Headstart Center, Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc.

Marshalltown, Iowa

Mid-Iowa Community Action ,Inc. in cooperation with Headstart, wanted to expand their successful care centers to meet the growing need for affordable child care in Marshalltown. Headstart, a low income, rural development based child care organization, focuses on providing a place for children of all ages and incomes to explore, learn and grow within a stimulating and safe environment. To meet this need, the new facility in Marshalltown has a secure set of doors with a key pad entry lock system. This entry code can be changed easily and as needed. This ensures that only authorized adults and children can access the facility. The new center also includes an ADA accessible outdoor play space consisting of a paved pathway, exploration garden, jungle gym and an area of all purpose athletic surfacing. (Great for racing trucks and other toys!) On the inside, there are great spaces for make believe adventures and play. A special feature is the looking glass wall in the older children’s room becomes a portal for big brothers and sisters to look in on younger siblings. This feeling of playfulness continues even into the restroom with it’s animal shaped partitions and kid friendly counter heights. The Headstart Center in Marshalltown proves that there can be affordable child care that is both safe as well as fun.