(Des Moines) Governor Kim Reynolds at her press conference today addressed Iowa’s Childcare Crisis. Reynolds said access to affordable, high quality childcare in the state of Iowa is certainly an issue that precedes the pandemic, but it was intensified during it.
Reynolds said the Economic Recovery Advisory report identified childcare as the number one opportunity for economic growth as we continue to navigate our recovery from COVID-19. She said they recommended convening a group of Iowans to develop a strategic plan. Reynolds issued her eighth executive order establishing the Governor’s Childcare Task Force which will be chaired by Emily Schmitt, General Counsel of Sukup Manufacturing and a working mom who served on the Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
Schmitt said one of her goals with this taskforce is to take an expansive view of Iowa’s childcare needs.
Schmitt said some of the actions for the taskforce will be to study successful delivery models from other states, work to identify the correct regulatory environments to foster both safety and quality, and think of how to incentivize Iowa employers to be partners with this childcare assistance.
Governor Reynolds said many communities across the state have been working hard to develop and fund local projects that address childcare access and support working families. Wednesday, the Department of Human Services and Iowa Workforce Development will award more than $13 million to support the expansion of childcare in communities across the state.
In 100 days, the task force will present recommendations to the Governor to address Iowa’s child care crisis. Additional members of the task force representing business, non-profit and community organizations, child care providers, and local government include:
Dianna Williams, Ann Wickman Childcare Center YMCA
Jennifer Banta, Iowa City Area Business Partnership
Lisa Gates, Friendship Village
Miranda Niemi, Quality Beginnings
David Arens, Wells Fargo
Pastor Philip Herman, Highland Park Community Development Association
Mary Janssen, Childcare Resource and Referral of Northeast Iowa
Dawn Oliver Wiand, Iowa Women’s Foundation
Erika Fuentes, Crittenton Center
Teree Caldwell-Johnson, Oakridge Neighborhood
Mayor Roy Buol, Dubuque
Mayor Gene Newgaard, Iowa Falls
Josh Laraby, Fairfield Economic Development Association
Jenna Ramsey, Stanton Community Development
Amy Bice, Child Development Home Provider, Cherokee
Raven Walker, Child Development Home Provider, Council Bluffs
Tessa Dinsdale, Lincoln Savings Bank
