Early Childhood Iowa
Ready to Succeed:
Creating Healthy, Secure & Supported Children in Iowa
The first two thousand days make up the most critical stage of the human lifecycle. These first five years will impact a child’s chances for success for the rest of their lives. Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) is a statewide initiative housed within the Iowa Department of Management that unites public and private agencies, organizations, and stakeholders under one common vision, “Every child, beginning at birth, will be healthy and successful.”
“We are ECI” Strategic Plan 2019-2022
Stakeholder engagement is essential to improving outcomes for Iowa’s young children and their families. That’s why the vision and plan for Iowa’s Early Childhood system was built on widespread responses from families and early childhood providers across the state. “We are ECI” represents a strategic plan that recognizes the ever-changing needs for Iowa’s children and families.
Goals
Goal 1: Infrastructure
Promote a coordinated infrastructure to advance the early childhood system.
Goal 2:Communication
Build public will for investing in young children and their families.
Goal 3: Workforce
Transform the early childhood workforce through formal education, greater professionalism, increased skills and competence, and new approaches to implementing best practices.
Goal 4: Equitable Access
Ensure that young children and families receive the services they need when they need them.
Goal 5:Quality
Improve the quality of early childhood services for young children and their families across early care and education; health, mental health, and nutrition; and family support services.
Join ECI in Promoting the Success of Iowa’s Youngest Children
Upcoming ECI Events
December 06, 2022
December 6, 2022 ECI Stakeholders Alliance
The ECI Stakeholders Alliance will meet via Zoom with large and small group discussions. Anyone who is interested in learning about and/or supporting Iowa's early childhood system is encouraged to attend.
The…
November 09, 2022
Webinar Opportunity: Re-Invent vs Re-build: Let's Fix the Child Care System
Webinar Opportunity: Re-Invent vs Re-build: Let's Fix the Child Care System
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Recent News from Early Childhood Iowa
Align Early Care and Education with the Iowa Early Learning Standards
The Iowa Early Learning Standards (IELS) are for everyone who cares for, educates, and works with young children. The standards are a resource to support and enhance children’s learning and development. The standards are a tool to share information among families, caregivers, child care providers, family support, mental health and health care professionals, teachers, program administrators, and others who care for or work with children during the first 2,000 days of life.