Sioux City, IA — MARCH 2026—Crittenton Center has been awarded funding through the State of Iowa’s Early Childhood Continuum of Care grant program, an initiative designed to strengthen partnerships between preschool programs and child care providers to expand early learning opportunities for young children.
The grant is part of a $5.2 million statewide investment announced by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, supporting 19 child care and preschool partnerships across Iowa. The program encourages collaboration between licensed child care centers and sites participating in the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program to help provide seamless, full-day care for 4-year-olds while strengthening school readiness.
“This funding allows us to continue building stronger pathways for children and families in our community,” said Kim Scorza, CEO of Crittenton Center. “By expanding partnerships between early childhood education and child care providers, we can ensure young children receive consistent, high-quality care and learning experiences that prepare them for success in school and beyond.”
The Early Childhood Continuum of Care grants support initiatives such as staffing, expanded hours of operation, and transportation solutions that help bridge gaps between preschool programming and child care services. These partnerships are designed to better support working families while strengthening Iowa’s early childhood education system.
State leaders say programs like these help create a stronger early child care and education system while giving working parents more options for reliable child care.
Through this funding, Crittenton Center will work alongside community partners to expand access to full-day early childhood care and education opportunities at its Orange City and Moville Child Development Centers, helping ensure children enter kindergarten ready to learn while supporting parents in the workforce. Crittenton Center received $100,000 per year for three years for each location.