BETTENDORF, Iowa – Four Scott County organizations have launched a countywide study to pinpoint where child care is falling short and what it would take to close those gaps. Parents and caregivers, child care providers, and employers can complete surveys at ScottCountyChildCareStudy.org through Nov. 6, 2026.

The Scott County Child Care Access Study is a partnership of Hand in Hand, SAL Community Services, Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Iowa, and Scott County Kids. Each survey is designed for a different audience. Together, the responses will help identify where families and businesses are struggling most and which changes could make the biggest difference. 

“We don’t need another study to tell us child care is a problem. We know that,” said Angie Kendall, CEO of Hand in Hand. “What we need to understand is exactly where the gaps are, what families actually need, and what it would take to make meaningful improvements. If we’re going to ask businesses, donors, government, and community partners to invest in solutions, we need to show them where those investments will have the greatest impact.”

In Iowa, 74% of children age 5 and younger have all available parents in the workforce, tied with Minnesota for the highest rate in the nation. According to the First Five Years Fund, child care challenges cost Iowa an estimated $1.5 billion annually in lost earnings and productivity.

But statewide numbers can’t answer Scott County’s most pressing local questions. How many parents have cut hours or left jobs because care fell through? Can families of children with additional support needs find appropriate care? What keeps providers from serving more children? How are local employers affected? And how is child care shaping decisions about work, housing, and family 
finances?

“Families are making difficult decisions every day because of child care,” said Marcy Mendenhall, president and CEO of SAL Community Services. “We want families to share those experiences so the people making decisions understand what is actually happening and what needs to change.”

“Child care providers want to meet the needs of families, but there are real limits on what they can offer and sustain,” said Becky White, regional director of Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Iowa. “We need to know why openings may go unfilled and what providers need to maintain or expand quality care."

Employers are another critical voice. Child care challenges can affect attendance, recruitment, retention, and the ability of businesses to maintain a reliable workforce. Employers with 75 or more employees can also request a dedicated survey link for their workforce and receive a free, customized snapshot of their employees’ child care needs. Reports will be available if at least 10 employees 
respond. Employers must request their dedicated link by Oct. 26, 2026.

The study’s findings will inform community planning, advocacy, and potential investments, along with conversations among employers, policymakers, funders, and organizations working to improve access. Initial findings are expected in December 2026.

Organizers emphasize that the study is not designed to advance any single solution. Instead, it aims to give community leaders and investors a clearer picture of local needs so they can make informed decisions about where to focus their efforts.

How to Participate
All three surveys are available at ScottCountyChildCareStudy.org through Nov. 6, 2026.

• Parents and caregivers: Share experiences finding, affording, and maintaining child care, including how care affects work and family decisions.
• Child care providers: Share information about capacity, enrollment, staffing, costs, and plans for the future.
• Employers: Help identify how child care affects employees and business operations, and what role employers might play in solutions.

Surveys are configured to collect anonymous responses, and public findings will be reported in aggregate. Anyone who completes a survey can request a copy of the findings when available.

Individuals who quality and submit a survey are eligible to enter to win prizes valued at nearly $2,000. 

Organizers want to hear from families whose child care arrangements are working well, too. Understanding what is working is just as important as identifying gaps. Community members are encouraged to complete the survey that applies to them and share the study with anyone who lives, works, provides care, or seeks child care in Scott County.

Representatives from the study partners are available for interviews about local child care challenges, the study’s goals, and how the findings could inform future investments.

About the Study Partners
Hand in Hand is a nonprofit based in Bettendorf, Iowa, providing inclusive child care, preschool, and disability support services for children and adults of all abilities across the Quad Cities. Learn more at handinhandqc.org.

SAL Community Services is a non-profit based in Moline, Illinois and serves a 17-county regional footprint from the Quad Cities to the Peoria area. We focus on providing high quality early care and education continuum of services and support people though resource and referral connections. salcommunityservices.org

Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Iowa provides professional development opportunities, technical assistance, and quality improvement services for child care programs, as well as assisting families with finding child care.

Media Contact
Angie Kendall | CEO, Hand in Hand
Angie@handinhandqc.org | 515-291-4007
Study website: ScottCountyChildCareStudy.org