Advocates look at expanding childcare pilot program across Iowa [Video]

ALTOONA, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – A pilot program hoping to increase access to childcare in Iowa has already created hundreds of slots and 200 workers.

The Iowa Women’s Foundation released the report Tuesday, but hopes this is just the start.

The program was able to get businesses to donate to “Childcare Solutions Funds” and the state matched donations.

IWF President Deann Cook says they were able to use these funds to raise wages for childcare workers.

“When you think of a childcare shortage, you think there’s not enough buildings. There’s not enough little rooms with nap mats and little tables. That’s not the case. It’s not a space issue, it’s a capacity issue based on how many adults there are to care for kids,” she said.

They ran this pilot program in seven Iowa counties. They were able to open up nearly 300 more childcare slots and added more than 200 …