
An initiative to empower individuals and
their communities to achieve desired
results to improve the quality of life for
children ages birth to 5 and their families.
“Every child, beginning at birth, will
be healthy and successful.”
Vision
“Our community will assist families in
nurturing their children in a safe and
supporting environment, which will
provide the opportunity in preparing our
children for a safe and healthy future.”
Mission
“To ensure the collaboration within our
community that will provide our families
with young children the resources and
opportunities necessary to have the
highest quality of life possible.”

Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early Childhood Iowa Priorities

Provide a comprehensive program of parent support and
education to families with children ages 0 – 5.

Increase the availability of affordable quality childcare for all
times of the day while improving connections between
families and providers.

Improve the quality of early childhood care and education
through professional development and support to providers.

Provide an early childhood education experience to children
before entering kindergarten.
Harrison County
Jenny Seuntjens - Secretary
Mike Bunde
Ron Riley
Shelby County
James Burmeister
Pat Davitt
Cindy Burchett –
Vice Chair
Monona County
Anne Livermore
Janice Hildreth
Amy Maule - Chair

Primary Responsibilities
The Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early Childhood (HMS
ECI) Board is responsible for the oversight and
management of Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early
Childhood Iowa funds.

Additionally the HMS ECI Board is responsible for
leading a community planning process responsible
for developing and implementing the community
plan to ensure Harrison, Monona, and Shelby
County children enter kindergarten ready to learn.

A copy of the community plan can be obtained
from the HMS ECI Office.
Harrison
Dunlap
Logan
Little Sioux
Magnolia
Missouri Valley
Modale
Mondamin
Persia
Pisgah
Woodbine
Monona
Blencoe
Castana
Mapleton
Moorhead
Onawa
Rodney
Soldier
Turin
Ute
Whiting
Shelby
Defiance
Earling
Elk Horn
Harlan
Irwin
Kirkman
Panama
Portsmouth
Shelby
Tennant
Westphalia
Those school districts that work directly with the programs or the
Harrison, Monona, Shelby Early Childhood Iowa board are:
Harrison
Boyer Valley CSD
Logan-Magnolia CSD
Missouri Valley CSD
West Harrison CSD
Woodbine CSD
Monona
MVAO CSD
West Monona CSD
Whiting CSD
Charter Oak Ute CSD
Shelby
Harlan CSD
IKM – Manning CSD
Elk Horn-Kimballton
SCCS (Private School)
The remaining schools are only partially in our area or are bordering
schools and work closely with the neighboring Early Childhood Iowa
areas.
HMS ECI Population 2010
Population Growth
for 2000 to 2010
Harrison County 14,928
Monona County 9,243
Shelby County
12,167
Total Population
Total Child Population 0 – 17
Total Child Population 0 – 5
36,338
8,439
2,526
Population Growth
Harrison County
Monona County
Shelby County
-4.7%
-7.8%
-7.6%
2010 Census
25.00%
2000
8.7%
8.9%
6.4%
11%
2010 Census
10%
11%
10.2%
12.5%
Harrison
Monona
0-17
14.9%
20%
12.5%
16.2%
Shelby
0.00%
Children 0 - 17
Harrison
Monona
Shelby
Iowa
10.00%
5.00%
2010
Total Population
15.00%
Total 2010
7.1%
9.4%
6%
9.1%
20.00%
Children 0 - 17
Harrison
Monona
Shelby
Iowa
0-17
Total 2000
Total Population
Iowa
Child Abuse Victims in Iowa
% of abused were children 0 – 5
# of children 0-5 abused
2007
Harrison
24; 36.9%
Monona 15; 46.9%
Shelby
23; 51.1%
2010
37; 55%
13; 43%
13; 41.9%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
2007
10.00%
2010
0.00%
Prepared by: Prevent Child Abuse Iowa,
www.pcaiowa.org
Source: Iowa Dept. of Human Services
2010 Rank
2010
in Rate of
2008
2009
2010
Confirmed
2010
2010
Abuse in
Pop 0- Poverty Accepted or Founded Confirmation Abused State of
17
Rate
Reports
Reports
Rate
Children
Iowa
Harrison
3,464
14.9%
110
35
31.8%
67
48
Monona
1,867
18.9%
61
17
27.9%
30
61
Shelby
2,591
12.8%
73
22
30.1%
31
80
Prepared by: Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, www.pcaiowa.org,
8/19/2011
Source: Iowa Dept. of Human Services
Early Childhood Funds to enhance the capacity and
quality of child care services to help parents obtain
or retain employment. Funds can be distributed in
the following areas:
Capacity Building
Quality Improvement
Home or Center Child Care Consultant
Child Care Nurse Consultant
Provider Training or Professional Development
5% can be used for Administration Costs
Total Received for fiscal year 2012 - $33,498

School Ready Funds are utilized to support a
comprehensive school ready children plan
designed by the HMS ECI area board. Most of the
funding is targeted for categorical purposes with
specific parameters. Funds can be distributed in
the following areas:
Preschool Programming for Low Income Families
Family Support Prenatal through Five
Quality Improvement Funds
Other Funds (General Aid)
Administration Cost Up to 3%
Total Received for fiscal year 2012 - $316,532
School Ready
Early Childhood
$80,000.00
$700,000.00
$70,000.00
$600,000.00
$60,000.00
$500,000.00
$50,000.00
$400,000.00
$40,000.00
$300,000.00
$30,000.00
$200,000.00
$20,000.00
$100,000.00
$10,000.00
2011
2009
2007
2005
2003
2001
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
$-
2000
$-
Learning for Life Parent Education and Home Visitation Program
provides families with young children personalized home visits with a
certified parent educator. The parent educator will help the parent(s)
give your child the best possible start in life by helping increase
confidence and knowledge of child development and parenting skills.
For more information about each program please contact the following
educators in your county.
Harrison County
Sherri Webb, Linnea Handbury, or Tabbi Melby (Teen Parent Educator) at (712)
644-2220
Monona County
Ann Schmidt or Cristy Wright at (712)433-1773
Shelby County
Joan Kloewer, Rhonda Anderson, or Karla Berndt at (712)755-4296
Child Care Nurse Consultant (CCNC) program is
designed to improve the health and safety of
Iowa’s children while they are enrolled in child care
and early education settings. The CCNC works
closely with childcare providers, offering health
and safety assessments, child record reviews,
training, and consultation services through on-site
visits, telephone, and email contacts. These
services improve the quality of care provided to
the families and children participating in care.
Child Care Nurse Consultant:
Lori Hoch at (712)263-3303
Child Care Consultant provides professional and
quality consultation and training to local care and
education providers in order to enhance and
improve the care provided to children ages birth to
five years of age.
Child Care Consultant:
Jeanette Linnenburger at (712)322-2621 Ext 20
Oral Health – ISMILE provides gap-filling direct care
services to improve and maintain the oral health
status of children in our area. A registered dental
hygienist visits all the preschools in the area
providing oral hygiene education, oral health
screenings, and fluoride varnish applications for all
children who return consents to the school.
Oral Health Hygienist:
Sharon Davidson at (712) 263-3303
Preschool Scholarships Program provides for families with
preschool age children (3, 4 and 5) that are not receiving
tuition assistance through any other program (i.e. Statewide
Voluntary Preschool Program, Shared Visions, Head Start,
etc.). Scholarships will be given on a first come/first served
basis and will pay up to $75 for 4 and 5 year olds and up to
$100 for 3 year olds (up to 3 days a week of preschool) of the
tuition for children that are at or below 200% of the federal
poverty guideline. Scholarships will be provided to those
whose incomes are below 100% of the federal poverty
guidelines at 100% for (3 days a week of preschool). Tuition
assistance is confidential.
More Information Contact:
Diane Foss at (712)433-9553
Transportation West Central Community Action collaborates
with Southwest Iowa Planning Council to provide
transportation for Head Start students in Logan and transfers
them to the Woodbine Head Start.
Early Care and Education Professional Development
Professional Development provided by local professionals such
as the child care nurse consultant and Area Education
Agency educators to provide critical training to improve the
quality care for children ages 0 – 5.
Preschool Playground Improvement Grants an opportunity to
improve the safety of preschools outdoor play environments
to expand the learning experience for children. All
participants will receive a playground safety assessment and
complete a training requirement.
How We Invest 2012
Learning for Life/Early ACCESS
Coordination - Parent Support
$226,553.98
Preschool Scholarships $43,048.21
2%
2%
7%
Playground Improvement Grants
$20,000
5%
9%
Transportation $1,137.24
0%
5%
59%
11%
Child Care Nurse Consultant
$33,515.86
Early Care and Education
Professional Development $6,416.81
Child Care Consultant $19,036.03
Oral Health $7,035.34
Administrative $26,765
Home Visits Completed
2,500
278
Families Served
458
Children Served
2,339
0
2,000
1,500
Home
Visits
1,000
0%
6%
0%
100
200
Families
2%
1%
300
400
500
Multi-racial
Asian
White
500
African American
0
2011
91%
Hispanic
Native American or
Alaskan American
500
400
387; 73%
served
Children Served
60
72; 19%
of those
screened
300
200
40
20
100
0
Transportation
Screened for
developmental
delays
Scholarships
Referred on for
additional services
88%
88%
86%
86%
84%
80%
5
0
90%
82%
66
80
83%
82%
80%
78%
76%
Families that improve or Families that increase
maintain healthy
or maintain social
functioning, problem
supports
solving and
communication
Families that are
connected to
additional concrete
supports
Families that increase Families that improve
knowledge about child
nurturing and
development and
attachment between
parenting
parent(s) and child(ren)
Oral Health (I-SMILE) served 453 children with
dental screens
36 of those children were referred on for
additional treatment or services
 Child Care Nurse Consultant made 168 visits to
Early Child Care and Education providers,
assisting them to improve and educate
about health and safety issues and to improve
the quality of service that was provided to 4,312
children
 Child Care Consultant made 70 visits to Early Child
Care and Education providers, assisting them to
improve the quality of service that was
provided to 1,079 children.

Child Care Nurse Consultant made 21 visits
to 11 different playgrounds that were
used by 22 different programs to provide
guidance and safety assessment of
those playgrounds.
493 preschool students were using
preschool playgrounds that made
significant safety improvements in 2011.