Projects & Outreach: Early Childhood Research and Evaluation Projects
Midwest Child Care Research Consortium
Purposes of the Consortium
The Midwest Child Care Research Consortium is a Child Care Partnership funded by the Child Care Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, Missouri, for 3 years, from 2000-2003. The Consortium focuses on studies of the child care workforce, quality and parent perceptions across the four Midwestern states in Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska). Researchers and program officers in state departments work together to define issues relating to quality and the nature of the workforce, design research to assess key questions and interpret findings. A number of papers are available from the study and are listed below.
The 3 years of project activity include:
- 2000-2001: Survey and Observation of Providers (research on quality and workforce)
- 2001-2002: Studies of Parents (research on parent choice and perceptions of child care)
- 2002-2003: Efforts to Track Quality Indicators Over Time
Participants
Lead organization for the Midwest Child Care Research Consortium is the Center on Children, Families, and the Law, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Co-Principal Investigators are Brian Wilcox, Ph.D., and Helen Raikes, Ph.D. Surveys are conducted by the Gallup Organization, under the leadership of Dr. Raikes, Ron Aames, Ph.D. and Julie Kohrell. State-specific research is conducted by four state universities: Iowa State University; University of Kansas; University of Missouri-Columbia; and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Principal Investigators are Carla Peterson, Ph.D., and Susan Hegland, Ph.D., Iowa State University; Julia Torquati, Ph.D., and Carolyn Edwards, Ed.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Jane Atwater, Ph.D., and JeanAnn Summers, Ph.D., University of Kansas; and Kathy Thornburg, Ph.D., University of Missouri.
The Consortium is a partnership between research institutions and child care and early childhood divisions in four states. It also includes child care resource and referral agencies and child care training organizations in several of the four states. The following state departmental units have been involved in the project: Child Care Unit, Iowa Department of Human Services; Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services; Missouri Department of Social Services; Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services; Nebraska Health and Human Services System, and Nebraska Department of Education. In addition, the Nebraska Early Childhood Training Center and the Kansas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies have been actively involved in the study.
Reports and Papers
- Regulation, subsidy receipt and provider characteristics: What predicts quality in child care homes?
- Parent Perceptions of Child Care Choice and Quality in Four States
- Child Care Characteristics and Quality in Nebraska (October 2002)
- Iowa Policy Reports
- Kansas Policy Reports
- Nebraska Policy Reports
- Missouri Policy Reports
- Midwest Policy Briefs
- Brief 1: Child Care Assets: What Are 14 Key Assets Of Child Care Providers That Support Quality?
- Brief 2: Parent Perceptions of Childcare: How do Nebraska Parents Rate Their Child Care and Child Care Subsidy Options?
- Brief 3: Compensation of Early Childhood Teachers: What Value Do We Place On Young Children?
- Brief 4
- Brief 5: Summary Brief
- Brief 6: Child Care Quality For Children With Disabilities
- Brief 7: Summary Brief
- Child Care Quality and Workforce Characteristics in Four Midwestern States (June 2003)
Survey Instruments
Our mission
Is to conduct research, analyze policy, and provide education and community service. The purpose of CCFL's activities is to enhance the well-being of children, youth, and families.
A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.
