Seven Iowa political candidates spoke about health and child care programs at a forum at the Ames City Council chambers on Monday night.

The forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Ames, The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and the Children’s Policy Coalition.

“Children are very important to our society,” said Republican candidate Roman Lynch. “So are the adults. I think we can get together and produce better children.”

Lynch said he would like to see one parent stay home with a child until she he or turns 6 or enters first grade.

It would be beneficial to society to have a parent home to teach values and the ways of life to their children, he said.

“We keep dishing off our kids to other people to take care of,” Lynch said. “Then [parents] aren’t at home with their family.”

“Some child care workers are working for minimum wage and we don’t have enough of them,” said Jane Greimann, D-Ames.

Tighter regulations are needed for child care providers, she said. However, they need to be put into effect slowly so providers have time to meet the standards.

Steve Halloran, Republican candidate, said, “There is a cause and effect to everything. Iowa has been negligent in developing its own economy.”

Iowa needs to expand its economy so the economic pie is bigger and parents can afford child care, he said.

Lisa Heddens, Democratic candidate, said quality child care helps a child’s cognitive and literacy ability.

“Iowa needs to step up to the plate and create more accessible services for children,” she said.

“Iowa does not have a continuum of services for children. We want to keep children in their home county for treatment where they have the support of their family,” Heddens said.

Barbara Finch, R-Ames said affordable child care is instrumental in helping parents get and keep jobs.

Programs need to provide a safer environment for children, she said.

“After-school centers help keep kids stay on track with schoolwork and stay out of trouble,” Finch said.

Herman Quirmbach, Democratic candidate, said high quality child care increases a child’s development and readiness for school.

“Preventive child care will reduce violence and crime. We need to give children increased social services funding,” he said.

“It’s a struggle to keep people in child care. We need to pay people what they are worth to take care of our children,” said John Norris, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House.

Every child should have access to health care, including dental coverage, he said.

Norris questioned how much a child can learn if they are distracted with a toothache or undiagnosed mental disorder.

All candidates agreed more funding needs to be allocated for programs that benefit children.