Desired results purpose and scope

1. It is intended that through the early childhood Iowa initiative every community in Iowa will develop the capacity and commitment for using local, informed decision making to achieve the following set of desired results for improving the quality of life in this state for young children and their families: a. Healthy children. b. Children ready to succeed in school. c. Safe and supportive communities. d. Secure and nurturing families. e. Secure and nurturing early learning environments. 2. The purpose of creating the early childhood Iowa initiative is to empower individuals, communities, and state level partners to achieve the desired results. The desired results will be achieved as private and public entities work collaboratively. This initiative creates a partnership between communities and state level partners to support children zero through age five and their families. The role of the early childhood Iowa state board, area boards, and other state and local government agencies is to provide support, leadership, and facilitation of the growth of individual, community, and state responsibility in addressing the desired results. 3. To achieve the desired results, the initiative’s primary focus shall be on the efforts of the state and communities to work together to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of early care, education, health, and human services provided to families with children from zero through age five.