CHILD CARE SURVEYou here.

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ensuring success in children age 0-5 in hardin and marshall county, iowa

​Iowa Falls Area Child Care Study Being Conducted

IOWA FALLS, IA (November 22, 2024)- The demand for child care in Hardin County is prevalent. An estimated 67% of households in Hardin County have both parents working outside of the home. There are approximately 732 children who may need care. The current capacity to serve those children is 384. The scope of working families is changing and more options for early learning are always needed.

Hardin County Conservation, in partnership with Hardin County Economic Development, and the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board, has contracted with First Children’s Finance (FCF) to complete a child care market analysis, which will focus on the needs of local families and children, the current supply of regulated child care, parents’ current and preferred child care choices, effects on employers caused by lack of child care, and child care providers’ challenges operating. The report will include the key findings of the research and analysis, including a child care gap analysis quantifying how many children in the Iowa Falls area that are likely to need child care versus the number of regulated child care spaces available.

Part of the research being conducted by FCF includes three surveys to gain insight from local employers, parents, and child care providers. Employers will be asked questions related to how child care impacts employee performance and time loss, and what supports related to child care they would be willing to provide to their employees in the future. The parent survey focuses on learning from working parents, as well as those who are not working due to child care challenges. Questions are focused on the challenges families face today and what will meet their future child care needs. The parent survey is designed for those that have children and are currently using or want to use child care in the Iowa Falls area, regardless of where they live. Child care providers are asked about the challenges they face today and how the community could better support child care providers. The public can access the surveys here:


"Childcare is consistently identified in our community assessments as a major need in Hardin County," says Melissa Miller, IRVECA chair. "Our board is excited about exploring this unique and creative approach to alleviating this issue."

This study was made possible in part through a Rural Child Care Planning grant received by Hardin County through the Empower Rural Iowa initiative, a program administered by the Center for Rural Revitalization, a division of Iowa Economic Development Authority. To oversee the project, a child care steering committee has been formed which includes representatives from Hardin County Conservation, Hardin County Economic Development, Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board, Hardin County Endowment, and Child Care Resource and Referral.

If the project progresses, the planned center aims to provide immersive, hands-on experiences in nature, fostering curiosity and respect for the environment in a safe and nurturing space. Every day will feel like a field trip. This initiative represents a significant step in addressing childcare shortages and promoting early childhood education with a unique, nature-centered approach.

If you have questions or would like more information about this project, contact:  Wes Wiese, Conservation Director, Hardin County Conservation at wwiese@hardincountyia.gov (or) Carrie Kube, Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Board Director at iarivervalleca@gmail.com.