Prioritization of Needs

Through the collection and review of information, a complete picture of North Iowa Children’s Alliance service area has been developed. This assessment has assisted the Board in identifying the following priority areas and strategies for the need to invest resources into services.

1. Reduce and/or eliminate child abuse: Babies, toddlers and young children in NICA area will grow up with safe and nurturing family and caregiver relationships.

• Provide quality care and education early in life.
• Enhance parenting skills to promote healthy child development.

2. Support for preventative health, mental health and wellness: Babies, toddlers, young children and their families will have regular, ongoing access to high-quality health services.

• Promote the use of dental sealants to prevent cavities.
• Reduce obesity risk for children by focusing on nutrition and physical activity.
• Improve strategies to connect families to mental health services.

3. Childcare accessibility and quality care: Quality childcare should be accessible and inclusive to all families and children who want to access services. 

• Support the early childhood care and education infrastructure to ensure availability of adequate childcare.
• Promote and increase quality, health and safety practices through technical assistance and consultation services.
• Provide professional development and consultation services to achieve and maintain performance at higher quality levels in Iowa Quality Rating System and IQ4K.

4. Access to high quality early learning for being on track for school success: All children should have access to early care and learning programs.

• Expand access to preschool and other high-quality early childhood programs.
• Increase funding for preschool scholarships for eligible families.
• Transportation to and from quality preschool programs for those in rural and/or low-income areas.

5. Safe, stable and nurturing families: children grow confident, resilient and independent in safe, stable and nurturing families, schools and communities.

• Provide evidence-based home visiting and parent education programs.
• Promote referrals to and participation in home visitation services.

• Provide quality care and education early in life.
• Enhance parenting skills to promote healthy child development
• Support the early childhood care and education infrastructure to ensure availability of adequate childcare.
• Promote and increase quality, health and safety practices through technical assistance and consultation services.
• Provide professional development and consultation services to achieve and maintain performance at higher quality levels in Iowa Quality Rating System and IQ4K.
• Provide quality care and education   early in life.
• Enhance parenting skills to promote   healthy child development.
• Partner to enhance mental health   services.
• Expanding access to preschool and other high-quality early childhood programs.
• Increase funding for preschool scholarships for eligible families.
• Provide evidence-based home visiting and parent education programs.
• Promoting referrals to and participation in home visitation services.
• Transportation to and from quality preschool programs for those in rural and/or low-income areas.