Through Early Childhood Iowa (ECI), every community in Iowa will develop the capacity and commitment for using local, informed decision-making to achieve the following set of desired results for improving the quality of life in this state for young children and their families:

  • Healthy children,
  • Children ready to succeed in school,
  • Safe and supportive communities,
  • Secure and nurturing families, and
  • Secure and nurturing early learning environments.


The Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board is funded solely by appropriations from Early Childhood Iowa, via the Iowa State Legislature. Appropriations are administered on a fiscal year basis, from July 1- June 30. Two funding sources are available.


The Iowa State Legislature appropriates state General Funds for Early Childhood community grants to enhance the quality and capacity of child care through:

  • Regular child care and provider recruitment
  • Child care for mildly ill children
  • 2 nd and 3rd shift child care
  • Provider training
  • Support for registration and licensure. 


The Iowa State Legislature appropriates General Funds for School Ready for community grants to support comprehensive services for children ages 0 through 5 including:

  • Preschool support for low-income families
  • Family support and parent education
  • Quality improvements
  • Other early care, health, and education services


ECI Areas, which represent all 99 counties in Iowa, enable local citizens to lead collaborative efforts involving early care, education, health, and human services on behalf of the children, families, and other citizens residing in the area.  Each area is designated by the ECI State Board and with that designation, status has its own board to perform the necessary functions, including the administration of any grant monies to programs and services that support young children and their families.


For more detailed financial information, please review the links below.

FY'25 IRVECA Program Allocations


​FINANCIAL INFORMATION

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