kindergarten ready to learn.

A copy of the community plan can be obtained from the HMS ECI Office.

Harrison Monona Shelby Dunlap Blencoe Defiance Logan Castana Earling Little Sioux Mapleton Elk Horn Magnolia Moorhead Harlan Missouri Valley Onawa Irwin Modale Rodney KirkmanMondamin Soldier PanamaPersia Turin PortsmouthPisgah Ute ShelbyWoodbine Whiting Tennant

Westphalia

 

Those school districts that work directly with the programs or the Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early Childhood Iowa board are: Harrison Monona ShelbyBoyer Valley CSD MVAO CSD Harlan CSDLogan-Magnolia CSD West Monona CSD IKM – Manning

CSDMissouri Valley CSD Whiting CSD Elk Horn-

Kimballton West Harrison CSD Charter Oak Ute CSD SCCS (Private School)Woodbine CSD The remaining schools are only partially in our area or are bordering schools and work closely with the neighboring Early Childhood Iowa areas.

Harrison County 14,928Monona County 9,243Shelby County 12,167

Total Population 36,338Total Child Population 0 – 17 8,439Total Child Population 0 – 5 2,526

Population Growth Harrison County -4.7%

Monona County -7.8%Shelby County -7.6%

2010 Census

2000 Total Population 0-

17

Harrison 7.1% 8.7%Monona 9.4% 8.9% Shelby 6% 6.4% Iowa 9.1% 11%

2010 Total Population 0-17

Harrison 10% 14.9% Monona 11% 20% Shelby 10.2% 12.5% Iowa 12.5% 16.2%

2010 Census

Child Abuse Victims in Iowa % of abused were children 0 – 5

# of children 0-5 abused

2007 2010 Harrison 24; 36.9% 37; 55% Monona 15; 46.9% 13; 43% Shelby 23; 51.1% 13;

41.9%

Prepared by: Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, www.pcaiowa.orgSource: Iowa Dept. of Human Services

2008 Pop 0-

17

2009 Poverty

Rate

2010 Accepted Reports

2010 Confirmed or Founded

Reports

2010 Confirmation

Rate

2010 Abused Children

2010 Rank in Rate of Abuse in State of

Iowa

Harrison 3,464 14.9% 110 35 31.8% 67 48

Monona 1,867 18.9% 61 17 27.9% 30 61

Shelby 2,591 12.8% 73 22 30.1% 31 80

Prepared by: Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, www.pcaiowa.org, 8/19/2011Source: Iowa Dept. of Human Services

Early Childhood Funds to enhance the capacity and quality of child care services to help parents obtain or retain employment. Funds can be distributed in the following areas:

Capacity BuildingQuality ImprovementHome or Center Child Care ConsultantChild Care Nurse ConsultantProvider Training or Professional Development5% can be used for Administration Costs

Total Received for fiscal year 2012 - $33,498

School Ready Funds are utilized to support a comprehensive school ready children plan designed by the HMS ECI area board. Most of the funding is targeted for categorical purposes with specific parameters. Funds can be distributed in the following areas:

Preschool Programming for Low Income FamiliesFamily Support Prenatal through FiveQuality Improvement FundsOther Funds (General Aid)Administration Cost Up to 3%

Total Received for fiscal year 2012 - $316,532

Learning for Life Parent Education and Home Visitation Program

provides families with young children personalized home visits with a certified parent educator. The parent educator will help the parent(s) give your child the best possible start in life by helping increase confidence and knowledge of child development and parenting skills. For more information about each program please contact the following educators in your county.

Harrison County Sherri Webb, Linnea Handbury, or Tabbi Melby (Teen Parent Educator) at (712)

644-2220 

Monona County Ann Schmidt or Cristy Wright at (712)433-1773 Shelby County Joan Kloewer, Rhonda Anderson, or Karla Berndt at (712)755-4296

Child Care Nurse Consultant (CCNC) program is designed to improve the health and safety of Iowa’s children while they are enrolled in child care and early education settings. The CCNC works closely with childcare providers, offering health and safety assessments, child record reviews, training, and consultation services through on-site visits, telephone, and email contacts. These services improve the quality of care provided to the families and children participating in care.

 Child Care Nurse Consultant: Lori Hoch at (712)263-3303

Child Care Consultant provides professional and quality consultation and training to local care and education providers in order to enhance and improve the care provided to children ages birth to five years of age.

 Child Care Consultant:Jeanette Linnenburger at (712)322-2621 Ext 20

 

Oral Health – ISMILE provides gap-filling direct care services to improve and maintain the oral health status of children in our area. A registered dental hygienist visits all the preschools in the area providing oral hygiene education, oral health screenings, and fluoride varnish applications for all children who return consents to the school.

Oral Health Hygienist:Sharon Davidson at (712) 263-3303

Preschool Scholarships Program provides for families with preschool age children (3, 4 and 5) that are not receiving tuition assistance through any other program (i.e. Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program, Shared Visions, Head Start, etc.).  Scholarships will be given on a first come/first served basis and will pay up to $75 for 4 and 5 year olds and up to $100 for 3 year olds (up to 3 days a week of preschool) of the tuition for children that are at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. Scholarships will be provided to those whose incomes are below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines at 100% for (3 days a week of preschool). Tuition assistance is confidential.

More Information Contact:Diane Foss at (712)433-9553

Transportation West Central Community Action collaborates with Southwest Iowa Planning Council to provide transportation for Head Start students in Logan and transfers them to the Woodbine Head Start.

Early Care and Education Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development provided by local professionals

such as the child care nurse consultant and Area Education Agency educators to provide critical training to improve the quality care for children ages 0 – 5.

Preschool Playground Improvement Grants an opportunity to improve the safety of preschools outdoor play environments to expand the learning experience for children. All participants will receive a playground safety assessment and complete a training requirement.

Oral Health (I-SMILE) served 453 children with dental screens

36 of those children were referred on for additional treatment or services

Child Care Nurse Consultant made 168 visits to Early Child Care and Education providers, assisting them to improve and educate about health and safety issues and to

improve the quality of service that was provided to 4,312 children

Child Care Consultant made 70 visits to Early Child Care and Education providers, assisting them to improve the quality of service that was provided to 1,079 children.

Child Care Nurse Consultant made 21 visits to 11 different playgrounds that were used by 22 different programs to provide guidance and safety assessment of those playgrounds.

493 preschool students were using preschool playgrounds that made significant safety improvements in 2011.