Articles Tagged: child care

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds will appear in a new 30-second ad promoting legislation that would create state-funded private school scholarships.

KinderCare, a national child care provider, has bought the Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha day schools. The national child care provider already operates two child care centers in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids panel reviews what’s needed

Cedar Rapids panel reviews what’s needed

Among the state and federal policies it aims to push in 2023, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Iowa City Area Business Partnership hope to remove barriers to work by pushing solutions to immigration, child care, affordable housing, community placemaking and talent development.

Eastern Iowa child care advocates say a bill by Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson to expand eligibility for families to receive child care assistance is a good start, but likely still struggle to find open child care spots, due to low reimbursement rates and wages in the state.

The wage enhancement program funded by pandemic relief dollars is intended to boost wages without raising the cost for Johnson County families.

Frustration is growing among child care workers and advocates across Iowa over the state missing out on nearly guaranteed funding that would have helped families access basic child care services.

State grant funding will create hundreds of child care spots in Eastern Iowa. Among recipients of the grants are TrueNorth and To the Rescue in Cedar Rapids. The Vinton-Shellsburg schools and West Liberty Foods also will receive funding.

The workforce shortage and child care go hand in hand, and businesses need to get involved, leaders say.

Starting Friday, Iowans will see reduced unemployment benefits. Child care providers will see relaxed regulations and third-party food delivery services will face fines for using a restaurant’s logo or menu without permission.

Measures include pharmacy benefits managers, child care costs

Recap of news from across the state

Republicans say the bill will create more child care opportunities; Democrats say it will burden low-income families with higher child care costs

Republicans say the bill will help address a shortage of child care workers; Democrats say it will not help, and could create dangerous scenarios with unsupervised teens monitoring multiple toddlers at day care centers