Links to More Resources
Fatherhood
- Iowa Fatherhood: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/fatherhood
- National Fatherhood Initiative: http://www.fatherhood.org
- NFI's mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with an involved, responsible, and committed father.
Financial Literacy
- Hands on Banking: http://www.handsonbanking.org
- Wells Fargo & Company provides free, innovative, interactive financial education through its program Hands on Banking. These programs and lessons teach students and adults the basics of good money management.
- My Money: http://Mymoney.gov
- MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all audiences the basics about financial education. There is information about home buying, balancing a checkbook and investing in 401(k).
Head Start
- Head Start Bureau: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/
- Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.
- Iowa Head Start Association: http://www.iowaheadstart.org/IHSAHome.asp
- National Head Start Association: http://www.nhsa.org
The National Head Start Association is a private not-for-profit membership organization dedicated exclusively to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families. It represents more than 1 million children, 200,000 staff and 2,600 Head Start programs in the United States. The Association provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families; by providing extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff; and by developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.
Literacy
- International Reading Association: http://www.reading.org
Since 1956, IRA has been a nonprofit, global network of individuals and institutions committed to worldwide literacy. More than 70,000 members strong, the Association supports literacy professionals through a wide range of resources, advocacy efforts, volunteerism, and professional development activities. Our members promote high levels of literacy for all by:
- Improving the quality of reading instruction
- Disseminating research and information about reading
- Encouraging the lifetime reading habit
- National Center for Family Literacy: http://www.famlit.org
- NCFL is a leading national nonprofit organization with an incredible mission: we are building a more literate and prosperous nation by helping parents and children learn together.
- Reading is Fundamental: http://www.rif.org
- Reading is Fundamental, Inc. prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most.
Local Organizations
- ChildNet Child Care Resource and Referral: http://www.centraliowachildcare.org
- Count the Kicks: http://www.countthekicks.org
- Iowa 211: http://www.211iowa.org
- 2-1-1 is the national abbreviated dialing code for free confidential access to health and human services information and referral. It is an easy to remember universal number for people to gain access to services without having to search them out on their own. Realizing people have a variety of means to seek out information, in addition to dialing 2-1-1, our database is available on this searchable website.
- Iowa Child Care and Early Education Network: http://www.iowachildnetwork.org/
- Iowa Department of Human Services: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/
- Iowa Department of Public Health: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/default.aspx
- Iowa State University Extension: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/
- Metropolitan Partnership for Lead Safe Housing: http://www.metroleadsafe.org/
The Metropolitan Partnership for Lead Safe Housing is a Public-Private partnership to provide financial assistance to repair lead-based paint hazards in homes in Polk and Dallas Counties. Lead-based paint is the primary source of lead poisoning of children in Iowa. Lead poisoning can cause permanent brain damage in young children. Low interest loans, forgivable loans or grants are available.
National Organizations
- Head Start Body Start: http://www.headstartbodystart.org
- Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play's (HSBS) newly designed Web site provides the Head Start, Early Head Start, and early child care and education community with enhanced features and resources.
- National Center for Children in Poverty: http://www.nccp.org
- The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) is the nation’s leading public policy center dedicated to promoting the economic security, health, and well-being of America’s low-income families and children. NCCP uses research to inform policy and practice with the goal of ensuring positive outcomes for the next generation. We promote family-oriented solutions at the state and national levels.
- National Child Care Information Center: http://www.nccic.org
The National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center (NCCIC), a service of the Child Care Bureau, is a national clearinghouse and technical assistance center that provides comprehensive child care information resources and TA services to Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Administrators and other key stakeholders.
- Spark Action: http://www.sparkaction.org
- Brings together the latest news, research, trends and stories from across the child and youth field so you can get informed and take action on the issues that matter most to you.
- Zero to Three: http://www.zerotothree.org
- ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in the lives of infants and toddlers.
