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 do together.  It provides a bonding time for parent and child while modeling kindergarten readiness skills.  30 min into the class parents and children have a circle time together consisting of a story, finger-plays and song.  After circle time, children have a snack and free play time while parents participate in a discussion with information on parenting topics.  Topics and information center around parenting skills, health and safety issues and early literacy.  The coordinator and most preschool educators have been trained in Every Child Reads and encourage parents to use these methods of language, pre - reading and writing with their child.  Along with Growing Together we will be incorporating a special class for parents with the Early Literacy Parent Training curriculum. 

Respite Parent Support and Education

Secure and Nurturing Environments for Children

School Readiness

Quality Childcare will be Accessible to all Families

·        Decrease the % of confirmed child abuse reports

·        Increase the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills

·        Increase the # of parent training sessions

     Both counties have a respite care program for families.  We provide financial support for these programs to provide extra care for children and parent education for families.   This program works in collaboration with the KIDS program and Healthy Families to provide respite care for families with young children.  Drop in childcare is very difficult to find especially in Kossuth County.  Respite nursery provides care for children to help relieve family stress.  Relieving stress in families correlates with relieving all types of dangerous situations for children.  It also gives parents the opportunity for support while they attend classes, dr. appointments, and run errands. 

     Both programs have as a requirement that parents attend parent education classes either monthly or bi-monthly.  These classes support parenting training while children are being taught the skills needed prior to kindergarten.   Social development is also a goal for the children that attend these programs.  As we support safe and nurturing families, we are equipping children with the skills needed for school readiness. 

Tuition Assistance for Preschool

School Readiness

Quality Childcare will be Accessible to all Families

• Increase the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills

One goal of PAK Empowerment has been that Quality childcare be accessible to all families.  A reason for this goal is that we know quality directly relates to child development and school readiness.  In the past we had a scholarship program which helped those children whose family income could not afford a quality preschool pay for it.  Scholarships required preschools to have a quality component.  This made for an easy transition into our current tuition assistance program. 

     Under the current program, preschools apply for tuition assistance dollars to pay for those children who qualify.  Preschools are then required to participate in quality improvement such as QPPS.  PAK has advertised in the local newspapers and radio that money is available for tuition assistance.  Our goal is to reach families who may have thought preschool was not an option.  We are finding many families whose income does not qualify for head start still unable to afford preschool. 

    The success of this program is entirely dependant on the collaboration of many programs such as Healthy Families, KIDS, respite nursery, Care Team, local preschools and others.  It has been through this collaboration that we have been able to locate children who would not have otherwise attended preschool.  Local preschools have worked to find spots for these children while also working to improve quality.  We have been sending kindergarten readiness surveys to local schools to assess school readiness on an individual child basis.  We have found an increase in the number of children who attend preschool and an increase in the number of children who are reported as school ready. 

Family Resource Coordinator

Secure and Nurturing Environments for Children

• Decrease the % of confirmed child abuse reports
• Increase the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills

     The Family Resource Coordinator is a new position whose primary goal centers around collaboration and finding the best resources available for the family.  This is a home visitation program which works with children referred to Early Access and provides case management for the family.

Quality Improvement Stipends

School Readiness

Quality Childcare will be Accessible to all Families

• # of registered providers
• # of childcare providers in attendance at trainings
• Increase the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills

This year PAK is proposing to fund stipends for preschools and childcare locations that participate in QPPS or QRS (level 3 – 5).  Increasing the level of quality requires effort and time on the part of preschool teachers and childcare providers.  We are hoping this money provides an incentive for locations to participate.  This program is new this year and we are hoping that we will see an increase in the number of registered providers and the numbers of providers and teachers in attendance at trainings.  We also expect to see an increase in the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills.  We have been keeping track with kindergarten readiness surveys the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills.  In the future we will be able to correlate those findings and compare the readiness skill of children coming out of participating quality programs with those coming out of not participating programs.  Of course our goal will be that all preschool programs participate in quality improvement making a correlation not needed.

Professional Development  

School Readiness

Quality Childcare will be Accessible to all Families

• # of childcare providers in attendance at trainings
• Increase the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills

This funding is used to provide professional development for childcare providers and preschool educators.  Last year a collaborative effort was made by the AEA, Local Community College, Childcare Resource and Referral, and three local Empowerment Areas to bring in a speaker for a training.  25 from our area participated in this training.  This funding was also used in collaboration with the AEA to provide funding for extra participants in their Every Child Reads training.  This year we will continue to collaborate to provide another quality training. 

Child Care Coordinator

Quality Childcare will be Accessible to all Families

Secure and Nurturing Environments for Children

School Readiness

• # of childcare providers in attendance at trainings
• Increase the % of children with kindergarten readiness skills
• # of registered providers

The purpose of the Child Care Coordinator is to provide assistance and support to home providers, child care centers and preschools so that they can provide the highest quality childcare possible.  This person has been working with our local programs in both Kossuth and Palo Alto for the past four years and has developed a trusted relationship with them.  The Child Care Coordinator has worked with 49% of the childcare locations and 50% of the preschools this past year to increase quality performance.  The Coordinator promotes an understanding of best practices to ensure quality programs.  Information shared has been from FDCERS, Every Child Reads, QPPS, and QRS.  The coordinator works with locals preschools to complete QPPS and offers childcare locations QRS support.  The childcare coordinator also collaborates with other agencies such as AEA, Community Health, Early Access, Local Schools and the KIDS program to help providers become aware of resources available to them and the families they serve. 

 Section 5

Expected Results/Outcomes

• Programs funded by PAK Empowerment are required to report quarterly to the board to review their program outputs and outcomes.  Programs are also reviewed annually by the board.  Evaluations are done to compare against projected targeted results. 
• A goal of the PAK board is to review the Community Plan on an annual basis to keep focused on present goals and strategies and to make necessary changes
• The PAK board submits an annual report to the state of Iowa for review.

It is our goal that the performance outcomes correlate with the community indicators, and enhances and improves the determined community needs/priorities

Iowa Community Empowerment

Annual Report, State Fiscal Year 2006

July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006

INSTRUCTIONS

1.                   Please submit the following information utilizing the format provided.  Additional pages and information may be included.

2.                   The annual report is due September 15, 2006.

3.                   A completed and signed original report should be submitted to the following address electronically to the following email:

Iowa Empowerment Board

Attn:  Shanell Wagler

Office of Empowerment, Department of Management

Room 12, Ground Floor

State Capitol Building

Des Moines, IA  50319

            Shanell.wagler@iowa.gov

Date This Report Approved By Local CEA Board: ________________________________________________

Name of Community Empowerment Area: 

Counties/Area Served: Kossuth and Palo Alto

Website:

Current Board Chairperson:   Jack Plathe                 Current Fiscal Agent:  Prairie Lakes AEA 8

Signature:                                                                                            Signature:                                            _____

Address:                                                                                              Address:

Email:                                                                                                  Email:             

Federal ID Number:

Contact Person for the Community Empowerment Area:

(if different from the Chairperson)   Paige Hollinger

Address: 5253 2^nd Street PO Box 38

                 Cylinder, Iowa 50528

Phone: 712-424-3211                                      FAX:    712-424-3314

E-mail: phollinger@aea8.k12.ia.us

SECTION I –

a.         Current Community Empowerment Board Composition on September 15, 2006

Number of Board Members (Board Size) _____

Membership Identification. Complete the table below for members on the CEA Board

Column 1 –        Name of each board member, starting with Chairperson.  Identify any other officers (as determined by your CEA board bylaws.)

Column 2 –        Identify the member’s representing the required membership. Note the Faith, Business or Consumer representative member may also qualify as citizen/elected.

Column 3 --       Name of employing organization of the member, occupation if self employed

Column 4 --       Name of services/program provided by CE funds

Column 5 --       Place a ‘X” for the board members who qualify as citizen/elected according to the definitions of IAC for Community Empowerment, 349, Chapter I.  (“Citizen” means a resident of the empowerment area, who is not an elected official or a required representative for education, health, and human services, or a paid staff member of an agency whose services fall under the plan or purview of the community board. A citizen representative may also represent faith, consumer or business.)

If the board does not meet the membership representation criteria, attach the CEA board’s plan how they will meet requirements. 

b.  Organizational structure – please describe your structure and how the board functions, communicates, plans and interacts within the community.

1.      Structure and Function of the board

The PAK Empowerment board is made up of 17 board members who are encouraged and do maintain regular attendance to the monthly board meetings. Meetings are held every 4^th Monday of the month.

2.      Community

The PAK Empowerment board makes it a priority to communicate, plan and interact within the community. The PAK Empowerment board places articles in local papers on a regular basis to shares news such as grant awards, mini-grant opportunities and awards, parent/child classes and activities and child care provider support groups. The PAK Empowerment board also puts out a newsletter bi-annually that is mailed out to over 200 families and sent out with preschool and childcare families. The newsletter informs the community of Empowerment sponsored events as well as resources and other activities pertaining to young families that are in the communities.  Community events for 0-5yr olds and their families are held twice a year.  A display is set up to showcase Empowerment activities and brochures containing contact and programming information available. Someone from PAK Empowerment shares with the group the programs Empowerment sponsors in our community.  A display is also set up at the Northwest Early Childhood Conference. Ideas for activities for childcare providers and preschool teachers were given out along with books and literature about PAK Empowerment. Childcare Providers and Preschool Teachers were aware of this conference not only by local advertising by the college but from the every other month newsletter sent out to over 100 providers and teachers in Palo Alto and Kossuth counties.
 

SECTION II – Community Plan

        Provide a brief list or narrative of changes, deletions, or revisions, if any, to the community plan.

(If you are seeking to be redesignated as a Community Empowerment area at this time, please submit a copy of your up to date plan with your annual report.)

Please see attached copy

SECTION III.  Indicators and Priorities from Community Plan

        Identify the indicators as determined by the CEA Board   Also include how the indicators are linked to the State Results.

Definition: Indicators are measures that indirectly quantify the achievement of a result.

Codes for Identifying state results for Indicators:

A.     Healthy Children                                            D. Children Ready to Succeed in School

      B.  Secure & Nurturing Families                             E. Safe & Supportive Communities      

     C.  Secure & Nurturing Child Care Environments   

Based on the adopted indicators, please list the priorities identified in your community plan.

Priority 1. Secure and Nurturing Environments for children

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.

Priority 3: Quality daycare will be accessible to all families

Priority 4: Healthy children

SECTION IV – Community-Wide Indicators – CALCULATE ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF 0-5 POPULATION IN THE CEA.

Definition: Indicators are measures that indirectly quantify the achievement of a result.

Definition: Goals are broad measurable statements of intent to set a future direction.

* If actual data is not available, please insert NA and provide an explanation in the Progress Update column.
 

SECTION V – Collaborative Efforts

Definition adopted by Iowa Empowerment Board: Collaboration involves parties who see different aspects of a problem.  They engage in a process through which they constructively explore their differences and search for (and implement) solutions that go beyond their own limited vision of what is possible. (Gray, 1989).  Relationships evolve toward commitment to the common mission, comprehensive communication and planning, polled resources and shared risks and products.  Authority is vested in the collaborative, rather than in individuals or an individual agency.

Describe at least two (2) successful collaborative efforts within the community empowerment area during the last year that promote healthy and successful children 0-5 and their families.

·         PAK Empowerment has been attending local meetings with Healthy Families, the KIDS program, Respite Nursery program, and early access.  These meetings have been held monthly in each county to discuss caseloads and other shared information.  Originally these meetings were set up to help prevent duplication of service while not letting those in need slip through the cracks.  These agencies have also identified children who could not afford preschool and have referred them for preschool tuition assistance.  Other agencies such as FADDs and DHS have attended in the past to provide information and collaboration.  Quarterly the two counties meet together to share ideas between the various programs.

·         Local schools have hosted early childhood enrichment events sponsored by PAK Empowerment, such as “Little Picassos” – Painting day. School personnel and RSVP members were volunteers to help set up, run the event and read books to children. One event was also held at the community college.  Local schools have also hosted “Growing Together” classes, sharing their classroom space and resources with some preschool teachers participating in working with the children and their parents.

SECTION VI – Performance Measures:  Community Empowerment Early Childhood Funds

•Input - what has been invested in financial and non-financial resources? (dollars invested, number of staff, etc)

•Output - what was produced or changed as an effect of the effort put forth? (number served or trained, number of events, number meeting program outcome, etc)

•Quality - How qualified and efficiently was the activity or service delivered? (percent of qualified staff, percent of customers satisfied, cost or rate per unit, ratio of staff to children, etc)

•Outcome - What was the change in conditions for the people served? (percent meeting the outcome, percent gaining knowledge, percent making change in condition, etc)

                                    All columns should have quantitative or numerical data.   

SECTION VII – Performance Measures: Community Empowerment School Ready funds (Other than required measures)

                                 All columns should have quantitative or numerical data.       

Home Visitation Performance Measures (use one row for each funded program) – Refer to Tool FF

Preschool Programming (Tuition) Support for Low-Income Families - Performance Measures - Refer to Tool CC (B)

Collaborative Professional Development – Performance Measures – Refer to tool DD (B)

Note:  Required measures to be reported are in bold.

SECTION VIII –Other Community Investment and Support

Identify and briefly describe other funding or support (as appropriate) the community empowerment area has been successful in obtaining and applying toward the community plan.  Identify funds (actual cash amount) that come directly to and flow through the community empowerment area to support the community plan.  Identify value of in-kind as calculated according to usual and customary accounting principles (convert to cash value) that supports the community empowerment area’s community plan. 

119 S. Jones St.      Algona, IA 50511      Phone:  (515)295-7784 or (866) 540-3855      Fax: (515) 295-3548      Email:  info@pakempowerment.com