Your loved one can enjoy a fun, safe, and structured environment when they take part in The Arc of East Central Iowa’s daycare and after work enrichment programs.
The program is available year-round for individuals 5 years old and up with and without disabilities. It’s held on the first floor of The Arc at our convenient location in downtown Cedar Rapids (680 2nd Street SE).
Child & Adult Enrichment Activities
Whatever your loved one’s interests, needs, and abilities, they will find something that appeals to them thanks to a wide range of activities. In a welcoming and supervised environment, your loved one can:
- Be creative through arts, crafts, and music
- Build daily living skills, such as cooking
- Enjoy recreational activities, such as music, reading, and swimming
- Explore the community
- Learn safety skills
- Make friends, play games, and build social skills
Program Hours
Take advantage of a flexible schedule designed with your needs in mind. During the academic year, the program is open Monday through Friday, after school until 6:00 p.m.
Program hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on days school is not open and during the summer months.
Holiday Closings
Daycare & Adult Enrichment closes on:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- Christmas Eve
Friendly, Dedicated Staff
Your loved one will receive personalized attention thanks to our low staff-to-participant ratio – typically three children to one staff or less depending on the needs of your loved one. Our team members offer friendship, support, and reinforcement for personal growth. Expect well-rounded, helpful services from professionals dedicated to the safety and well-being of your loved one.
Licensed Program
Feel confident in the quality of our services and the safety of your loved one because our daycare program is licensed by the Department of Human Services (DHS). This means we follow high standards set by the state and federal governments.
Payment Options
Rely on The Arc to make daycare and adult enrichment affordable by offering different billing options. If you pay for care out-of-pocket, we offer a sliding fee scale. We also accept:
- Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Care Assistance (daycare only)
- Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver funding
- Severe Emotional Disorder (SED) wraparound funding (daycare only)
- Children At Home (CAH) funding (participants 21 years old or younger)
How to Enroll
Contact our staff to ask if the program is able to accept new participants. If so, you can enroll at any time year-round. You must complete and turn in all required paperwork to enroll and participate.
Admission Policy
Rules for acceptance into the Daycare Enrichment Program are the same for everyone, without regard to sex, race, disability, religion, or ethnic background. All participants must be age 5 years old and up and free of communicable diseases. Unless due to exclusions for medical or religious reasons, the State Department of Health requires the individual is immunized against:
- Diphtheria
- Measles
- Polio
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Whooping cough
Daycare Policies
View the Site Based Program Parent Handbook to learn about different policies and requirements for participating in The Arc of East Central Iowa’s Daycare and After Work Enrichment Program.
Contract for Care
As a caregiver, parent, or guardian of a daycare participant, you’ll sign a Contract for Care before the start of services. Plan to update the contract each year. It reserves your loved one’s placement in the program and establishes service fees and method of payment.
Absence Fee Policy
An absent fee of $15.00 will be charged if your loved one is absent on a scheduled day, regardless of how you pay for services. This fee holds the participant’s spot during their absence.
Participants who attend the center year-round are allowed five absences or vacation days at no charge after six months of enrollment. These days will be applied as absences unless previously earmarked by the caregiver.
Dismissal Policy
The Arc reserves the right to discharge any individual from any service or support administered by The Arc. If a participate leaves any program or service, The Arc will attempt to make appropriate referrals to individuals, their caregivers, and case managers for the consideration of other appropriate services. If possible and appropriate, The Arc will assist with the transfer of an individual to another program or service provider.
Voluntary Discharges
Voluntary discharges may happen at any time. The individual or individual’s representative has the right to voluntarily discontinue services for any reason.
Site-based services at The Arc require a two-week written notice for discontinuation of services. Without a two-week notice, the individual and their representative will be charged the normal rate for two weeks of care. You can request an exception to the two-week notice. All requests will be reviewed on an individual basis by The Arc staff.
Involuntary Discharges
An involuntary discharge requires a 30-day written notice to the participate and their representative by The Arc. An exception is made to the 30-day notice if the circumstances causing the discharge, as determined by The Arc, warrant immediate removal of the individual from the service or support.
Reasons for discharge may include but are not limited to the following types of situations. If the individual:
- Does not follow the program guidelines
- Has functional, medical, or behavioral needs that exceed the parameters of the service or support
- Is dangerous or threatening to themselves or others or disturbs other participants
- Needs medical care and interventions determined by a physician that are not normally done within the program
- Refuses services regularly
Discharge may happen if the participant or caregiver/guardian fails to:
- Provide information critical to the development of appropriate services (e.g., required regulatory medical records or immunizations)
- Provide releases of information critical to the delivery of appropriate services
- Pay fees owed for services or supports
Get Started
To learn more about the Daycare and After Work Enrichment Program or to apply, contact Whitney Alber at walber@arceci.org or 319-365-0487 Ext. 1022.