HACAP supports the growth and development of children. Children in quality child care settings are better prepared to enter school. In the state of Iowa, more children receive care in child care homes than in child care centers. Provider & Child Education Services (PACES) addresses this important need in Linn County through two free programs:
- PACES Providers, and
- PACES – First Steps
PACES Providers
The PACES Providers program strengthens the quality and expands the availability of child care for families with infants and toddlers within Linn County. This program focuses on the recruitment, training, and support of child care homes. Key components of this program include:
- Technical assistance/in-home visitation,
- Enhanced training, and
- Quality assessment
PACES-First Steps
Child care home providers that would like to sample our services may sign-up for PACES – First Steps. Providers in this program receive three home visits from PACES staff over a four to six week period that will provide assistance in three specific areas related to running their business.
The first home visit focuses on Department of Human Services Registration and Child Care Assistance. The next visit offers the provider information on marketing, business issues, and the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The final home visit addresses age appropriate activities and provides an overview of the PACES Provider program.
PACES – First Steps is available to any Linn County child care home provider accepting children age 0 – 5. For more information, see the PACES - First Steps Survey in the forms section.
Together with CACFP, CCR&R, Head Start, Early Head Start and the Quality Early Childhood Initiative, PACES works to address the growing needs of young children.
PACES programs are funded by Linn County Community Empowerment.