Sheri Penney attends National Childcare Summit as expert panelist

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IWF’s Employer Engagement Director, Sheri Penney, was a panelist at the first National Childcare Innovation Summit in Washington D.C. on June 27. Penney spoke about Iowa’s success using public/private partnerships to expand childcare – particularly with Wage Enhancement Programs. Listen to part of Sheri’s remarks in the video. View the full Summit. We asked Ms. […]

IWF Founders Honored by Governor

Pictured left to right: Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, IWF Board Chair Anne Rierson, Ellen Heywood, Judy Leavitt, Monique DiCarlo, Phyllis Chang, Jean Jew, Governor Kim Reynolds. ANKENY, IOWA – Several IWF founders received a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held Tuesday, June 25th. […]

IWF President & CEO Talks Childcare in Iowa

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As Iowa legislation considers the latest childcare-related bill (HF 2056), IWF President & CEO Deann Cook was invited to sit down with WHO-13 Des Moines’ Jannay Towne to share more about the childcare crisis in Iowa and beyond. The bill aims to relieve the childcare workforce shortage by allowing childcare staff as young as 16 […]

Her Story: Jean Jew book helps support IWF

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IWF Founder Jean Jew, M.D.’s personal story of sexual and racial harassment is the subject of the book, They Don’t Want Her There: Fighting Sexual and Racial Harassment in the American University. This written account by Jean’s lawyer, Carolyn Chalmers, is the story of the decade long details of the justice process Jean and Carolyn […]

Legislation Work News Coverage

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Rallying for Legislative Support on Child Care in 2023 Community outreach has been crucial for the Iowa Women’s Foundation in the past few years. Not only has it helped the Foundation identify the six primary barriers to success, but it has been an invaluable tool for collecting data and hearing from families regarding the child […]

Expanding LSI’s Child Care Business Development Program in Sioux City

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IWF extends a special thank you to our 2023 Grant Partner, Lutheran Services in Iowa, for writing this guest blog. LSI is driven by its mission to strengthen families in Iowa through a variety of programming, including Child Care Business Development. Not only does this program benefit refugee families who are in need of child […]

Catherine McAuley Center: Empowering Refugee Families with In-Home Child Care

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IWF extends a special thank you to our 2023 Grant Partner, Catherine McAuley Center, for writing this guest blog. CMC works with individuals to facilitate stability through resources like education, skill-building, and supportive connection. Thank you, CMC, for helping uplift the many women and families who call Cedar Rapids their home. We are proud to […]

To The Rescue—Increasing Access to Child Care in Cedar Rapids

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IWF extends a special thank you to our 2023 Grant Partner, To The Rescue, for writing this guest blog. To The Rescue exists, at its core, to serve the community. We can’t think of a better way to advance this mission than to address the child care crisis head on. Thank you, To The Rescue, […]

Williamsburg’s Creative Child Care Expansion

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IWF extends a special thank you to our 2023 Grant Partner, W4C’s/Williamsburg Community Child Care Center, for writing this guest blog. Williamsburg Community Child Care Center works directly to increase child care slots in its community with unique and resourceful problem-solving methods. IWF is grateful to see programs like these working to overcome the child […]

Women in Business: Breaking Barriers through Mentorship

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IWF extends a special thank you to our 2023 Grant Partner, University of Iowa Women in Business, for writing this guest blog. Women in Business works directly to increase mentorship opportunities for women professionals—both existing and emerging. IWF is grateful to see programs like Women in Business that break down barriers and instill the importance […]