A bill for an act relating to early childhood and family services, including the creation of an early childhood and family services system, state child care assistance for the child care workforce, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

This bill creates a statewide early childhood and family services system (ECFS) in Iowa, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. It directly affects families with children under 19 (with focus on children under six) by providing three core services: evidence-based parent education programs, targeted support for at-risk families, and ongoing community resources to strengthen families and prevent child abuse/neglect. Key mechanisms include establishing local ECFS districts with advisory councils, creating a dedicated ECFS system fund for financing, and requiring data collection to track outcomes. The bill also includes state child care assistance for the child care workforce as a separate provision.