Please Participate in the Survey by (Extended to December 11th)

www.growfairfield.com/housingsurvey

The City of Fairfield and Grow Fairfield Economic Development Association have formed a task force and are partnering to conduct a housing needs study and are asking for the community’s input to identify what type of housing is needed in the area through a short assessment survey.

“The survey is an important step in the process, and I encourage everyone to take part. High participation will allow us to get the most accurate data possible. We’re seeking a healthy cross-section from the community, including individuals who rent, who own homes, who are working or retired, and of all income levels,” said City Council Member Paul Gandy.

The survey questions inquire about current accommodations and anticipated future housing needs. All responses are anonymous. Results will be compiled by Iowa State University Extension. Key findings will guide the task force in the formation of an action plan for improving quality and accessibility. 

Gandy, who also serves as the Chair of the Housing Task Force, added, “Even if you do not plan to make a change in your housing or you work here but live outside the County, we encourage you to complete the survey as it will help with future growth planning.”

The study will provide the necessary information to make data-driven decisions, improve the City’s existing housing stock, and encourage new development. 

Joshua Laraby, Grow Fairfield’s Executive Director, said, “With nearly 3,000 people who commute into Fairfield and Jefferson County daily for work but live outside the community, we have an incredible opportunity to create housing options and grow Fairfield. We would like to thank you for taking the time to participate.” 

The final housing study is expected to be complete in January.

In addition to the 11-member task force, City Administrator Aaron Kooiker and Mayor Connie Boyer are engaged participants in the committee and process. 

Mayor, Connie Boyer, concluded, “the task force members are drawn from a good cross-section of community leaders and stakeholders committed to addressing the housing challenge in a meaningful way. I am confident they will build a solid plan.”

Mayor & City Council Appointed Fairfield Housing Task Force Members

Paul Gandy, Fairfield City Council Member
Nick Graham, Cambridge Investment Research
Chad Christensen, Fairfield Manufacturers Association
Kristin Miller, Miller Realty
Tim Bower, Fairfield Community School District
Aaron Kness, Iowa State Bank
Karl Metcalf, Iowa State Bank
Bryan Hunger, Jefferson County Health Center
Don Hoelting, Landlord, and Developer
Joshua Laraby, Grow Fairfield Economic Development Association

For questions regarding the housing study or the public survey, please contact Joshua Laraby at 641-472-3436 or Joshua.Laraby@growfairfield.com

Location: Washington Elementary, 406 East Madison Ave. Fairfield
When: Wednesday, January 9th, 2019
6p.m. -7 p.m.

The Iowa/Jefferson/Keokuk Early Childhood Iowa Board is collaborating with the Jefferson County Child Care Steering Committee, and the Fairfield Economic Development Association to host an open house for .those interested in becoming a home-based child care provider, and those already providing child care in their home.

A Child Care Nurse Consultant is a free service that provides support and resources. I can help with special needs care planning, immunization questions, in addition to any health and safety questions. I can work with providers to obtain points for the quality rating system. I am also certified to inspect playgrounds. I provide trainings to help with the required training hours. I can also do a handwashing training with the children in care. For more information, please contact mandi@jeffcoph.com

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) provides resources and education to support quality child care, including consultation and training for new and existing child care providers. Child Care Consultants can assist you with starting a child care business, meeting the Department of Human Services (DHS) regulations, applying for Iowa’s Quality Rating System (QRS), and any other questions you may have regarding child care. CCR&R also provides the registration application for new child care providers and can help you become registered with DHS. For more information, please contact jledger@caeiowa.org

New Child Care Business Kits. CCR&R worked with our DHS partners to develop a business kit to provide you with information on 4 topics critical to your growth and success as a child care provider. This opportunity is specifically designed for newly registered providers or those in the process of becoming registered. Thanks to partnership with Iowa/Jefferson/Keokuk ECI, grant funding will allow providers who commit to 4 on-site consultation visits to receive up to $250 in resources for your child care program. During each visit, the provider will work 1 on 1 with an experienced child care consultant to better your business and increase the quality of care you provide. This program is funded by Iowa/Jefferson/Keokuk Early Childhood Iowa. For more information, please contact Chelsea Van Daele cvandaele@caeiowa.org

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is funded by the USDA and works to combat hunger. CACFP serves over 4,000,000 children with healthy meals & snacks and is an indicator of quality child care. The CACFP encourages healthy meals and snacks to be served by child & adult care providers. Benefits of being a CACFP provider are financial reimbursement on groceries, education & training on healthy eating, tools & resources to use every day, and support from the entire child nutrition community. Requirements to be in the program in Iowa are that you are a registered child care home with your county Department of Human Services and that you are signed up with the local agency who sponsors the CACFP. For more information contact Glori Headley Johnson or Julie Pitzl at Sieda Community Action 641-682-8741 or gjohnson@sieda.org or jpitzl@sieda.org.

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® IOWA (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) assists childcare providers throughout the state to increase their professional development through sponsored scholarships. Several scholarship models (or choices) exist for family child care home providers, child care teachers, directors, and part day preschools or program providers. Program administered by the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children. For more information, please contact http://www.iowaaeyc.org

Child Care WAGE$® IOWA is a nationally licensed program currently funded in 37 counties across the state. WAGE$ provides salary supplements to childcare providers based on their levels of education and contingent upon continued work in their current eligible program. In doing so, WAGE$ seeks to increase education rates for staff, reduce turnover rates for early education programs, and improve the quality of care for children. Program administered by the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children. For more information, please contact jocee@iowaaeyc.org

Media Contact:
Tammy Wetjen-Kesterson, Early Childhood Iowa
Director for Iowa, Keokuk and Jefferson Counties
iowajeffersonkeokukeci@gmail.com

Fairfield, Iowa (October 12th, 2018) The Iowa/Jefferson/Keokuk Early Childhood Iowa Board is collaborating with the Jefferson County Child Care Steering Committee to offer a new incentive program to anyone wishing to start a new child care program in their home or to become a registered child care home provider if they are already caring for children in their home. Participants in the program can receive up to $3,500 in incentives.

Home-based child care businesses enrolled in the incentive program, will need to work with Child Care Resource and Referral and the Jefferson County Child Care Nurse Consultant to begin an application. The new incentive program will provide the following tiered-incentives:

Requirement:                                                                        Incentive:

• Become a DHS Registered Provider                                      $500.00
• Remain a DHS Registered Provider 6 months                    $500.00
• Remain a DHS Registered Provider 12 months                  $500.00
• Remain a DHS Registered Provider 18 months                  $500.00
• Remain a DHS Registered Provider 24 months                  $500.00
• Become A Level 1 on Quality Rating System                        $500.00
• Become A Level 2 on Quality Rating System                        $500.00

                                                                        $3,500.00 Total Incentive

“Our goal is to recruit five new home-based child care businesses in the Fairfield community by July 1, 2019. Home-based child care businesses will be eligible for incentive payment once they complete the quality and longevity requirements,” said Tammy Wetjen-Kesterson, Director for Iowa/Keokuk/Jefferson Early Childhood Iowa.

This new incentive program is in response to the committee’s three-tiered approach to addressing the child care shortage in the Fairfield Community:

• Assist Existing Child Care Business to Expand Services
• Recruit and Retain New Home-Based Child Care Businesses
• Open a New Child Care Facility in Fairfield

Joshua Laraby, Executive Director for Fairfield Economic Development Association said, “The work the steering committee has completed in the last few months has created a notable awareness in the community around the need for additional, quality and affordable child care spaces. We are not the only community in Iowa with a shortage of child care spaces, though in conversations on the state level, we are essentially forging the road in Fairfield with our strategic process. This new incentive is a helpful and measurable step towards closing the gap.”

The opportunity to create a thriving community by retaining, attracting and engaging families in the area depends on the availability of high quality, affordable, childcare. In an April 2018 survey in Jefferson County, 438 current and future parents articulated their challenges and desires regarding childcare. One take away from this survey is that, if a family can find affordable, high-quality child care, when they need it, they will stay in the school district, buy a home in the area, seek employment, patronize local businesses, and participate in community events. Child care is an important part of a community’s infrastructure; it is as critical as the built infrastructure.

In the first quarter of 2018, the Jefferson County Child Care Steering Committee, the Fairfield Economic Development Association, and the Iowa/Jefferson/Keokuk Early Childhood Area Board commissioned First Children’s Finance of Des Moines to complete a Child Care Market Analysis to better understand the child care market in Jefferson County. The Child Care Market Analysis showed there are shortages in the number of child care slots for two-year old’s, and for full-day, full-year preschool for three and four-year old’s. Parents that participated in the market study identified a licensed center or a registered child care development homes as their most preferred options for providing care to their children.

There will be incentive information forthcoming for existing Registered Home-Based Providers.

Contact’s to learn more:

Mandi Lauderman, Jefferson County Public Health
County Child Care Nurse Consultant
641-472-5929
mandi@jeffcoph.com

Julie Ledger, Child Care Resources & Referral
Child Care Consultant
jledger@caeiowa.org

Media Contact:

Tammy Wetjen-Kesterson, Early Childhood Iowa
Director for Iowa, Keokuk and Jefferson Counties
iowajeffersonkeokukeci@gmail.com