Des Moines, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds is directing more federal money toward child care workers and facilities.
Reynolds is extending and expanding a federal pandemic relief program that has provided monthly bonuses to low-paid child care and preschool workers. The payments had been available to workers in 20 counties and were set to end. Reynolds is using seven million dollars in federal money to make the program statewide, through June 30th of next year. The governor has ordered reimbursement rates to increase for low-income parents who’re getting government assistance to pay for child care. She’s also using federal money so Iowa child care centers affected by the pandemic will continue to get bonuses through the end of August. In addition, Reynolds is directing more pandemic relief funds to provide college scholarships to more Iowa child care workers.
To accomplish this, the Department of Human Services (DHS) will expand the T.E.A.C.H. and Child Care WAGE$ program statewide through fiscal year 2022. T.E.A.C.H. is a comprehensive scholarship program that provides educational opportunities to the early childhood workforce. The Reynolds administration says that with a proven record of reducing turnover, the WAGE$ program provides education-based salary supplements to the early care and education workforce.
Reynolds appointed a task force in March to come up with ideas for addressing child care needs in Iowa. She says the group will conclude its work later this month.
