SW Iowa Times

Iowa is making some changes to ease the child care crisis. Acting on the advice of the Child Care Task Force, established last March, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced this week she is ready to implement some initiatives. 

“We know that the key to economic growth is a highly skilled and qualified workforce,” Reynolds said in a release. “A child care shortage that prevents parents from entering or remaining in the workforce hinders our ability to meet this challenge.”

Iowa leads the nation in the share of households where both parents work, the release from the Governor’s Office said. Approximately, 23% of Iowans, including 35% who reside in rural towns, live in areas that lack adequate child care. Child care shortages cost the Iowa economy $935 million, the release said.

The Child Care Task Force was comprised of people from the public and private sectors. Based on recommendations in the task force's final report, Reynolds is immediately implementing the following:

A child care management system that provides a statewide, web-based platform that enables providers to leverage a shared services model for many business operations such as administrative tasks, group purchasing and professional development. This system will be available in 2022.

Creation of a “Best Place for Working Parents” designation that will recognize employers that go above and beyond to accommodate their employees with children. This program will begin in January 2022.

An additional $10 million in funding for the Child Care Challenge Grant Program that supports the expansion of existing child care facilities or construction of new centers that will increase the number of child care slots available to Iowa families.

An additional $200 million for funding stabilization grants for financial loss due to the pandemic.

“We’re not finished yet, this is only the beginning,” Reynolds said in the release. “These new initiatives are going to support our working families and ensure Iowa has the child care system needed to unleash our state’s incredible workforce and set our economy on a path to long-term, broad-based prosperity.” 

Since the start of the pandemic, more than $137 million in state and federal funding has been allocated to support child care across the state.

Reynolds continues to explore other recommendations to address the child care shortage through additional executive action and legislative priorities during the upcoming legislative session.