Funding Guidelines

The Tama County Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) Area, formerly empowerment, was created after the Iowa Community Early Childhood Iowa Initiative was established by a legislative mandate during the 1998 Iowa legislative session.  The purpose of this initiative is to create a partnership between communities and state government with an initial emphasis to improve the well being of families with young children.  The initiative calls for the development of local community Early Childhood Iowa areas statewide.  Through these areas, local citizens will be enabled to lead collaborative efforts involving education, health and human services programs on behalf of children, families and other citizens residing in the area.   

 

 

In Secure and Nurturing Child Care Environments

The list of members in the picture from left to right - Richard Arp, Vice-Chairman, North Tama School District/Citizen Representative; Larry Vest, Board of Supervisor/Citizen Representative; Rick Vesely, Clergy/Citizen Representative; Joyce Legg, Public Health Representative; Annette Dunn, Department of Human Services Representative; Jill Herink, Meskwaki Settlement School/Education Representative; Karen Christensen, Citizen Representative; Deb Schlichting, Pied Piper. Individual photos: Mandy Lekin, Business and Industry/Citizen Representative; Angie Knowles, South Tama School District/Citizen Representative; and Jenn Stover, Consumer/Citizen Representative.

Tama County Early Childhood Iowa voting board members received recognition for their valuable contributions for making a difference in the lives of children age 0 – 5 in Tama County.

The purpose of the Tama County Early Childhood Iowa Board is to ensure that collaboration within our community will provide Tama County families with children age 0 – 5, the resources and opportunities necessary for all those children to be healthy; safe and secure; ready to succeed in school; have available, affordable, high quality child care; and access to a preschool opportunity.

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News Releases

Tama Early Childhood Iowa (formerly Empowerment) Board Members were recognized for their dedication for being involved in the Tama County ECI Board.
Tama County ECI Board strives to assure that children, ages 0 - 5, in Tama County are healthy; ready to succeed in school; have a safe, secure, nurturing child care; and have a safe, secure, nurturing home.
May is Volunteer Appreciation month and Ms. Johnson thanked her board for their willingness to participate on Tama County's Early Childhood Iowa Board.
"There have been several "tough" meetings this past year with the State's "Lean Design" and there will be more challenges and/or exciting endeavors in the coming year," stated Ms. Johnson, "I wanted to thank them for their support and participation on our Board". " We wouldn't be able to provide the services that we do without such dedication."
Some of the services currently provided are: parent education, funding for children to attend preschool, lead screening follow-up, and child abuse prevention awareness.
They will be collaborating with Benton County to become a joint Governing Board by July 1, 2012.
If you are interested in becoming involved in Tama County Early Childhood Iowa, please contact Lori Johnson, ECI Director, at 641-484-4788.

Those recognized were: Front - Cathy DeBondt, STC/education/Citizen Representative; Trisha Kennedy, North Tama/education/Citizen Representative; Larry Vest, Chair/Board of Supervisor/Citizen Representative; Karen Christensen,
Citizen; Back - Darla Thiessen, human services representative/Citizen; Deb Schlichting, Pied Piper; Richard Arp, Clergy/Citizen Representative. Not present; Mandy Lekin, Business & Industry/Citizen Representative; Jenn Stover, Consumer/Citizen Representative; Jill Herink, Meskwaki Settlement School/education representative; and Joyce Legg, health representative.

 

Minutes

Early Childhood Iowa Board Members 2010-11

Officers	Board Members	Board Members
Larry Vest – Chairperson Board of Supervisor/Citizen Tama Co. Board of Supervisors P.O. Box 61 104 W. State St. Toledo, IA  52342 Bus: (641) 484-3980 E-mail: ljvest@iowatelecom.net Term: July 1,  2009– June 30, 2012	Jenn Stover Consumer/Citizen Venture Lanes 1411 East 5th Street Tama, IA 52339 Bus: (641) 484-3258 E-mail: jenn@venturelanes.com Term:  July 1, 2009– June 30, 2012	Mandy Lekin Business & Industry/Citizen Required Business 110 Columbian Ct. Toledo, IA 52342 Bus: (641) 484-3465 Email: mjlekin@iowatelecom.net   Term: July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2011
Joyce Legg – Vice-Chairperson Department of Public Health Required health representative Tama Co. Public Health & Home Care 129 W. High St. Toledo, IA  52342 Bus: (641) 484-4788 Bus Fax: (641) 484-5447 E-mail: jlegg@tamacounty.org Term: July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2011	Jill Herink Principal Education Required education representative Meskwaki Settlement School 1610 305th St. Tama, IA  52339 Bus: (641) 484-9000 E-mail: jherink@meskwaki.bia.edu Term: July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2012	Richard Arp Clergy/Citizen Required faith representative 3284 255th Street Clutier, IA  52217 Home: (319) 476-3462 E-mail: rdcaarp@fctc.coop Term:  July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2011
Lori Johnson-Non Voting ECI Director Tama Co. Public Health & Home Care 129 W. High St. Toledo, IA  52342 Bus: (641) 484-4788 Bus Fax: (641) 484-5447 E-mail: ljohnson@tamacounty.org	Cathy DeBondt STC/education/Citizen South Tama Co. Schools Tama, IA  52339 Bus: (641) 484-3999 E-mail: cdebondt@tama.k12.ia.us Term: July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2012	Deb Schlichting Pied Piper 1108 S. Main Traer, IA 50675 Business (319) 478-2310 Email:schlicqd@traer.net Term: July 2009-June 30, 2012
Laura Kopsa-Non Voting Fiscal Agent Tama Co. Auditor P.O. Box 61 104 W. State St. Toledo, IA  52342 Bus: (641) 484-2740 Bus Fax: (641) 484-5127 E-mail: lkopsa@tamacounty.org	Karen Christensen Citizen 500 S. Green Toledo, IA 52342 Home: (641) 484-4461 Email: medved@iowatelecom.net Term: July 1, 2009-June 30, 2012	Darla Thiessen Department of Human Services Required human services rep. Tama County Extension Office 203 W. High Street Toledo, IA 52342 Bus: (641) 484-2703 E-mail: dthiesen@iastate.edu Term: July1, 2008-June 30, 2011
Trisha Kennedy North Tama/education/Citizen 410 Green Street Traer, IA 50675 Home: (319)478-2010 Email: patrishak@gmail.com Term: July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2011

Early Childhood Iowa Area Merger Activities

Preschool Scholarships Available

Growing Strong Posters

Baby

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