Iowa unveils first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation child care availability website

(Des Moines) Today, Governor Kim Reynolds unveiled a new, first-of-its-kind website called Iowa Child Care Connect (childcareconnect.iowa.gov) to help Iowans more easily find childcare availability near their homes, where they attend school, or near parents and caretakers’ workplaces.

“Using Iowa’s Child Care Connect, Iowa parents will be able to locate any open child care spots in their neighborhood or along their route to work– almost in real-time,” said Governor Reynolds. “This new innovative solution is just one way we are meeting the critical childcare needs of working families in our state. Iowa Child Care Connect is a game changer, and I am so proud of all the partnership and work put into its creation.”

Iowa HHS, in partnership with Iowa State University and Resultant, a data and technology consulting firm, developed the Iowa Child Care Connect website platform, which focuses on mapping child care availability for Iowans. This project is one of the recommendations of the Governor’s Child Care Task Force.

“As a working mom of young children, I understand firsthand and know the challenges working parents face in finding available and affordable child care,” said Kelly Garcia, director of Iowa HHS. “We are thrilled to provide this new, easy-to-use tool that will meet working Iowa parents right where they are and expand accessibility to open child care slots.”

Iowa Child Care Connect was intentionally created with the flexibility to adapt and change for the needs of Iowans, leading to a sustainable, long-term solution. This platform was built using a well-known mapping system that calculates trip times in miles and minutes. Leveraging this technology allows Iowans to identify childcare vacancies on their way to work while factoring in other potential stops they make.

Parents or other caretakers searching for openings can filter vacancies by specific criteria, such as type of child care setting, age ranges, hours of operation, rating level, and Child Care Assistance availability.

Iowa Child Care Connect can also serve as an essential tool in emergencies. First responders can use the childcare search information to ensure that all children in a specific area are safe and accounted for during an emergency.

In addition to Iowa Child Care Connect, Iowa is leading the nation in launching public dashboards with data showing near-real-time and historical data of child care vacancies, supply, and demand, which local, regional, or statewide data can filter. Iowa HHS will use the data to understand supply and demand trends, and local officials, employers, and other entities can utilize the data to help plan for future childcare needs in their communities or other planning efforts.