Handicare

Handicare provides childcare to children ages 6 weeks old through third grade. Our three programs begin with an infant-toddler program for children through age 2. Children then move to our preschool curriculum for ages 3-4. We partner with the Iowa City Community School District to offer a free, 3-hour preschool program (four days/week) taught by a licensed teacher, and we also incorporate elements of the curriculum into the rest of our childcare for 3-4-year old's. Our before-and-after school program and summer kids' club serve school-aged children in grades K-3. Handicare serves neurotypical and special needs children, and we prioritize care and education that are developmentally appropriate and inclusive. We welcome under-served populations, including families who receive childcare assistance. We value collaboration among our staff, families, and community partners; connection, embodied in compassionate and understanding care; and creative learning that makes education meaningful and resonant for our children. In 2023 we were able to hire an Operations Manager to strengthen our Administrative Team. We completed the upstairs remodel (installed new flooring throughout, painted rooms, updated offices). We began the first stages of a playground upgrade with plans to complete in 2024. We continued work on obtaining our IQ4K Certificate of Quality from the state of Iowa (this is voluntary and reflects the quality of the program).