Publications
Early Childhood Iowa Issue Briefs
Healthy Mental Development
Health & Safety in Child Care
Dental Home
Family Support
Effective Family Support Programs
Professional Development
Maternal Depression
Nutrition & Physical Activity
Medical Home
Quality Child Care
Iowa's Fiscal Assessment
State Level
ECCS Work Plan 2011-2012 Iowa's updated work plan for the federally funded Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems grant.
Iowa Family Support Professional Development Best Practice Recommendations
The purpose of these recommendations is to go beyond the requirements and outline recommendations for best practice in regards to professional development. These recommendations transcend the differences in program models and in program delivery unless otherwise noted.
Iowa Family Support Standards
These Standards are designed to accommodate a variety of family support programs for families and their children, including, but not limited to: (1) home visiting programs that deliver support services in families' homes; (2) early intervention programs for children who have or are at risk for developmental delays; and (3) parent education groups.
Early Childhood Iowa Strategic Plan
A document put together by the ECI Stakeholders Group, which addresses the needs of young children within the five result areas: Healthy Children, Children Ready to Succeed in School, Secure and Nurturing Families, Safe and Supportive Communities, and Secure and Nurturing Childcare Environments.
ECI System Framework
This plan serves as a framework of the early care, health, and education system building upon existing and emerging efforts of public and private partners. ECI has also developed a strategic plan with detailed list of all the work that needs to be done for young children.
Early Childhood Systems PowerPoint
Frameworks for defining and assessing state early childhood system building efforts based around the "four ovals" that make up an early childhood system.
Iowa's Early Childhood Snapshot Project 2008
Iowa's Early Childhood Snapshot Project is a listing of state-level early childhood systems, programs, and public education campaigns intended to improve the quality of life for expecting parents and children under the age of five and their families. The intent of this project is to capture a picture of the initiatives serving this specific population in Iowa. Iowa's Early Childhood Snapshot Project will be available as a resource for state and community projects, policy makers, the general public, and early care, health, and education professionals.
ECI Structure and Operational Guidlines
The purpose of this document is to describe Early Childhood Iowa and how it operates. It outlines the fundamental principles and beliefs of Early Childhood Iowa, how it is organized and the roles and responsibilities of each of its components.
Evidence-based Assessment Tool
An assessment intended to guide the exploration of a program's adherence to evidence-based practices. This assessment can be used by program supervisors, administrators, funders, or other decision makers as a self assessment or as a tool to assist in determining where to invest resources.
Evidence-based Home Visiting Tool
A tool consisting of ten evidence-based practices for home visiting programs. This is a tool to determine a home visiting program's adherence to evidence-based practices.
Evidence-Based Assessment Workbook: Developing Quality Assurance & Evidence-Based Practices for Your Family Support Program
This workbook is intended to serve as a guide to identifying program practices and developing a project manual in concert with the evidence-based practice movement. This also serves as a companion to the Evidence-Based Assessment Tool.
Internal Scan
This is an internal scan of the local contract Maternal and Child Health Agencies. It is completed annually to examine the early childhood priorities at the local level.
Brain Research: What You Need to Know (PDF)
PowerPoint Version
This is a presentation by Dr. Andrea McGuire showing the process of a child's brain development. Slides and diagrams of the child's brain development prove that it is important to invest in children early on.
Early Childhood Health Policy Report
The second annual conference "Off to a Good Start Framing Policy for Early Childhood Health Systems Integration" was held on December 12, 2006 in Des Moines. Over 120 Iowa participants gathered to outline a strategy for improving health outcomes for Iowa's young children. It provided a venue to identify and prioritize key policy recommendations and strategies for state and national initiatives.
Early Childhood Story Collection
This purpose of this document is to share and collect stories in relation to the priority goals of the ECI result areas.
Getting School Ready in Iowa
A guide for families and early care, health, and education providers caring for children who will be attending kindergarten in Iowa. The Getting School Ready in Iowa guide can be ordered through the Healthy Families Line at ISU Extension. This document is also available in Spanish. To order the document call 1-800-369-2229.
2007-2008 ECI Leadership Agenda
Provides data in around the five result areas of ECI and the chosen priority goals for the current year. This document portrays strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in relation to the current early childhood system in Iowa.
Evidence-Based Assessment Workbook: Developing Quality Assurance & Evidence-Based Practices for Your Family Support Program
This workbook is intended to serve as a guide to identifying program practices and developing a project manual in concert with the evidence-based practice movement. This also serves as a companion to the Evidence-Based Assessment Tool.
Early Childhood Iowa 2007 Activity Report
This is a report of the activities of ECI and its component groups in their efforts to achieve desired results for young children birth to age five.
National Level
Comprehensive Systems Development
This link provides a list of resources in regards to early childhood systems development in the areas of governance, finance, communication, indicators and outcomes, and evaluation and assessment.
Project THRIVE: Issue Brief
This first Project THRIVE Issue Brief looks through the lens of state Early Childhood Care Systems (ECCS) grant projects to identify ways in which they can promote smarter spending for vulnerable young children as they plan for and implement new, more integrated systems.
Common Vision, Different Paths
This report looks at strategies for effectively building the systems and providing the high quality programs infants, toddlers, and young children need to thrive and succeed.