HACAP Corporate Office
P.O. Box 490
1515 Hawkeye Drive
Hiawatha, Iowa 52233
(319)393-7811
info@hacap.org

Equal Opportunity Employer

FAQ



Application

How do I apply for the Weatherization Program?

How do I apply for an Early Childhood Scholarship?


Child & Youth Concerns

Does Head Start/Early Head Start serve children with disabilities?

How does child well being impact success at school?

How long can my child stay with a respite or crisis child care provider?

Is Crisis Child Care like Foster Care?


Community Issues

How widespread is hunger in Iowa?

What does PACES do?


Eligibility

Does my child need to be toilet-trained before acceptance in Head Start or Early Head Start?

If I choose not to participate in the Care for Kids program are my Medicaid/Title 19 benefits affected?

My provider is ill, and I cannot miss work. Can Crisis Child Care help me?

What is Section 8 housing?

Would the Weatherization Program be able to help me with a roof repair?

Is there any reason why I would not be elgible for the Weatherization Program?


General Questions

How does CACFP promote self-sufficiency?

What does CACFP-Homes do for parents?

How does CCR&R help parents/guardians find child care?

Where can child care providers find information about classes for continuing education?

How can I find out more about CCR&R?

What does the Food Reservoir do?

Who can pick-up food directly from the food reservoir?

What ages of children does Head Start serve?

What ages of children does Early Head Start serve?

What are full day Head Start/Early Head Start services?

Who are considered a child’s “family” when determining income eligibility?

What else is needed for my child to apply for Head Start or Early Head Start?

Why does Head Start/Early Head Start require my child to have all the extra things done at a physical?

How much will full day services in Head Start and Early Head Start cost my family and me?

How are children placed in Head Start classrooms?

Why is Parent Involvement such an important piece of the Head Start and Early Head Start programs?

What supplies will my child need for Head Start/Early Head Start?

How is the Weatherization program implemented?

How does Weatherization impact human self-sufficiency?

How is the Weatherization program funded?

How does the Homeless Children's Trust utilize donations?

How do I get involved with the Homeless Children's Trust?

What does Rural Senior Services do?

How does Senior Services promote self-sufficiency?

How do I volunteer or donate medical equipment?

What property maintenance services does the Rural Senior Services Program provide?

What is transitional housing?

How does the transitional housing program promote self-sufficiency?

How do I apply to the transitional housing program?

What benefits has the A&R program provided for the local households?

What is the origin of the A&R program?

What is Care for Kids program?

Who is categorically eligible for WIC in Linn County?

What is a crisis?

Who is eligible for Crisis Child Care?

What supplies will my children need to take with them when they are placed in crisis care?

Who can provide Crisis Child Care or Respite Care?

How does Crisis Child Care promote self-sufficiency?

What does PACES stand for?

Why should my child care provider be enrolled in PACES?

What is the PACES – First Steps program?

What is Linn County Community Empowerment?

How does the permanent housing program promote self-sufficiency?

What is chronically homeless?

How does QECE help Linn County licensed centers?

How does QECE support early care and education providers?

Who can use QECE?

What if my center is not in Linn County?

How can I find out more about QECE?

What is the Senior Internship Program (SIP)?

What services does the Senior Employment Services Program provide?

Who do I contact to enroll the Senior Internship Program (SIP)?

How do HACAP Senior Employment Services promote self-sufficiency?

What is LIHEAP?

Does the Weatherization Program replace windows throughout a house?

What is the cost for my home to be weatherized?

What does the concept "housing first" mean?


Location

If I do not live within the HACAP service area, where do I go to sign-up for CACFP?


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How do I apply for the Weatherization Program?

There are 2 ways that you can apply.  

  • The first is when an individual applys for the energy assistanace program (LIHEAP), the application for the Weatherization Program becomes automatically referred if the household is eligible.
  • You may also apply for weatherization at anytime throughout the year by simply filling out an application and requesting Weatherization Services.
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How do I apply for an Early Childhood Scholarship?

Call Amy Becker at 393-7811 x 1087 for more info.

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Does Head Start/Early Head Start serve children with disabilities?
Yes, Head Start/Early Head Start actively recruits children with special needs/disabilities.

If your child has a diagnosed disability, please inform the HS/EHS staff at time of application and bring along a copy of your child’s most recent IEP or IFSP.

To ensure that Head Start/Early Head Start can best meet the needs of any child with a disability/special need, a meeting will be scheduled with the family, Head Start/Early Head Start staff and any other person/agency involved with the family. back to top


How does child well being impact success at school?

Medical

  • Immunizations: Certain immunizations are required by Iowa law to be completed by entry of school. Can provide more information if desired…
  • Well Child Check Ups: Schools may require well-child checkups for school entry and/or extracurricular activity participation.
  • Lead Exposure testing: High lead exposure can cause severe brain damage and/or be lethal. It can also affect a child’s intelligence, hearing, and growth. Many children do not show signs of lead poisoning or developmental delay when diagnosed, but may show signs of lead damage later in childhood.

Dental

  • Poor oral health has been related to lower school performance and may have difficulty in social relationships at school.

Nutritional

  • Children can concentrate better in class if they eat balanced meals.

Mental Health

  • Stress can reduce productivity and performance.
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How long can my child stay with a respite or crisis child care provider?
Each child’s length of stay in the Crisis Child Care Program is determined on an individual basis, not to exceed 72 hours per placement. back to top


Is Crisis Child Care like Foster Care?
No.  Crisis Child Care Program services are voluntary, confidential, and parents retain all parental rights.  No one knows your child has been placed but you.  No one else may pick up your child without your express permission.  back to top


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How widespread is hunger in Iowa?
In Iowa 90,000 households are food insecure, or have limited access or availability to safe and nutritious foods.  America Second Harvest released a comprehensive study that found more than 23 million people in this country seek emergency food assistance each year – of those 39% are children, 11% are elderly and 64% of all emergency households include someone who is working back to top


What does PACES do?
The PACES program strengthens the quality and expands the availability of child care for families with infants and toddlers within Linn County. back to top


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Does my child need to be toilet-trained before acceptance in Head Start or Early Head Start?
No, your child does not need to be toilet trained before acceptance into a Head Start or Early Head Start program. Each child’s rate of development is unique and the Head Start/Early Head Start staff respect these differences.  Staff will work with you to assist you and your child in this process. back to top


If I choose not to participate in the Care for Kids program are my Medicaid/Title 19 benefits affected?
No, you are still eligible for your Medicaid/Title 19 benefits. back to top


My provider is ill, and I cannot miss work. Can Crisis Child Care help me?
While The Crisis Child Care Program understands your need to be at work, we are not funded to provide care while you are working.  We will be glad to offer a list of temporary providers you may hire as a substitute for your regular caregiver.  For ongoing childcare needs we will link you with HACAP’s Child Care Resource and Referral program. back to top


What is Section 8 housing?
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) allows eligible low-income families and individuals to obtain a tenant-voucher that allows the city, utilizing federal grant funds to pay a portion or all of their rent (based upon their income) with any remaining rent paid by the tenant. back to top


Would the Weatherization Program be able to help me with a roof repair?

HACAP's Weatherization Program does not help with roof repairs. You may want to contact your local housing rehabilitation services.

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Is there any reason why I would not be elgible for the Weatherization Program?
  • If you rent, your landlord may not allow HACAP to do the weatherization work to the unit. 
  • If your house or apartment has been previously weatherized, after Septmeber 30, 1993.
  • If your home is for sale.
  • If you are over our income guidelines.
  • Certain health and safety conditions may also prohibit HACAP from weatherizing a home.  
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How does CACFP promote self-sufficiency?
If we want a prosperous community in the future, we need to provide appropriate nutrition and developmental resources for our children today. In verifying that care providers give nutritious meals and snacks to their clients, CACFP-Homes sets the table for our children’s future success today. back to top


What does CACFP-Homes do for parents?
If your children attend a home childcare provider while you work, you can be assured that they are receiving the nutritional building blocks they need to grow and develop appropriately. back to top


How does CCR&R help parents/guardians find child care?
Call 319-739-1556 or 1-800-233-0054 to complete a 5-10 minute assessment of your child care needs with a CCR&R referral specialist.  The referral will consist of a list of early care and education providers in your area, along with information on how to choose quality child care and other resources for parents and guardians. back to top


Where can child care providers find information about classes for continuing education?
CCR&R publishes the Caring Imprints, a quarterly newsletter, which lists training opportunities for Benton, Iowa, Jackson, Jones and Linn Counties. back to top


How can I find out more about CCR&R?
Call 319-739-1556 or 1-800-233-0054. back to top


What does the Food Reservoir do?
The HACAP Food Reservoir Program collects food donations from corporations and individuals and distributes those in-kind resources to local shelters and food pantries. Shelters and pantries are able to order what they need to meet their outreach service demands, maximizing the redistribution of foodstuffs where they are immediately needed.