Resources for Child Care and Preschool

Last updated: 4/1/26

Resources for Childcare and Preschool

Bright Futures Child Care Center (Vinton): (319) 472-4840 

• Address: 1310 W First Street, Vinton, IA 52349 

• Hours: Monday-Friday 6:00am-6:00pm 

• Details: Bright Futures Child Care Center, formally known as Happy Time Child Development Center, offers experienced, trusted childcare and early education services in Vinton. With decades of dedication to nurturing young learners, the center provides full-time programs, before and after school care, and drop-in options designed to support families and inspire children’s growth and development. 

Center Point-Urbana CSD (Pointer Pup Preschool) (Urbana): (319) 849-1102 Ext. 5100 

• Address: 202 West Main St. Urbana, IA 52345 

• Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm 

• Details: We are proud to offer a fantastic CPU Primary Preschool program featuring a dedicated team of highly skilled teachers and support staff! Our preschool provides a nurturing environment where our youngest learners can thrive and develop. Please note that a child cannot start preschool without a physical and immunization form on record.  We look forward to the opportunity to grow and learn together with your child! 

Child Care Assistance - Iowa HHS: (866) 448-4605 

• Address: 321 East 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319 

• Details: Child Care Assistance (CCA) helps income-eligible families pay for childcare so parents can work, attend school, or participate in job training. Support may also be available for a short time while a parent is looking for employment or temporarily unable to work or attend school due to a medical reason. Families may qualify if they have a child under the age of 13, or under 19 if the child has special needs. Parents can be eligible if they work an average of 32 hours per week (or 28 hours if their child has special needs), attend an approved education or training program full-time, or combine part-time work and schooling to meet the required weekly hours. Childcare services for children with protective needs may also be provided regardless of income if identified as necessary in the child’s case permanency plan. 

Creative Kids Child Care (Shellsburg): (319) 214-0127 

• Address: 203 Cottage St NW, Shellsburg, IA 52332 

• Hours: Monday-Friday 6:00am-6:00pm 

• Details: Creative Kids Child Care is committed to providing high quality programming at an affordable rate. Serving children in kindergarten through fifth grade, Creative Kids School Age Before and After School. We value a respectful, safe, all-inclusive environment and work to build structures to support all children. We facilitate social and educational opportunities that produce fun, lasting memories. We create such an atmosphere by having strong collaboration between families, our staff, the community and Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District. 

Creative Kids Child Care (Vinton): (319) 214-0127 

• Address: 308 E 13th St, Vinton, IA 52349 

• Hours: Monday-Friday 6:00am-6:00pm 

• Details: Creative Kids Child Care is committed to providing high quality programming at an affordable rate. Serving children in kindergarten through fifth grade, Creative Kids School Age Before and After School. We value a respectful, safe, all-inclusive environment and work to build structures to support all children. We facilitate social and educational opportunities that produce fun, lasting memories. We create such an atmosphere by having strong collaboration between families, our staff, the community and Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District. 

Early Beginnings (Atkins): (319) 446-6060 

• Address: 402 Cardinal Ave, Atkins, IA 52206 

• Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:00pm 

• Details: Early Beginnings is a trusted childcare center dedicated to nurturing children from 6 weeks old through 4th grade. Located in Atkins, Early Beginnings provides a safe, caring, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive every day. 

Early Beginnings (Van Horne): (319) 228-8808 

• Address: 213 1st St , Van Horne, IA, United States, Iowa 

• Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:00pm 

• Details: Early Beginnings is a trusted childcare center dedicated to nurturing children from 6 weeks old through 4th grade. Located in Van Horne, Early Beginnings provides a safe, caring, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive every day.  

HACAP Head Start – North Benton (Vinton): (319) 472-4761 

• Address: 202 E 4th St, Vinton, IA 52349 

• Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:30pm 

• Details: Head Start is a federally funded program that’s offered free of charge to providers whose childcare development home is registered with the State of Iowa These comprehensive early childhood development programs have an overall goal of increasing school readiness of young children in low-income families. In addition, Early Head Start provides a home program for pregnant women and children through the age of 3. Head Start also offers financial reimbursement to providers serving nutritious meals to children in their care, along with offering free nutrition training, in-home provider support, and professional development.  

• Additional Resources: Informational Family Handbook  

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): (800) 972-2017 

• Address: 321 East 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319 

•  The Family Investment Program is Iowa’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program and provides cash assistance for those in need as they become self-supporting so that children may be cared for in their own homes of relatives.  

Union CSD (Dysart-Geneseo Preschool Program) (La Porte City): (319) 476-7110 

• Address: 200 Adams Street, La Porte City, IA 50651 

• Hours: Tuesday-Friday 8:00am-3:10pm 

• Details: The Dysart-Geneseo preschool strives to provide our preschoolers with high-quality early learning experiences. Our program focuses on the social, emotional, physical, language, cognitive, and academic skills of each child. Our classroom is a safe, nurturing environment where students with varied abilities, needs, and learning styles are met. This is accomplished through hands-on, interactive learning experiences for students to grow in their environments. 

Vinton-Shellsburg CSD (Tiny Vikes) (Vinton & Shellsburg): (319) 436-5905 

• Address: 308 E 13th St, Vinton, IA 52349; 203 Cottage St NW, Shellsburg, IA 52332 

• Hours:  

• Tiny Vike's Preschool at Tilford Elementary: 

• Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; 12:10 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. 

• Tiny Vike's Preschool at Shellsburg Elementary: 

• Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

• Details: Tiny Vikes Preschool implements The Creative Curriculum to help children learn and develop in the following areas: Social-Emotional, Physical (gross and fine motor), Language, Cognitive, Literacy and Math. In addition, Social Thinking and Read It Again are supplemental curriculums used to strengthen social, language, and literacy skills. Our program provides children an opportunity to learn through play, problem solving, movement, art, music, and large and small group activities