DES MOINES — Governor Kim Reynolds announced initiatives to strengthen Iowa’s child care system, including a new Statewide Solutions Fund, an extended Child Care Assistance pilot for child care workers, and Continuum of Care grants to support full-day care for 4-year-olds.

“Collaboration between individuals, businesses, and government delivers results for Iowans, especially in child care,” Reynolds said. “These programs will grow our child care workforce, increase capacity, and provide working parents with full-day care options.”

Continuum of Care Grants

Iowa HHS is launching a Request for Proposal for Continuum of Care grants, offering up to $300,000 over three years. These grants will fund partnerships between Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) sites and licensed child care centers to provide seamless, full-day care for 4-year-olds.

“This grant supports high-quality preschool and child care partnerships, meeting the needs of children and working families,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “With 90 percent of a child’s brain developing by age 5, this expands access to early childhood options that set kids up for success.”

Additional funding will strengthen the early child care workforce pipeline. “These investments support working parents, prepare kids for school, and honor our child care workforce,” said Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia. More details are available [https://educate.iowa.gov/pk-12/early-childhood/swvpp).

Statewide Solutions Fund

The new fund encourages donations from individuals and businesses to boost child care workforce wages. Restricted funds support regional solutions, while unrestricted funds are matched 2:1 by the state. Building on a pilot that created nine regional funds, the Common Sense Institute of Iowa projects a statewide fund could:

• Add 11,000 child care slots.

• Enable 5,000 women, including 1,000 child care workers, to join the workforce.

• Create 8,000 jobs statewide.

• Generate $45 in GDP and $21 in personal income per $1 invested privately.
More information is available [https://www.iowagrants.gov/viewStorefrontOpportunity.do?OIDString=1742847843596%7COpportunity&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery).

Child Care Assistance Pilot Extended

The state extended a pilot allowing eligible child care workers to access Child Care Assistance, even if their income exceeds standard limits. Serving over 900 families and 1,500 children, the program ensures child care workers can afford care for their own kids. Details are available here [https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/programs-and-services/child-care/child-care-funding-opportunities%5D

---