256C.1 Family resource center demonstration program established.

If the general assembly appropriates moneys for the establishment of family resource centers, the department of education, in conjunction with the child development coordinating council, shall establish and coordinate a family resource center demonstration program to provide comprehensive child development and child care services, remedial educational and literacy services, and supportive services to parents who are recipients of assistance under the family investment program and other parents in need of services. The program shall provide for the establishment of family resource centers by the school year commencing July 1, 1994, which shall be located in at least three public schools, one located in a large school district, one located in a medium-sized school district, and one located in a small school district. For purposes of this section a large school district is a district with an actual enrollment of five thousand or more pupils; a medium-sized school district is a district with an actual enrollment that is greater than one thousand one hundred ninety-nine pupils, but less than five thousand pupils; and a small school district is a district with an actual enrollment of one thousand one hundred ninety-nine or fewer pupils.

256C.2 Grant criteria--advisory committees.

The child development coordinating council shall develop a four-year grant program and the criteria and process to be used in selecting school district grant recipients. Criteria for the selection shall include the service requirements contained in section 256C.3 and a method for prioritizing grant applications based on illustrated efforts to meet the critical social welfare needs of the children and families in the surrounding community. Criteria for the selection shall also include a requirement that the program administrator, whose primary responsibility is to administer the family resource center, have at least two years of experience in early childhood education or development, demonstrated skills in community development, and a master's degree in a related field such as community service, health, human services, child development, parent support, or home economics, or at least five years of experience as an administrator of a licensed early childhood education or development program. Critical social welfare needs that may entitle a grant application to priority, if the application includes methods of amelioration of an identified community problem, shall include, but are not limited to, a significant infant mortality rate in the community, a significant rate of incidence of teenage pregnancy in the community, a significant number of single-parent families in the community that are living below the federal poverty guidelines, a lack of available affordable child care within the community, a significant number of children qualifying for free or reduced price lunches within the district, and a significant illiteracy rate within the community. The department shall assist the council in creating a grant application process and shall provide technical assistance to districts chosen to establish a family resource center.

A district applying for a grant under this section shall agree, for each dollar of grant funds, to provide twenty cents in matching cash or in-kind resources. Grants may be awarded for four years, beginning July 1, 1994, and ending June 30, 1998. Up to ten percent of the moneys appropriated for the grant program may be used by the council for staffing, technical assistance, and external evaluation development. Notwithstanding section 8.33, unencumbered or unobligated funds remaining on June 30 of the fiscal year for which the funds were appropriated shall not revert but shall be available for expenditure for the following fiscal year for the purposes of this section.

Each school district that receives a grant and establishes a family resource center, as part of the district program, shall also establish an advisory committee to the center that shall advise the center on program and services planning and development. The advisory committee shall also establish service goals for the center and create an evaluation process to permit the committee to assess the center's progress toward achieving the goals. A majority of the members of each advisory committee shall consist of parents who participate in programs or receive services at the center. Other members of the committee may include, but are not limited to, school officials, home economists, child care providers, public or private child and family service agency providers, recreational service providers, health care professionals, and other members of the community.

256C.3 Family resource centers--services provided.

Each family resource center shall address all of the following, and by July 1, 1997, shall offer all of the following:

1. Child development and education services that meet the requirements established for early childhood programs under chapter 256A.

2. All-day child care for children ages three and older who are not enrolled in school, before and after school child care for children ages twelve and younger who are enrolled in school during the time school is in session, and full-day child care for children ages twelve and younger who are enrolled in school during the time when school is not in session. All child care shall comply with federal and state child care requirements.

3. Support services to parents of newborn infants to ascertain the parents' and infants' needs, provide the parents and infants with referrals to other services and organizations, and, if necessary, provide education in parenting skills to parents of newborn infants.

4. Support and educational services to parents whose children are participants in the child care services portion of the family resource center demonstration program and who are interested in obtaining a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma under chapter 259A. Parents and their preschool age children may attend classes in parenting and child learning skills together so as to promote the mutual pursuit of education and to enhance interaction between parent and child.

5. Training, technical assistance, and other support by the family resource center staff to child care home providers in the community. The center may serve as an information and referral clearinghouse for other child care needs and services in the community and shall coordinate the center's information and efforts with any child care delivery systems that may already exist in the community. The center may also provide an adolescent pregnancy prevention program, and other programs as the community determines, for adolescents emphasizing responsible decision making and communication skills.

6. Coordinated health and nutrition services for young children.

7. Other services deemed necessary or appropriate by the advisory committee.

8. A sliding scale for payment of child care expenses provided at the family resource center based on an individual's ability to pay for services.

A family resource center shall coordinate services provided with existing federal, state, and local programs both to avoid duplication and to provide continuity of services. A family resource center shall, if possible, be located in a school building or in an existing community facility. Regardless of where the center is located, the school district shall be the primary decision-making