Iowa foundation works to expand child care

Iowa is in the middle of a child care crisis. It’s tough on fami-lies, businesses and communi-ties.

Members of the Iowa Women’s Foundation recently visited the State Capitol to share with legislators their ide-as for expanding access to child care.

Iowa’s child care challenges include:

• Making care accessible to ALL Iowans, including those in rural areas.

• Finding nontraditional options for parents who work outside of the 9-to-5 schedule or attend school.

• Keeping child care afford-able, while ensuring that pro-viders earn a fair and livable wage.

Women’s Foundation mem-bers have been touring Iowa communities, talking to child care providers, nonprofits, business leaders and working parents about solutions to help Iowa families prosper.

The Foundation recom-mends the Legislature increase support for early childhood initiatives and expand eligibility for child care tax credits. I am sponsoring a bill this session (SF 2110) to increase income eligibility for child care assis-tance over the next five years.

Other potential solutions in-clude:

• Building and expanding child care centers.

• Supporting child care entrepreneurs.

• Encouraging businesses to add child care benefits.

• Working with community colleges to prepare the next generation of child care provid-ers.

• Enhancing before-and after-school programs.

• Creating viable child care options for second- and third-shift workers.

As a grantmaking organiza-tion, the Iowa Women’s Foundation established a Child Care Solutions Fund to invest in initiatives that increase wom-en’s economic security—and provide the workers that local employers need—through ac-cess to quality, affordable child care.

Sen. Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City) serves Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties in Senate District 27. She can be reached at 515-281-3371 or 641-424-0874. Email her at aman-da.ragan@legis.iowa.gov.