Section 2

Community Needs Assessment  

The PAK Empowerment board feels very strongly that many of the needs that were identified in the initial needs assessment and community forums that were held during the designation process continue to be accurate. Through a community assessment with surveys done by Kossuth Childcare Action Committee, the board understands that the desire for more childcare in Kossuth county continues to get stronger.  The results reflect the low number of registered childcare providers anticipates that further assessment may need to be done in the near future to reflect the changing needs in Kossuth county concerning childcare.

Sources for Information for Assessment 

Upper Des Moines Opportunity

Kossuth Childcare Action Committee

ISU Extension

Public Health

Kindergarten Readiness Surveys   

Community Needs 

• Improved prenatal care for pregnant women leading to healthier children
• Expand in-home visitation services leading to parents who are better able to:
  • Provide a secure and nurturing environment for their children
  • Select childcare environments for their children that are equally nurturing and secure
• Improved education for parents and childcare providers leading to:
  • Caregivers who are more knowledgeable about early brain development
  • Children who are better prepared to succeed in school
• Increased number of childcare providers who have received child development education leading to a corresponding increase in the number of children cared for in nurturing childcare environments.
• Maintain lead-screening efforts leading to a reduction in elevated blood lead levels in children.

Community Indicators 

% of confirmed child abuse reports

% of women receiving adequate prenatal care

% of families receiving pre and/or postnatal in-home visits

% of children in Palo and Kossuth Counties receiving immunizations as recommended

# of parent training sessions held in Palo Alto and Kossuth Counties

# of registered providers in Palo Alto and Kossuth Counties

# of childcare providers in attendance at trainings

% of children tested for elevated blood levels

% of children who were reported to have increased frequency or consistency with developmental skills needed for kindergarten readiness

As the data shows, PAK Empowerment has been successful in meeting the needs of the community.

 
Resources supporting children and their families  

Prairie Lakes AEA 8                                        ISU Extension

Palo Alto Community Health                             Department of Human Services

Kossuth Community Health                               Local Businesses

Public Libraries                                     WIC Program

YMCA                                                            Child care homes and centers

Smith Wellness Center                          County Board of Supervisors

Child Care Resource and Referral                     Local School Districts

Local Preschools                                              Local Churches                                   

Parents, consumers and citizens

Identification of Federal, State, Local and Private Funding Sources Available for Services to Children Age 0-5

                                                                            Kossuth              Palo Alto         Combined

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa Grant                          $10,000                  $19,300         $29,300

Headstart                                                            $165,600                $150,000       $315,600

School Ready Grant                                                                                                 $387,905            

Early Childhood Grant                                                                                  $34,131

USDA Grant *                                                            

Region 8 Early ACCESS Council                                                                             $28,436

United Way                                                          $18,000

Tobacco Grant

Department of Education                                                                                           $20,044 (KIDS)

Title 19  (Billed through Healthy Families)             $3,205                    $23,880          $27,085

Prairie Lakes AEA 8                                                                                                 $234,970

Lead Grant – Iowa Department of Public Health *

Immunization Grant – Iowa Department of Public Health*

            * Monetary amounts for 0 – 5 yrs. unavailable                                                  

Section 3

Community Coordination and Collaboration

PAK Empowerment has a diverse board made up of persons who represent our community well. Board members and others from the community are continuously encouraged to bring new ideas to the table.

PAK Empowerment is housed within Prairie Lakes AEA which makes for strong relationship and encourages continuous collaboration. In the last year PAK has increased the amount of collaboration by funding a new position titled, Family Resource Coordinator, that supports both the PAK mission and the IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan) process. Meetings are held regularly to make sure this position continues to be successful and are meeting the needs of the intended parties.  Monthly meetings are held in each county with representatives of Early Access, KIDS and PAK Empowerment, Healthy Families and respite childcare programs attending. The goal of these meetings is to promote continuous collaboration as we seek to work together to meet family needs and avoid duplication of services.  By bringing these agencies together, relationships have been built and this improves the quality of home visitation programs in our Empowerment area.

PAK Empowerment also works closely with local school districts and a community center to plan and implement the Growing Together classes and large community events every fall and spring. Growing Together is funded through parent support dollars and utilizes space and  teachers from the local school districts to lead the classes.

Palo Alto and Kossuth Counties also have a strong and dependable RSVP program.  PAK uses volunteers to help with large community events. Along with RSVP, Girl Scout groups and local high schools groups are given the opportunity to volunteer. It has been the support of agencies, schools, volunteers and other local programs that has made PAK Empowerment successful. 

Section 4

Community Planning 

The PAK Empowerment Board reviews priorities and goals annually.   It will be planning a board retreat to assess the efficiency of our funded programs in meeting our priorities and goals.  

Evaluation and Indicators: Evaluation of the progress toward this priority will be monitored through annual report outcomes and board assessment that programs are meeting the needs of families.   

Priority 1. Secure and Nurturing Environments for children

Goal 1: To increase the number of families that participate in an effective home visitation program

Strategy: To support research based, effective home visitation

Strategy: To provide collaborative support within agencies to maximize referrals.

Goal 2: To increase the number of families that participate in parent support and education groups.

Strategy: To increase the number of parent education groups provided

Priority 2: Children will be equipped with the skills needed to learn to be ready to take advantage of educational opportunities and learn to the best of their ability. 

Goal 1: To increase access to and utilization of quality preschool programs

Strategy: To provide tuition assistance for low income 4 and 5 yr olds to participate in quality preschool

Strategy: To provide training to preschools to improve quality

Strategy: To provide incentives to preschools that participate in QPPS or other quality trainings.

Strategy: To provide research based parent training on early literacy. 

Priority 3: Quality childcare will be accessible to all families

Goal 1: To increase the number of childcare providers that participate in quality trainings.

Strategy: To provide reimbursement for QRS and QPPS training

Strategy: To support a consultant that provides in home training and support as well as provider support groups. 

Goal 2: To increase the number of daycare slots

Strategy: To provide funding for equipment and improvements that lead to increase capacity.

Strategy: To provide funding to help with start up costs for new providers. 

Priority 4:  Healthy Children

Goal 1: To Encourage Healthy Children

Strategy:  To provide education and training about immunizations

Strategy:  At risk children will be screened for lead

Strategy:  To increase the number of women receiving prenatal care

Current Plan

        School Ready Funds:       Healthy Families

                                                            KIDS Program

                                                            Growing Together Parent Education                                                                                              Respite Parent Support and Education                                                                                         Tuition Assistance for Preschool

                                                            Family Resource Coordinator

                                                            Quality Improvement Stipends

                                                            Professional Development

            Early Childhood Funds:   Child Care Coordinator

Healthy Families

Healthy Children

Secure and Nurturing Environments for Children

• Increase the number of women receiving adequate prenatal care
• Increase the number of families receiving postnatal in home care
• Increase the immunization rate
• Increase the number of children screened for lead

Healthy Families has provided health based family support home visits since 2000.  This program is based out of Kossuth and Palo Alto community health, but has achieved its strength from a collaboration with the AEA KIDS program, WIC, FAADS, and local Care Team.  It works primarily with prenatal moms through infants up to 1year.  It is at this time, unless there is a health concern, that the families are referred to the KIDS program. 

Healthy Families helps families prepare for the birth of a new baby and aids in the adjustment of the young child as he/she grows.  Visits are focused on prenatal care, child development, health and safety issues, parenting skills, and helping the family get in touch with other community resources they may need. 

Healthy Families is modeled after HOPES programs, and the nurses have completed this training.  Nurses work with families to help set and achieve their goals. 

KIDS Program

Secure and Nurturing Environments for Children

School Readiness

• Decrease the % of confirmed child abuse reports
• Increase the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills
• Increase the # of parent training sessions

The AEA KIDS program is a home based parent education program that helps supports families as their child grows.  This program works in collaboration with Healthy Families to provide support primarily for families with children ages 1 – 5.  Support topics are focused on child development, health and safety issues, parenting skills and connecting with community resources.  They also work in collaboration with community preschools, respite childcare and other childcare locations to aid families in locating quality care for their child.  The KIDS program has also held parent support groups that teach appropriate parenting skills, while giving parents the opportunity to support each other. 

Growing Together

Secure and Nurturing Environments for Children

School Readiness

• Increase the # of parent training sessions
• Increase the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills

    Growing Together is a parent education program that works in collaboration with local school districts to provide parent education to parents while providing developmentally appropriate activities for children.  Children and parents attend programs together in local preschools giving children and their parents a familiarity with the school.  Programs are geared for 0-5 year olds and their families. 

     Upon entering the class, children and parents are given a variety of developmentally appropriate activities they may