OUR STORY
It was the Fall of 2010. Finding limited options for quality childcare centers in the neighborhood, we plugged our noses and took a pretty big leap of faith, holding onto the belief that we could meet a need and thrive together as business partners.
Not quite prepared to articulate what our long-term goals were, we worked backwards.
We quickly identified the things we didn’t want to be. We didn’t want to be a center with owners who were never on-site. We didn’t want to be a center who would be dismissive of the licensing rules. We didn’t want to be a center who would treat their employees as babysitters that are replaceable. We didn’t want to be a center where people attended only because they had no other choice.
Over the course of the next decade, our identity began to reveal itself. A culture began to form and we began to embrace the things that set our program apart.
Not quite prepared to articulate what our long-term goals were, we worked backwards.
We quickly identified the things we didn’t want to be. We didn’t want to be a center with owners who were never on-site. We didn’t want to be a center who would be dismissive of the licensing rules. We didn’t want to be a center who would treat their employees as babysitters that are replaceable. We didn’t want to be a center where people attended only because they had no other choice.
Over the course of the next decade, our identity began to reveal itself. A culture began to form and we began to embrace the things that set our program apart.
Authenticity & Transparency We found peace in being authentic and transparent.
We openly discussed everything - from the rationale in a business decision to room ratios and licensing regulations. We work hard to build a sense of community that extends well beyond the four walls of a classroom or the hours of any given workday. We worked with our staff to establish policies in our Parent Handbook and are proud to say that it is a living document that will continue to evolve over time. Our hope was that everyone would hear a clear and consistent message; not only about what the rules and regulations were, but why they exist in the first place. Our goals were quickly realized and a fuse was lit. We opened ourselves up to new challenges when we ventured on the quest to be a part of the Iowa Quality for Kids program (formerly the Quality Improvement Rating System). Both IQ4K and QRIS are voluntary childcare rating programs through the Department of Health and Human Services that works to raise the standards of quality of childcare in Iowa. To our team, this meant quantifying our hard work and dedication to excellence by a separate governing body. It was no surprise when this incredible group of educators were all in! Our program places an emphasis on ensuring that we have experienced and educated employees who are trained in licensing standards and informed on what best practice is in order to ensure that all children in our care have access to a quality Early Childhood Education experience while they're enrolled with us here at Vine Street Child Care, regardless of their socio-economic status. We are honored to be home to the single recipient of the 2020 Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children's 2020 Educator of the Year award We are also the home of the 2024 Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children's 2024 Influencer award for our outstanding support and advocacy and commitment to improving Early Childhood Education for front-line workers across the state of Iowa. |
Our TeamWe invest in our employees. With money.
Did you know that in Iowa, the average child care worker earns just over $10 per hour? We believe that our commitment to moving the needle on compensation absolutely sets us apart from our competitors, but also, it sends a strong message to our Early Childhood Educators about the value of their work. In 2017 we rolled out a pay scale, not only to ensure equitable hiring practices, but to give a clear path to our educators who were considering continuing working toward the next step in their education journey. In 2023 the average Vine Street Child Care employee earned just over $21 per hour and we're committed to finding creative ways to push that number higher! We know wage isn't everything, which is why we offer Health Insurance including Vision and Dental coverage. We also offer employer-paid benefits such as:
Our dedication to investing in our educators is a calculated and intentional decision to ensure every teacher or caregiver who wants to stay in the classroom can and so that they never doubt, for a second, that the work they do matters. |
GrowthIn July of 2019 we purchased a building that has been a staple in this neighborhood for nearly 60 years. With the help of a local contractor we completed a major renovation and fully moved across the street to what would be our forever home in late October.
Given that this building previously served as a K-12 school, we chose to retain several spaces that would be fun, exciting and unique to our primary customer: the kids! Our Music Room is a safe space to sing loud and dance proud!! It also serves as a multi-purpose space where they enjoy special visitors or presenters. The Gymnasium speaks for itself - what a better way to run off that excess energy on a rainy day?! We can't wait for you to see the new gym floor that was installed in the Fall of 2021! The Cafeteria is where you will find children 3+ enjoying their meal times, snack, or working on food-related curriculum components. Our three playgrounds are completely enclosed and newly renovated, the safety of each child remains our primary focus! New equipment with bounce-back playground tiles to ensure fall height requirements are exceeded. We have worked to serve the community in a way that will socially, emotionally and academically prepare children for Kindergarten and beyond! We look forward to the continue to doing so for years to come! |