Work Session: Childcare Collaborative Efforts Copyrig hted
December 7, 2020
City of Dubuque Work Session - Top # 1.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: 5:00 PM - Childcare Collaborative Efforts
SUM MARY: City staff and network partners will conduct a work session with the City
Council on childcare challenges and collaboration efforts.
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Work Session on Childcare Collaborative Efforts-MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Presentation Supporting Documentation
AttachmentA- DHS flyer Supporting Documentation
AttachmentB - I W F 2020 Policy Agenda Supporting Documentation
AttachmentC - Dubuque COVID Response Supporting Documentation
Dubuque
THE CITY OF �
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Work Session on Childcare Challenges and Collaboration Efforts
DATE: December 1, 2020
Economic Development Director Jill Connors is transmitting information for the Work
Session on Childcare Challenges and Collaboration Efforts. The presenters for this
Work Session are:
• Jill Connors, City of Dubuque
• Tara Roddick, Childcare Resource & Referral
• Abigail Degenhardt, Dubuque County Early Childhood
• Kristin Dietzel, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
• Erin Powers Daley, Northeast lowa Community College
• Paul Duster, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
Dubuque Economic Development
Department
THE CITY OF � 1300 Main Street
All•America Eity Dubuque,lowa 52001-4763
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http://www.cityofd u bu q ue.org
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi �oi�*Zoi9
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT: Work Session on Childcare Challenges and Collaboration Efforts
DATE: December 7, 2020
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum presents information regarding childcare issues, challenges, and
collaboration efforts among partners in the Dubuque community.
BACKGROUND
Through the work of multiple partners over several years, the lack of access to affordable
childcare has been identified as a barrier to employment and economic prosperity in
Dubuque.
In FY2019, the City Council committed $80,000 to Greater Dubuque Development to
support a pilot program developed to provide free childcare to Opportunity Dubuque
students and graduates at Northeast lowa Community College. In sum, the pilot program
provided free childcare to any Opportunity Dubuque student during their certificate studies
and continuing for one year after graduation from the program as payer of last resort.
Also in FY2019, City of Dubuque staff learned of a program offered by the National
League of Cities (called Cities of Opportunity) that offers a cohort of cities the opportunity
to convene to discuss their unique challenges. A small group including City staff, as well
as staff from Greater Dubuque Development, Northeast lowa Community College, and
the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque applied for and was awarded admission
into the program taking place in FY2020 — choosing to discuss our local childcare
challenges. The Cities of Opportunity program is designed to provide a framework on
how to address community-wide issues in order to achieve desired/needed outcomes.
Stemming from and in tandem with this work with the National League of Cities, the small
group began to have a larger conversation with organizations better suited to be leading
the charge on childcare issues: namely, Dubuque County Early Childhood, and Childcare
Resource & Referral. With the growing collaboration, we are presenting background
information, current challenges, and potential next steps in this work for a community-
wide approach to providing sufficient affordable quality childcare in Dubuque.
DISCUSSION
Why is quality childcare important?
Brain Development
Current research has shown that the early years (ages 0-5) are the most sensitive for
brain development. Over 90% of brain growth occurs during this period. The people who
help care for your child are also those who help shape your child's mind.
School Readiness
Studies show that children who receive quality childcare enter school with better math,
language, and social skills. These skills give your child a good start to succeed in school
and in life.
Reduced Stress
When your child has safe, loving, and stimulating childcare that you can count on, you
don't have to worry while you are at work. You know that your child is getting the kind of
care children need to be healthy, happy, and successful.
Everyone Benefits
Society, children, families, employers, communities, and the nation as a whole benefit
from high quality childcare. Fostering a healthy, successful, future workforce is essential
to everyone's well-being.
What types of childcare are available in Dubuque?
1. Child Care Home (CCH) provider:
a. Not registered with lowa Department of Human Services (DHS)
b. Not accepting payment to care for families on Child Care Assistance (CCA)
c. Sometimes referred to as unregistered or nonregistered home providers
d. DHS will not inspect or monitor unless they receive a complaint
e. Only allowed 5 children at a time, including their own
2
2. Child Care Home (CCH) that accepts Child Care Assistance (CCA) provider:
a. Provider Agreement with DHS and meets certain regulatory requirements.
b. Fewer training requirements than registered Child Development Homes
(CDH) and reimbursement rate for Child Care Assistance (CCA) is less
c. Minimum health and safety requirements
d. DHS completes annual inspections
e. Only allowed 5 children at a time, including their own
3. Child Development Home (CDH) provider:
a. Registered with DHS
b. May or may not have a Child Care Assistance (CCA) Provider Agreement
with DHS
c. Sometimes referred to as a registered home provider
d. DHS completes annual inspections
4. Child Care Center (CCC)/Licensed Preschool:
a. Commercial facility providing childcare for many children
b. Licensed with DHS
c. May or may not have a signed Child Care Assistance (CCA) Provider
Agreement with DHS
d. DHS completes annual inspections
More info can be found at iowaccrr.orq
What are the challenqes?
1. Lack of availability of quality childcare
a. Kids up to age 11 in Dubuque = 8,191
b. Licensed slots = 4,550 (as of 11/16/2020)
c. Enough slots to serve 56% of the kids up to age 11
d. Available slots = 541 (as of 11/16/2020)
e. 19% loss of providers over the last five years
f. 84% of families with children under the age of 6 have both parents
working outside of the home
2. Broken business model
a. There is a disconnect between the cost for parents and typical wages for
providers, making the industry financially unsustainable. It is not affordable
for either party.
i. Full day childcare can range from $150 — $200 per week. This is
10% — 14% of pre-tax income for a household earning the average
median income in Dubuque County. 7% is considered affordable.
Obviously, this is a significant cost burden for low-wage earners.
3
The burden for low-wage earners can be offset by subsidies through
DHS, but not all childcare providers accept DHS childcare
assistance-funded children.
ii. The median wage for a childcare worker is $18,990 annually
($9.13/hour), putting the worker well below a living wage in Dubuque.
3. Economic Effects
a. Drag on recruitment and retention of employees. Last year in interviews
with Greater Dubuque Development, 25 Dubuque companies reported that
childcare is a significant barrier for recruitment and/or retention. This would
include the "last portion" of the available workforce pool.
b. Drag on productivity of employees (from lack of emergency care to limited
hours in order to avoid the "cliff effect").
c. Lack of women taking advantage of Opportunity Dubuque program, even
though this is the fastest growing poverty group (8.7% households are
single women). Although not the only barrier to training, childcare is the
most often mentioned.
d. The "cliff effect" is mentioned as a barrier to training and advancement by
both employers and employees. The cliff effect refers to the phenomenon
where parents who utilize Child Care Assistance to work are at risk of
losing those benefits at a faster rate than their wages increase if they
accept financial promotions.
Who is addressinq this, and how?
1. Dubuque Countv Early Childhood (DCEC�
Dubuque County Early Childhood (DCEC) is a nonprofit organization and one of
lowa's Early Childhood areas. On behalf of families, DCEC is a leader in the county
mobilizing community partners and advancing efforts to support healthy and
successful children.
Here are DCEC's current priorities for children, birth to age five, based on
assessing community needs and available resources:
a. Family success skills
b. Learning readiness
c. Safe and secure relationships
d. Healthy physical and mental development
To make progress on priorities, DCEC annually supports over 5,000 children
through preschool scholarships, family support programs, early health services,
grants/professional development for childcare providers, parent resources, book
4
drives, reading days for children, Kids Expos, and more. Together, we are
building a community effort that helps all young children be ready to succeed in
school and throughout their lives
2. Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR�
With funding from DCEC, CCRR provides the following for childcare providers and
families with children 0-5 in Dubuque County.
a. Preschool Scholarships: Tuition scholarships to preschool students
whose families met income eligibility requirements and who attended a
preschool that met defined high-quality standards.
b. Child Care Consultants: Two full time childcare consultants who provide
childcare visits to registered/non-registered homes and licensed
centers/preschools to assist with regulation compliance and quality
initiatives.
c. Child Care Grants: Grants to raise quality in registered homes/licensed
centers, including infant capacity (increase slots for 0-2 through
equipment, building materials); quality improvement (updated equipment
and appropriate toys 0-5); and provider incentives (assist with achieving
and maintaining quality standards).
d. Child Care Professional Development: Training sessions, classes,
conferences, etc. for childcare providers. Also includes rebates to assist
providers with CPR/First Aid training.
3. lowa Women's Foundation (IWF�
January 2020: lowa Women's Foundation (IWF) hosted two community meetings
in Dubuque— one for community members and one for childcare providers. These
meetings resulted in the identification of five solutions to be addressed.
a. Building and Expanding
b. Child Care Entrepreneurs
c. Business and Child Care
d. Community College and Child Care
e. Before and After school
IWF statewide and local staff are on two committees — Shared Staff and Shared
Services.
See Attachment B policy brief for details.
4. Communitv Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD�
a. Led research over the past three years into the region's childcare
challenges, revealing key issues:
5
i. Lack of childcare is a significant barrier to opportunity for families
across the region.
ii. Childcare must be viewed as a critical piece of infrastructure that
drives economic growth.
b. Partnered with the MIT Sloan Business School to research availability of
quality, affordable childcare in Dubuque
c. Hosted a Childcare Solutions Summit in October of 2018 with over 100
community members in attendance to initiate the discussions around
current childcare needs in the community.
d. Coordinated grant funding from the Mordgrige Family Foundation to help
offset the start-up costs for 6 rural childcare providers.
e. Coordinating training needs with childcare providers, such as Social
Emotional Learning.
5. Greater Dubuque Development, Corporation (GDDC)
a. Greater Dubuque Development convened a Child Care Coalition for nearly
18 months to develop a strategy to expand workforce through access and
affordability of quality childcare.
b. Coalition partners included the Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque, Child Care Resource & Referral, Dubuque County Early
Childhood, the City of Dubuque, Northeast lowa Community College, and
the Small Business Development Center.
c. The coalition's core strategy included improving the general environment
for childcare to support existing workforce and developing a pilot program
to remove childcare barriers for parents wishing to enroll in the
Opportunity Dubuque job training program at Northeast lowa Community
College.
d. The coalition aimed to develop a strategy of legislative advocacy targeting
employer groups and local legislators.
e. Greater Dubuque Development staff developed and tested a model for
employers interested in supporting child care.
6. Northeast lowa Community Colleqe (NICC)
a. Childcare Barriers to both education and workforce were aligned, both the
lack of quality childcare and the ability to afford/access quality childcare that
prevented students from enrolling in Opportunity Dubuque Programs.
b. Developed and implemented Childcare Assistance Program Spring 2019,
in partnership with Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, City of
Dubuque, Dubuque County, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque,
Child Care Resource & Referral, Steeple Square, and the YMCA.
6
i. Two-tiered approach to address childcare shortage and workforce
shortage:
1. Develop Opportunity Dubuque Pathway Program in Childcare
to increase workforce of skilled childcare providers.
2. Provide childcare assistance to students during their training
time period and for up to 1 year after program completion.
Started with 4 unique programs (Childcare, Customer
Service, Phlebotomy, and Industrial Sewing).
ii. Childcare Assistance now available for all 16 Opportunity Dubuque
Program Pathways, in addition are adding more programs such as
warehousing and assembly for FY21.
iii. To date, since Spring 2019 the program has served 40 parents in
childcare assistance, either financially or through connecting to
childcare resources in the community through their Northeast lowa
Community College success coach. Nineteen (19) of these
participants were unique parents that utilized financial assistance for
their childcare needs while in their training program at Northeast
lowa Community College.
iv. Thirty-Four(34) children total have been provided funding assistance
through the program.
7. City of Dubuque
a. City of Dubuque and partners were invited to participate in the FY2020
Cities of Opportunity program hosted by the National League of Cities. The
program provided a framework to address the identified issue — childcare.
i. Attended Fall 2019 convening in Washington, DC, to learn about and
begin using the framework to identify the barriers to addressing the
challenges.
ii. Participated in several remote multi-city convenings as well as one-
on-one assistance with a consulting team to develop a road map and
work plan.
iii. $10,000 scholarship to use for consulting as we deemed helpful to
the process. These funds have leveraged additional funding to
support the strategic planning process for Dubuque County Early
Childhood.
b. Participating in the local Childcare Coalition meetings, to understand
ongoing challenges and bring resources to the table, as able.
c. Included childcare in our 2021 state and federal legislative priorities.
7
Successes
1. Local
a. City rezoning allows for childcare in the industrial park.
b. Several childcare center launches or expansions in progress: Steeple
Square, Dream Center, Holy Family, Mercy.
c. Nineteen (19) unique parents have utilized Opportunity Dubuque Child
Care funding assistance during their training time to date and 34 children
have been able to access childcare while their parents were in training.
We have 7 total students who have received funding assistance during the
employment phase of the program and 12 children in total have been
provided access to childcare assistance while their parents are employed.
The program experienced a significant boost in enrollment of parents,
even if they elected to find their own childcare.
In total the program has been able to provide childcare assistance, in the
form of funding or in accessing resources to 40 parents which has
decreased at least one barrier to access education and participating in the
workforce in the Dubuque area.
To address the workforce shortage of childcare providers, Northeast lowa
Community College has had 13 students successfully complete the
childcare certificate training program since Spring 2019.
d. Employers who want information on pursuing childcare supports have
contacts to speak to regarding various models
2. Legislative
a. lowa Business Council listed childcare as legislative priority for first time
b. lowa Association of Business and Industry included affordable and
accessible childcare as legislative priority
c. Governor priority for childcare and cliff effect legislation
d. Starting July 1, 2020 two changes were implemented to the State's Child
Care Assistance (CCA) program, the primary support mechanism for low-
income working families to access childcare:
i. The definition of infant/toddler will be changing to include children
up to three years old (currently it is two). This means that two-year-
old children will now be included in the CCA `infant/toddler' age
group which has a higher maximum rate for childcare providers.
8
ii. The "cliff effect" challenge faced by parents who take higher wage
jobs but lose childcare benefits at a steeper rate will be improved
through a Childcare Assistance Plus program which will allow
families to access Childcare Assistance indefinitely as long as their
income remains below 225% of the federal poverty level.
e. HF 2629 created a childcare challenge program to match employer and
other investment in the renovation or construction of childcare facilities.
COVID Response
1. Local response
a. Community foundation and CCRR distributed toilet paper, paper towels,
hand sanitizer and hand soap.
b. No-touch thermometers were purchased in collaboration with Dubuque
County Early Childhood, Community Foundation, United Way, and CCRR.
c. CCRR applied for Disaster Recovery Funds through the Community
Foundation for hand sanitizer, reusable masks and gloves.
d. NICC received a grant from Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
that provided technology (internet/laptop)to students to help them complete
their Opportunity Dubuque Program.
2. Statewide response
a. Department of Human Services, with CARES act money, provided
$791,300 to Dubuque County childcare providers (04/2020-10/2020).
3. See Attachment C for details on these and other supports:
a. Rejuvenation grants
b. Basic monthly stipend
c. Essential employees monthly stipend add-on
Next Steps
1. A Dubuque County Early Childhood (DCEC) Strategic Plan is underway, to help
guide the organization itself, as well as identifying its role in the coalition as part
of a community-wide solution for the childcare challenge.
2. DCEC was awarded funding for a New Child Development Homes Initiative. This
was designed to increase the number of regulated home child care providers in
Dubuque County as well as the number of available quality child care spaces.
a. Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR), in partnership with DCEC, will
provide this initiative to new or unregistered childcare providers in
Dubuque County that commit to the registration process through the lowa
9
Department of Human Services (DHS). The funding for this program is
through the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors. Each new Child
Development Home that becomes registered and commits to remaining
open for 2 years and signs the agreement will receive a total of$5,000 in
incentives and stipends.
b. City of Dubuque has also earmarked some CDBG microenterprise funding
to assist in this program for income-eligible applicants within city limits.
3. NICC has shortened the length of the childcare certificate training program. Will
allow students to get into the workforce sooner to help fill the gap.
a. Continuing to build Earn and Learn programs that allow participants to work
in their field while completing their training.
4. Greater Dubuque Development and other coalition partners are supporting
Dubuque County Early Childhood as the lead entity who will continue to convene
childcare partners around key issues. Greater Dubuque Development will remain
on the committee to offer strategic support as it relates to assistance connecting
the employer community with childcare capacity to increase skilled workforce.
5. City of Dubuque staff will remain part of the childcare coalition meetings,
supporting through legislative "asks" as well as other means, as identified by City
Council priorities.
The coalition of presenters at this work session look forward to providing any additional
information to the City Council on this topic.
Cc: Abigail Degenhardt, Director, DCEC
Tara Roddick, Child Care Consultant Supervisor, CCRR
Erin Powers Daley, Director of Recruitment, NICC
Krista Walsh-Weitz, Program Developer, Childcare Certification Program, NICC
Kristin Dietzel, Vice President of Workforce Solutions, GDDC
Paul Duster, Director of Community Initiatives, CFGD
10
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LAC K O F AVAI LABI LITY
■ Kids up to age I I in Dubuque = 8, I 9 I
■ Licensed slots = 4,550 (as of I I / I 6/2020)
■ Enough slots to serve 56% of the kids up to age I I
■ Avai I ab l e s I ots = 54 I (as of I I / I 6/2020)
loss of providers of families with children
0 � under the age of 6 have
� over the last �1 both arents workin
five ears . p g
y outside of the home
BROKEN BUSI N ESS MODEL
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■ H igh cost for parents
AVERAGE WEEKLY RATES
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• - $147 $145 $144 $143 $143 $66 $143 �
� - - $204 $204 $193 $188 $182 $80 $177
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BROKEN BUSI N ESS MODEL
■ Low wage fo r p rovi d e rs
Child Care Preschool Childcare or
Workers Teacher Preschool
MedianWage MedianWage Administrator
in Dubuque MedianWage
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BROKEN BUSI N ESS MODEL
■ This industry employs 705 worlcers in Dubuque County
■ Very high turnover
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- Drag on employee recruitment and retention
Drag on productivity of employees
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Lacic of women talcing advantage of
Opportunity Dubuque job training
- "Cliff effect" mentioned as barrier to
training and advancement by employers
and employees.
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DUBUQUE COUNTY EARLY CHILDHOOD (DCEC) �
■ Nonprofit, leader in the county mobilizing community partners Dr�bu�u� �'oun�y
EARLY CHILDHQDD
■ Current priorities:
■ Family success skills
■ Learning readiness
■ Safe and secure relationships
■ Healthy physical and mental development
■ Annually supports over 5,000 children through preschool scholarships, family
support programs, health services, grants & professional development for childcare
providers, parent resources, boolc drives, reading days for children, Kids Expos, and
more.
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CH I LD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL (CCR�
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Child Care
■ With funding from DCEC, CCRR provides the following 12eaou�'Ge
for childcare providers and families with children 0-5 in & �2eferral
Dubuque County.
■ Preschool Scholarships
■ Child Care Consultants
■ Child Care Grants
■ Child Care Professional Development
IOWAWOMEN'S FOUNDATION (IWF� -�
;
,
■ Hosted two Dubuque community meetings in
January 2020. These meetings resulted in five solutions � � � � � � � � � ��
to be addressed. . ��_ � .�: ,. . � � _ ��:
I . Building and Expanding
2. Child Care Entrepreneurs
3. Business and Child Care
4. Community College and Child Care
5. Before and After school
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE
� �
Hosted a Childcare Solutions Summit with �ommunit Foundatian
�
over I 00 attendees in October of 20 I 8 of G�eater Dubuque
■ Partnered with the MIT Sloan Business School to research
availability of quality, affordable childcare in Dubuque
■ Grant funding from Mordgrige Family Foundation
to support startup of rural-based childcare providers
■ Coordinating training needs with childcare providers, such
as Social Emotional Learning.
GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT �reater
�u�u u�
�
DEVELOPMENT C�RP.
■ Convened a Child Care Coalition for nearly 18 months
■ C o re st rategy
■ Support existing worl<force through childcare ■ Develop communication model with local
expansion and employer support employers who want to engage in childcare
■
Support pilot program to remove childcare support activities
barriers for parents wishing to enter the ■ Communicate with legislators and state
workforce advocacy groups to raise awareness about
■
Help partners do what they need to do to childcare challenges and the cliff effect barrier
improve general environment for childcare to ■ Develop pilot program within Opportunity
support existing worl<force Dubuque to test ability to remove the childcare
barrier to certificate training and initial
workforce entry.
NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEG � �����������y��
co�r�r��v��-�co��.�c�
■ Childcare barriers to both education and worlcforce
were aligned, both the lacic of quality childcare and the
ability to afford/access quality childcare that prevented
students from enrolling in Opportunity Dubuque Programs
■ Developed and implemented ChildcareAssistance Program Spring 2019, in
partnership with Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, City of Dubuque,
Dubuque County, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Child Care
Resource and Referral, Steeple Square, and YMCA
NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEG � �����������y��
co�r�r��v��-�co��.�c�
■ Two-tiered approach to address childcare shortage and
workforce shortage
I . Develop Opportunity Dubuque 2. Provide childcare assistance to
Pathway Program in Childcare students during their training
to increase worlcforce of slcilled time period and for up to one
childcare providers. year after program completion.
NORTHEAST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEG � �����������y��
co�r�r��v��-�co��.�c�
■ Started with 4 unique programs
n -
CHILD CUSTOMER PHLE- INDUSTRIAL
CARE SERVICE BOTOMY SEWING
■ Childcare Assistance now available for all
I 6 Opportunity Dubuque Prc �am Pathw�� -�
and continue to add more programs such as warehousing and assembly for FY21 .
THE CITY OF
CITY OF DUBUQUE
UB E
Mastet�piece on the Mississippi
- Cities of Opportunity program hosted
by National League of Cities
■ Fall 20 I 9 convening in Washington, DC.
■ Multi-city convenings as well as one-on-one assistance
■ Framework, road map, and worlc plan
■ $ I 0,000 scholarship to assist our process:
Strategic planning process for Dubuque County Early Childhood
■ Participating in the local Childcare Coalition meetings
■ Listing childcare in the City's legislative priorities
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■ City rezoning allows for childcare in industrial park
Several Child Care launches or expansions in progress:
- � � � •
.
� . . . .
� '
unique parents have utilized Opportunity
�
Dubuque Child Care funding assistance
during their training time to date
children have been able to access childcare
while their parents were in training
parents received childcare assistance, in the form
of funding or access to resources
� . 7 students who have received funding assistance during
the employment phase of the program and I 2 children
in total have been provided access to childcare
assistance while their parents are employed
The program experienced a significant boost in
enrollment of parents, even if they elected to find their
own childcare.
students successfully complete the NICC childcare
certificate training program since Spring 20 I 9
� � helping to address the workforce shortage
� '
Employers who want information on pursuing childcare
supports have contacts to speal< to regarding various
models
� Childcare became a legislative priority for several
statewide business organizations
- Governor priority for childcare and cliff effect
� legislation
Childcare assistance program changes
� lowa legislature HF 2629 created a childcare
challenge program to match employer and other
investment in the renovation or construction of
childcare facilities.
■ � n� e i � �cpr,�. �c�
Community foundation and CCRR distributed toilet paper, paper towels,
.
hand sanitizer and hand soap
` ' r No touch thermometers were purchased in collaboration with Dubuque
.
• ■ • ■ County Early Childhood/Community Foundation/United Way and CCRR
.
• • CCRR applied for Disaster Recovery Funds through the Community
.
Foundation for hand sanitizer, reusable masks and gloves.
� � �
. � •
Department of Human Services, with CARES act money,
provided $79 I ,300 to Dubuque County childcare providers.
(04/2020- I 0/2020)
. �iir-�' RFcpr�nic�
■ Received a grant from Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
that provided technology (internet/laptop) to students to help complete
their Opportunity Dubuque Program
�
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■ Dubuque County Early Childhood — Strategic Plan
New Child Development Homes Initiative
Dubuque County Early Childhood, Childcare Resource &
.
Referral, and City have funds available
to eligible applicants
� Northeast lowa Community College Training
modifications
Greater Dubuque Development — have a model
in place for employers who want to engage in
childcare through
support to workforce,
partnership with existing childcare, or
development of new childcare
.
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque —
Social-emotional training for providers and
parents
F City — legislative & other supports, as identified
by City Council
• . � • � • � • • � . . � - . . .
•'�:
��,��
The lowa Child Care Resource and You have the right to: comm. 62 (Rev. ��20)
Referral System (CCR&R) will give you . Look at complaint files on providers in
information about the different types of your local DHS office
care and how to choose excellent care. . Ask for references from your provider
They can help you find child care that is • Check references from your provider
the best fit for your family. You may have to pay a part of your child
Information about the CCR&R is available care costs. This is based on your family's
at www.iowaccrr.orq, or 855-244-5301. income and the number of people in your
family. , I �
Your child care needs and child care
provider will need to be approved before
you get help with your child care costs. �
You are responsible for reporting providers
�
to DHS who do not meet health and safety
standards.
You can report suspected abuse or
neglect to the Abuse/Neglect Hotline at
1-800-362-2178. This is a free phone call.
. . . . . .
�¢
It is the policy of the lowa Department of �� .
Human Services (DHS) to provide equal � �
treatment in employment and provision of � '
services to applicants, employees and clients �; �
without regard to race, color, national origin, i �.';T,�{f
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
religion, age, disability, political belief or '�'� '
.��:
veteran status. •¢ � �
If you feel DHS has discriminated against or
harassed you, you can send a letter of
complaint to:
lowa Department of Human Services, Hoover
Building, 1 st floor- Bureau of Human
Resources, 1305 E. Walnut, Des Moines, IA
50319 or via e-mail
contactdhs(a�dhs.state.ia.us.
� . . Family eligibility will be established for a � . � �
12-month period.
Child Care Assistance (CCA) helps pay for Even if your family experiences a You can choose who you want to care for
the care of your child while a parent or temporary loss of employment or your child.
caretaker works or attends school. education, you will continue to be eligible
for child care for up to three months to Child Care Assistance can be used to pay
It might also be used to care for children allow you to find a new job or reenroll in a variety of different types of providers.
while a parent or caretaker is looking for school. The provider you choose must be at least
work or is temporarily unable to care for 18 years old and cannot be a parent or
children because of inedical reasons. guardian of your child. You can choose a:
� � � � • Licensed child care center
. . - . If, at the end of your 12-month eligibility • Licensed before and after school
. . period, your income goes above the program
monthly eligibility threshold, you may . Registered child development home
continue to be eligible under the CCA Plus
You may be able to get Child Care exit eligibility program. • Nonregistered child care home — the
Assistance if you: person must pass the child abuse and
• Have a child who needs care and is Family income cannot exceed 225 percent criminal record checks
under the age of 13 (or under the age of the Federal Poverty Level. . Person who cares for your children in
of 19 if your child has special needs), your own home, if you have three or
and more children who need care
• Get help from the Family Investment • • • • • • You will get forms from DHS to take to
Program (FIP), or
your child care provider. Your provider will
• Your family meets gross monthly You can apply for Child Care Assistance at need to fill out the forms and return to
income guidelines if you don't get FIP. your local Department of Human Services Child Care Assistance Unit, Hoover State
Also, you must be doing one of the (DHS) office. Office Building, 1305 E Walnut St., Des
following: You may also apply online or print an Moines, IA 50319.
• Working an average of at least 28 application from our website at Your provider must meet certain
hours per week, https://ccmis.dhs.state.ia.us/clientportal/. requirements, pass background checks,
• Attending an approved training or Mail the completed application to: and meet health and safety standards.
education program full-time, Human Services River Place Office For more information about how to identify
• Working and attending training for a 2309 Euclid Avenue quality child care, finding other assistance
total of at least 28 hours per week, or Des Moines, IA 50310-5703 programs, and links to early intervention
• Looking for work. Questions? Call the centralized child care and child development resources, go to
Note: Care provided while you attend unit at (866) 448-4605. our website at: http://dhs.iowa.qov/
childcare/tool-and-resources.
postsecondary education/training has a If you take part in activities approved by the
24-month lifetime limit. PROMISE JOBS program, call your
PROMISE JOBS worker.
IOWA WOMEN'S
FOUNDATION
Child care is not just a family issue, it encompasses o O F C H I L D R E N U N D E R
business success and community uiability as well.Iowa �� �p AG E 6 I N I OWA
leads the nation in the number of families with parents have all parents working
working outside the home. outside the home
In many lowa communities, child care has become unaffordable, inaccessible,
or nonexistent.
Almost 25% of lowans live in a child care desert where there is a shortage of
licensed or registered child care options.That number is even higher when looking
at the shortage of infant, toddler and 2nd and 3rd shift child care options
• � lowa has lost 42% of its child care providers over the past five years
Estimates show there is currently a shortfall of more than 361,000 child care slots
There is a shortfall of more than As a result,working parents miss work,drop shifts,are less engaged on the job,
361000 switch employers, or leave the workforce altogether.
In lowa because of child care issues: 17,915 parents quit a job, did not take a job
' or greatly changed their job (2016) and 12,773 women reported they could not
child care slots across the state. accept full-time work(2017).
��������������������������������''� •83%of millennials say they would leave their jobs for one with more family-friendly
benefits
lowa has lost 63% of parents say child care costs influence their careers
Working parents are absent from work nearly two weeks per year because of child
�� �� care issues
65% of working parents have their schedules affected 15 times a year on average
of its child care providers causing them to be late or leave early because of problems with child care
Child care is an essential and under emphasized tool for our state to develop,
� - grow, and sustain a reliable workforce.
����������������������������������� • For working parents with children under age 3,the U.S. child care crisis costs$57
� � � � billion annually in lost earnings, productivitiy and revenue for working parents,
I employees and tax payers.
• Due to an employee shortfall, there is an estimated $675 million in unrealized
annual GDP for the state of lowa
%of • When companies provide child care, employee absences decrease by up to 30%
millennials and job turnover declines as much as 60%
say they would leave Research consistently shows that increasing workers' access to affordable, high-
their jobs for one with quality child care options isn't simply a benefit for parents; it improves the economy.
morefamily-friendly � Providing access to quality affordable child care positively impacts the bottom line of
benefits
lowa companies and is critical to sustaining a strong workforce and economy.
To address lowa's Child Care Crisis, the IWF has created bold initiatives
with community partners.
We created the Building Community Child Care Solutions Collaborative (BCCCS)with Early Childhood lowa(ECI), Child
Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) and other local partners. Comprised of individuals from lowa communities, the
BCCCS collaborative's purpose is to improve the availability of quality affordable child care through increased awareness
and feasible community-specific solutions.
We established the Child Care Solutions Fund (CCSF). The CCSF is a "field of interest" fund designated to specifically
improve the availability of, and access to, quality affordable child care in lowa. These CCSF funds are invested in
organizations and institutions focused on innovative and sustainable strategies/solutions ensuring access to affordable
quality child care and demonstrate the ability to increase women's economic security across lowa.
We are now publishing this 2020 policy brief, offering four specific recommendations for how the state of lowa can
increase the availability of quality affordable child care, strengthen the lowa Workforce and continue to make smart
investments in lowa's communities.
TOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020
1. Increase support of Early Childhood lowa (ECI)
Increase funding to ECI for early childhood programs grant account by$500,000.Apply the funding to a private
public partnership for the purposes of increasing the availability and access to quality affordable child care.
2.Adopt HF 771
Enact HF 771, which passed the lowa House 97-1 in 2019. HF771 would benefit lowa's working parents by
expanding the eligibility for child care and dependent care and early childhood development tax credits.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020
1. Increase funding to lowa Association for the Education of Young Children to adequately
support and expand WAGE$state wide by codifying this program.
2. Reinstate the Before and After School Grants program that was established in 2007 to create
a state funding stream for high-quality before school, after school,and summer programs.
3. Tax credits
Business Tax Credit: Provide a credit for businesses that have donated funds to child care
� centers to support eligible child care expenses, based on the quality rating of the center.
• Family Tax Credit:Support families based on child care expenses,federal child care tax credit,
state child care tax credit, and the quality rating of the center at 100% deductibility for child
care expenses.
• Provider Tax Credit: Reward centers based on their quality rating and the number of Child Care
Assistance Program or foster care children that are served. Centers become eligible if they
participate in the statewide quality rating system at a level 2 or above, and their benefits increase
O with the proportion of at-risk children they serve.
Teacher and Director Tax Credit: Recognize teachers and directors for their professional
education and commitment to the field.
� Child Care Resource and Referral Tax Credit: Provide a credit for businesses matched to
� the amount donated to Resources and Referral agencies up to$5,000.
4. Make child care a priority in Future Ready lowa
Continue funding the Employer Innovation Fund focusing on child care workforce and facilities.
Recognize child care workers as a high demand occupation and a critical workforce within the
Future Ready lowa initiative.
--- --- - _ __ aatw��� „r�,,,,�;�
� P:319.774.3813•www.iawf.org
� www.facebook.com/iowawomensfoundation
�own woMeNs ��IowaWomensFdn
References
' U.S. Census Bureau. (2017) Table B23008: Age of Own Children Under 18 Years in Families and
Subfamilies By Living Arrangements By Employment Status of Parents. 2013-2017 American Community
Survey.
�� Center for American Progress. (2017, August 30). Mapping American's Child Care Deserts. Retrieved
from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/early-childhood/reports/2017/08/30/437988/mapping-
americas-child-care-deserts/
"' Child Care Resource & Referral of lowa. (2019). Data Sheets. Retrieved from https://iowaccrr.org/data/.
'� Ibid.
� Schochet, L. and Malik, R. (2017, September 13). 2 Million Parents Forced to Make Career Sacrifices
Due to Problems with Child Care. Center for American Progress. Retrieved from https://www.
americanprogress.org/issues/early-childhood/news/2017/09/13/438838/2-million-parents-forced-make-
career-sacrifices-due-problems-child-care/.
�' U.S. Census. Current Population Survey.
�" U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (2017) Leading the Way: A Guide for Business Engagement
in Early Education. Retrieved from https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/reports/leading-way-guide-
business-engagement-early-education.
�"'Care.com. (2018, July 17). This is How Much Child Care Costs in 2018. Retrieved from https://www.care.
com/c/stories/2423/how-much-does-child-care-cost/.
'X Child Care Aware. (2018). The US and the High Cost of Child Care. Retrieved from http://usa.
childcareaware.org/advocacy-public-policy/resources/research/costofcare/.
x Ibid.
X' ReadyNation. (2019). Want to Grow the Economy? Fix the Child Care Crisis. Council for a Strong
America. Retrieved from https://www.strongnation.org/articles/780-want-to-grow-the-economy-fix-the-
child-care-crisis.
X�� gased on 2016 Bureau of Economic Analysis GDP and IWD job posing and employment data using the
following equation: http://insighttalentsolutions.com/2017/09/08/the-opportunity-cost-of-unfilled-jobs
X"'U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (2017). Leading the Way: A Guide for Business Engagement
in Early Education. Retrieved from https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/reports/leading-way-guide-
business-engagement-early-education.
f �
lowa
Ghild Gare
Resource
&F�eferral
DUBUQUE
Rejuvenation grants: This grant is for programs that closed due to COVID-19 and are interested in reopening.
This grant provides funds to restart your business along with financial assistance to help with cleaning your
program environment or obtaining supplies needed to follow CDC guidelines (such as additional thermometers
or disinfectants).
Dubuque April 2020-September 2020
Child Development Homes: $15,800
Licensed Child Care Centers/Preschools: $24,000
Basic Monthly Stipend: Programs that are open and meet all eligibility requirements can receive a monthly
stipend. Centers can receive$2,000 per month and Child Development Homes can receive$500 per month.
This funding is to provide immediate support to your child care program. Examples may include supporting staff
wages, replenishing toys or products, paying rent or utilities, or something similar.
Dubuque April 2020-September 2020
Child Development Homes-$158,500
Licensed Child Care Centers/Preschools-$242,000
Essential Employees Monthly Stipend Add-On: Programs that meet all requirements for the basic monthly
stipend and make the choice to give all essential employees a 25%discount can receive an additional amount
in their stipend. Eligible centers would receive an additional $2,000 per month and eligible Child Development
Homes would receive an additional $500 per month.
Dubuque Countv April 2020-August 2020
Child Development Homes-$131,000
Licensed Child Care Centers/Preschools-$220,000
Dubuaue County April 2020-Auqust 2020 Totals
Child Development Homes-$305,300
Licensed Child Care Centers/Preschools-$486,000
TOTAL: $791,300
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE:
Unlimited CCA Absences: The Department is aware of the hardship on child care providers due to COVID-19.
In order to assist, effective March 9, 2020, the lowa Department of Human Services (DHS) no longer limits the
amount of absent days paid per month to child care providers who remain open for business.
Reimbursing Family Co-Payments: As an additional support, DHS is waiving family co-payments and
reimbursing providers for the co-pay amounts starting on April 6, 2020 and continuing through the billing period
ending October 4, 2020 or at the end of the Governor's Emergency Declaration, whichever date comes first.
We ask that providers stop collecting the family co-payments from families starting April 6, 2020. Although the
family co-payment will still be deducted from your normal payments, DHS will issue reimbursements to
providers for that amount through a separate payment. Providers do not need to do anything extra to receive
these co-payment reimbursements; these payments will be processed every four weeks and will be sent out to
providers automatically.
https://dhs.iowa.pov/childcare/fundinq-opportunities
Additional funding was provided by DHS (through CARES Act funding)to pay for PPE supplies. These supplies
were distributed to programs statewide. In Region 2 (19 counties), $17,000 was spent to support child care
programs.