Our programs

Healthy Families: A Family Support Worker will partner with families with young children, to set and achieve goals and learn about child 

development to help them thrive and succeed. Contact LSI at 319/214-1054. 

Benton County Family Nest: The Nest program is an incentive based parent education group program for pregnant women, post-partum mothers, and their children up to 2years of age. Participants earn incentive points for healthy behaviors such as keeping medical appointments, participating in WIC, home visitation and other parent education classes. The points are then redeemed for incentive items such as diapers ,wipes, clothing, car seats and pack & plays. Contact LSI at 319/214-1054. 

Preschool scholarships: Provided to families earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Contact Better Tomorrows, 319/214-1471. 

Quality Early Childhood Environments: Childcare providers and preschool programs participating in a qualifying quality improvement program and professional development courses receive a stipend. 

Contact Better Tomorrows, 319/214-1471. 

Childcare Alliance Response Team (CART): Provides behavioral supports and services to Early Learning Environments in Benton and Tama counties with children that are exhibiting challenging 

behaviors. Contact Grant Wood AEA, 319/399-6574. 

Childcare Nurse Consultant: Provides services to early learning environments to ensure best health and safety practices are utilized. In Benton County contact HACAP at 319/393-7811, in Tama County. 

Contact MICA at 641/328-9133. 

Childcare Expansion: Provides funding to new or existing child care providers that increase their capacity. Contact Better Tomorrows, 319/214-1471. 

Achievement Bonuses for Child Care Providers: Financial bonuses are available for child care providers that any of these continuing education courses: Early Childhood Positive Based Intervention Supports (EC-PBIS), Program for Infant and Toddler Care (PITC), ChildNet, Passport Training, Medication Administration and Skills Assessments, Essentials, CPR/First Aid, ServSafe, ITERS, ECERS or FCCERS, Early Learning Standards