With a keen focus on improving the lives of children aged prenatal through five, the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board has awarded funds for the upcoming fiscal year.  Utilizing funds from Iowa’s Department of Education and Health and Human Services, early childhood programs in Hardin and Marshall County will strengthen, empower and support families and their children. The Board has focused its priorities on the following services:

Family Support and Home Visitation These programs include home visits that are designed to strengthen protective factors, including parenting skills, increasing parental knowledge of child development, and increasing family functioning and problem-solving skills. Funded programs follow the Parents As Teachers Curriculum. The contracted programs are:


Childcare Services and Support * These programs are designed to increase the quality and capacity of childcare environments each offering different opportunities. See our work around supporting quality child care practices.

Preschool Transportation * Provides transportation for preschool students to/from childcare development homes.


Preschool Tuition Scholarships * Qualified children living below 200% poverty are eligible for a preschool tuition scholarship with a sliding fee scale. Some restrictions may apply. Scholarships are available at the following preschools:


Early Literacy Services 

Small Talk, operated through the Marshalltown Public Library, is a program for parents that uses regular feedback from LENA technology to help increase interactive talk in order to close the early-talk gap, support kindergarten readiness, and build stronger families.


Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

The Strengthening Center will provide Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services to early learning programs in Hardin and Marshall County.


Car Seat Safety

Child Abuse Prevention Services will also provide Car Seat Safety events across Hardin and Marshall County, and have an emergency supply of car seats available.




ensuring success in children age 0-5 in hardin and marshall county, iowa

Meet Our FY'24 PROGRAM SERVICE PROVIDERS