December 2021
What we have been up to:

  • I2D2 is partnering with Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children to update the childcare workforce study with a major focus on understanding incentives for workers to join and stay in the field. CLICK HERE for previous related work.

  • A new agreement with Iowa Department of Human Rights will facilitate data sharing to complement the ongoing Home Visiting project and include additional data about programs for working parents. MORE
Approximately 16.7% of children under the age of 6 are living in poverty across the state. Using integrated data to map data points like this, I2D2 produced a report including this and other indicators for statewide strategic planning in early childhood systems. CLICK HERE
Approximately 59% of Iowa’s children experience at least 1 risk at birth that is known to significantly influence kindergarten outcomes. I2D2 used integrated data to map what counties were experiencing higher rates of these risks to inform the 2020 Home Visiting Needs Assessment. Learn more about the partnership between I2D2 and Home Visiting here: MORE.
In Iowa, mothers with family history of substance use had significantly higher rates of poverty at child birth, prenatal tobacco use, or to be unmarried at child birth. Public health programs can use information like this to provide targeted interventions to provide families with the support they need. CONTINUE
Understanding Cross-Systems Transitions from Head Start to Kindergarten: A Review of the Knowledge Base and a Theory of Change. Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation Report: Transitions between two educational settings can bring about new experiences and expectations for children and their families. In the early care and education (ECE) context, when children transition from Head Start to kindergarten, they are confronted with different places, people, activities, and relationships. This report summarizes a review of literature, highlights key informant perspectives, presents a theory of change for transition strategies and coordinated transition practices intended to support teachers, families, and children moving between systems.

Governor's Child Care Task Force Report. Report released from the State Child Care Task Force. The Governor's Child Care Taskforce made up of 17 members, including service providers, nonprofit organizations, elected officials and members of industry from around the state, formed in the fall of 2020 have complied their recommendations to the Governor. The task force took a hands-on approach as they worked towards a comprehensive child care strategy for Iowa. They held town meetings to hear directly from child care providers, families, employers and members of the child care workforce. The stories were heard and are captured in this report.

The Economic Impact of America's Child Care Gap. Early Childhood Report from Bipartisan Policy Center: In 2020, Bipartisan Policy Center provided the answer to a critical question: "How much additional child care does the country need?". They calculated that one in three children with all parents in the labor force lack child care in their community- this is America's child care gap. This report monetizes the impact of the gap on families, businesses, and tax payers. It offers a starting point to calculate the return on investment of building our country's child care supply and closing the country's child care gap.