Who? What? Why?

• Child Care Resource & Referral (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.

Our Mission:Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral provides resources, education and advocacy to support quality child care.

What do we do?

Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral

5 Regions serving 99 counties

*Funded by the Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Care Division, the regulatory agency for child care.

Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral is part of a larger organization, Child Care Aware of America, formerly, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies(NACCRA). NACCRRA began in the mid 1970's because of a

community need for a system to assist families in finding quality child care.

Part of a bigger picture

Our Services

• Families• Child Care

Providers• Employers• Communities

Families

• Referrals to child care providers 24/7 online at www.iowaccrr.org

• Call a Parent Referral Specialist 877-216-8481– Monday-Friday 8:00am – 4:30 pm

– Education on choosing quality child care• Referrals to other services• Advocacy and support

FREE Child Care Referrals

Child Care Providers

Individualized support with:• Licensing and Registration• Consultation• Technical Assistance• Training• Updating Files• Referrals to other services

Helping Hands

Employers/Communities

• Data on child care availability• Data on child care costs• Parent education services• Forums on child care issues• Advocacy• Early Childhood Education

How do we put parents at ease?

What is quality?qual-i-ty [kwol-i-tee]: 1. Degree of excellence 2. A distinguishing attribute

Source: Meriam-Webster

How do we

identify quality?

ChildNet• Registered providers can

complete 25 hour series course

through CCR&R.– Small business improvements and

incorporating best practice into their program

• Eligible to become certified

after series– Complete certification visit with Consultant

• Must renew every 2 years

Iow

a’s

Qua

lity

Rat

ing

Sys

tem

QRSA five-star hotel means high quality…

so does a child care program.

Stars of QRSIo

wa’

s Q

ualit

y R

atin

g S

yste

m 1 Star• Program meets the Iowa standards for licensing and

registration

2 Stars• Program has made steps toward improving quality of

care

3-5 Stars• Program has earned points in the quality indicators of:

• Health & Safety• Environment• Family and Community Partnership• Leadership and Administration• Professional Development

• Programs can become NATIONALLY

accredited.– Accreditation requires programs to meet a specific set

of standards– National Association of Education of Young Children,

National Afterschool Association, National Association of Family Child Care and more.

Accreditation

Why should you care?Programs that participate in QRS,

ChildNet, Accreditation show their

dedication and commitment to

provide quality child care and are

continually working towards improving the quality of care.

Because this little guy cares.

Questions? www.iowaccrr.org