Mid-Sioux Administrative Office

The mission of Child Care Resource & Referral of Iowa (CCR&R) is to actively respond to community needs for affordable and accessible quality child care by providing resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, child care providers, and employers. CCR&R is a program to support quality child care throughout the State of Iowa. CCR&R 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 Early Head Start (EHS) program is for low-income infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families. EHS programs promote children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development, support parents' efforts to fulfill their parental roles, and help parents move toward self-sufficiency.

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children. The role of EPSDT is to promote the physical, mental, social, emotional, and behavioral health of children from birth to age 21. The EPSDT program emphasizes the use of a regular schedule of recommended well-child health visits, called screenings, to provide preventative health care and identify medical, developmental, and social-emotional concerns.

The FaDSS (Family Development and Self-Sufficiency) Program is a supportive service to assist Family Investment Program (FIP) families with significant or multiple barriers to reach self-sufficiency. FaDSS partners with PROMISE JOBS, an employment and training program for families receiving cash assistance through FIP. FaDSS provides services that promote, empower, and nurture families towards economic and emotional self-sufficiency.

As the nation’s leading federally funded early learning program, Head Start serves children and families in every state. Head Start’s role in each state differs based on local systems and models.The purpose of Head Start programs is to promote the school readiness of children ages 3 to 5 years. Most of these programs are based in centers. In other programs, children and families may receive services from educators and family service staff who regularly make home visits. Parent involvement is encouraged and support is offered for children with disabilities.

Healthy Child Care Iowa supports registered nurse child care health consultants (CCHC) throughout Iowa. The child care nurse consultants provide on-site consultations, technical assistance, and training to child care providers. Businesses may call or send questions to a child care nurse consultant about health and safety policies, health programs, health of personnel, and specific child health or safety issues.

There is also a toll-free talkline available to child care providers and families for health related questions and to be connected to a child care nurse consultant. The Healthy Families Hotline number is 1.800.369.2229. Multiple language interpretation is available.

I-Smile™ Dental Home Initiative is a statewide program that connects Iowans with dental, medical, and community resources to ensure a lifetime of health and wellness.An I-Smile Coordinator provides care coordination and support to families with children who need dental care. The I-Smile Coordinator can help with: Setting up dental appointments, providing reminders of when the dental appointment is, arranging for transportation to the dental appointment, and providing education on oral health care.

Maternal Health services provide home visitation, personalized education, prenatal and postpartum care to pregnant and parenting women.

WIC is a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. WIC is a federally funded public health nutrition program helping families by providing healthy foods, nutrition education, and referrals to other health care agencies.