The Quality Rating System (QRS), is a voluntary child care rating system for child development homes, licensed child care centers and preschools in Iowa.  Like a restaurant or hotel, the system rates child care providers on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the highest level of quality.

The QRS was developed to raise the quality of child care in Iowa, increase the number of children in high-quality child care settings and educate parents about quality in child care

Providers in our area are highly encouraged to participate in the QRS.  Linking Families and Communities funds programs to assist providers in the process.

Here is the list of providers that have acheived ratings:

QRS LEVEL ACHIEVED: 4

Community Daycare & Preschool Center 
1315 S. 24th Street
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
515-573-5461

QRS LEVEL ACHIEVED: 3

Clara Barnhardt 
317 NW 9th Street
Pocahontas, IA 50574
712-335-4534

Mary M. Wilkins 
3102 – 16th Ave. N
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
515-576-4860

KidZone Daycare Center 
1111 5th Ave., N
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
515-955-3618

QRS LEVEL ACHIEVED: 2

Vicki Harris 
807 7th Avenue, N.
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
515-955-2151

Caroline Mauch 
426 – 1st St. NW
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
515-955-2250

Alicia Stenzel 
1312 5th Ave. North
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
515-573-4384

Waddle-In . . . Child Care (Center) 
202 East Harrison Street
Pomeroy, IA 50575
712-468-2268

QRS LEVEL ACHIEVED: 1

Sandra Sumner 
405 River Street
Rolfe, IA 50581
712-848-3154

Parents: Please visit and interview potential child care providers to ensure that they are appropriate for your child/children.

We are working on improving access to our services and the services of others in early childhood.  To start with, we are rolling out an on-line enrollment/registration for Family Foundations, an in-home visitation service for parents with young children.  We know you are busy.  If you are like us, you’d rather not play phone tag or worry about who you need to talk to or exactly what to say to get what you want.  Now you can simply answer a few questions and someone will call you!

Check out Family Foundations and Register On-Line!

Annoucing winter registration for our Positive Solutions For Families Parenting Workshops.  These workshops are apart of the PBIS framework that  area preschools and child care settings are utilizing.  During the 6 sessions, we will discuss how to promote positive behavior in your child, ways to reduce challenging behavior, and learn new strategies and techniques to help your child follow directions and much more!  These workshops are FREE to attend, and we also offer FREE childcare and meals for participants.  Space is limited…..register today.  Please see link below!

http://www.linking-families.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PSSF-FLYER-5-sessions-2012.docx

Just a reminder – this is the last week to register for our Positive Solutions for Families Workshops.  A few spots are still available in the Lake City and Fort Dodge workshops.  Lake City will begin Monday, October 3rd and Fort Dodge will begin on Thursday, October 6th.  We will meet for 6 consecutive weeks from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  You may register by emailing Marcie Lentsch at mlentsch@linking-families.com or 515-955-5437.  Workshops are free to attend and childcare and meals are provided!  Please see the Positive Solutions for Families tab on our website for more information.  DON’T MISS OUT!

Annoucing fall registration for our Positive Solutions For Families Parenting Workshops.  These workshops are apart of the PBIS framework that local area preschools and child care settings are utilizing.  During the 6 sessions, we will discuss how to promote positive behavior in your child, ways to reduce challenging behavior, and learn new strategies and techniques to help your child follow directions and much more!  These workshops are FREE to attend, and we also offer FREE childcare and meals for participants.  Space is limted…..register today.  Please see link below!

Fall Positive Solutions For Families Registration Form

Our much awaited  preschool scholarships are now available.

We are able offer preschool scholarships for children ages 3, 4, & 5 years old.  This funding is made available through the State of Iowa Early Childhood Iowa funds.  To qualify for a scholarship the child must be 3, 4, or 5 years old by September 15, 2011 with a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.  (The child also cannot be receiving funds from the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program.)  Scholarships will be given on a first come/first served basis and will pay 100% of the tuition for children that are eligible.  Scholarships will also be awarded on a sliding scale to those whose income is above 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Tuition Assistance is confidential.

Click on the link below for a printable copy of the application:

Preschool Scholarship Application Form

List of Preschools by County

Did you know that each of us has an invisible bucket?  It is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us.  When our bucket is full, we feel great.  When our bucket is empty, we feel awful.  Each of us also has an invisible dipper in which we fill or dip from others and our own buckets. 

Linking Families and Communities invites you to attend one of the ”Bucket Filling” workshops on June 13, 2011 to learn about this strengths-based approach that can be used by children, adults, businesses, organizations and communities. All workshops will be held in Room 108 at Iowa Central Community College’s Career Education Building.

Sessions and Times:                          

• 10 – 11 am  - Bucket Filling for Children and Families (Children welcome)   (Session is Full – Location changed to Bioscience & Health Sciences Building)
  
• 1 - 2:30 pm – Bucket Filling for Business, Organizations and Communities (Session has openings)
  
• 7 – 8:30 pm – Bucket Filling Basics: Living the Bucket Fillers Life  (Session has openings)

*********If you haven’t registered and would like to attend the 1 pm or 7 pm session, feel free to attend as there are seats available in both sessions.

About the Speaker

Dipper and the Bucket- Research

Dipper and the Bucket – Theory

Love and Logic^® provides simple and practical techniques to help parents with kids of all ages:

• Raise responsible kids
• Have more fun in their role
• Easily and immediately (first use) change their children’s behavior

Check out the official site of Love and Logic^®

The class will be held on May 10, 17, 24 and June 7 and 14 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Corpus Christi Parish Center (405 8th Avenue North, Fort Dodge, IA).  There is no cost to attend and supper is provided as well.  The class will be facilitated by Catholic Social Services.  Call (515) 576-4156 to register for the Love & Logic class by May 6th.

Review the flyer for more information.

Linking Families and Communities is hosting Tom Copeland’s “Business Practices For Family Child Care Providers.”  This seminar will be held on May 7, 2011 in the auditorium of the BioScience & Health Sciences Building on Iowa Central Community College’s Fort Dodge Campus.

Pre-registration is required.  Click to review the FLYER.

Please note that family child care providers in the Calhoun, Pocahontas and Webster County area will be provided a scholarships.  Attendees from outside the area are required to pay a $15.00 Registration Fee.

To promote good behavior in your children clearly state your expectations in advance.  Tell your child what to do, rather than what not to do.  When it comes to picking up their toys before leaving the house, just saying “pick up your toys NOW and let’s go” will not give you the outcome most parents desire.  A better choice of direction would be to give them a 5 minute warning by saying: “It’s almost time to leave, first pick up your toys, then put on your coat.”