A Child Care Center (CCC) or a Preschool is a commercial facility providing child care for many children.

Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) provides professional development and consultation services that support the child care business's ability to achieve and maintain regulatory status in good standing and work to achieve and maintain performance at higher quality levels in Iowa’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®). Please contact your Child Care Consultant with any questions you may have.

CCR&R Services


CCR&R provides training and technical assistance to child care centers in order to achieve and maintain regulatory status in good standing and improve the quality of care provided to children. The best part is assistance from a CCR&R Child Care Consultant is always 100% FREE!

Resources

A Child Care Center (CCC) or a Preschool is a commercial facility providing child care for many children. A Child Care Center is:

  • Licensed with Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • May or may not have a signed Child Care Assistance (CCA) Provider Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS)
  • Must implement Comm 204 Licensing Standards & Procedures
  • The Department of Health Human Services (HHS) will complete annual inspections

CCR&R Child Care Consultants are a resource to help improve the quality of care for all of Iowa’s children. Consultants provide technical assistance to meet the individualized needs of each provider. Topics may include:

  • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
  • Challenging Behaviors
  • Curriculum & Assessment
  • Developmentally Appropriate Practices
  • Grants
  • HHS Regulations
  • Health
  • Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) Quality Rating and Improvement System
  • Marketing
  • Policies
  • Quality Rating & Improvement Systems
  • Room Arrangement
  • Safety
  • Training & Staff Development
  • Working with Families

Contact a CCR&R Community Development Specialist in Your Area

HHS Regulations


Regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which meet the minimum requirements for centers in Iowa.

Resources

 

 Comm 204 - HHS Licensing Standards & Procedures

 Chapter 109 - Licensing Rules

 Child Care Assistance Forms and Information

 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Child Care Provider Portal

 Fire Designee Requirements - Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office

HHS Child Care - Programs & Services

 HHS Child Care Reports - Showing the history of complaints and compliance reports.

 800-362-2178 - Please call if you suspect a child under the age of 18 is being abused or neglected or visit Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) child abuse website.

 866-448-4605 - Please call the Iowa Child Care Complaint Hotline if you have concerns regarding a child care provider.

Regulations are the program's responsibility.  Please check with your local city zoning and county regulations for requirements.

Training


Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires additional training during each licensing period.

Resources

  i-PoWeR Professional Workforce Registry

 Professional Growth & Development Record form to assist individuals in their professional development plan

Minimum required training for staff during first 3 months of employment:

 CCR&R Professional Development Opportunities - Online and face-to-face options

 HHS Child Care Program Professional Development Opportunities - Tools, trainings and resources

HHS Child Care Providers

Tools for Licensing Standards and Procedures

 

Required

 

Checklist of Items to be Submitted for Initial Licensure

This is a preliminary list of items that must be submitted and reviewed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the initial license of a preschool or Child Care Center (CCC) found in Comm 204.

View » HHS Update April 2024 

Licensing Regulation Checklist

ID# 470-3940

English » Spanish »

Required Written Policies and Procedures - Suggested Content

Written policies required by 441 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 109.

English »

Child Care Center Record Check Guide from HHS

HHS reviews use of forms DCI-77, 470-3301 and 470-2310

View »

Fingerprinting Guidance

Iowa’s partnership with FieldPrint, the Livescan Fingerprinting Process

View »

Waiver Agreement and Privacy Act Statement

DCI-45 State of Iowa form

View »

Provider Physical Exam Report

ID# 470-5152 (Acceptable physical examinations shall be documented on form 470-5152 per checklist 109.9(1)d.)

English » Spanish »

Child Injury - Serious Incident Report Form

This form is required for reporting serious injury. For traditional injury documentation, this form is recommended per HHS Checklist 109.10(10)

View »

Suggested Forms - CCR&R

Center Director's Information


Forms and resources for Center Directors.

Resources

**Under Construction - please stop back, this section undergoing frequent updates

 Orientation Guidebook to Child Care Licensing in Iowa

 Center Staff Training Hours - track staff professional development

 Child Care Consultant Area Map - HHS Licensing Consultant Map

 Emergency Preparedness - Template and Tools

 Job Description - Samples

 Observation Tool

 Observation Tool - Diapering

 Observation Tool - Handwashing

 Parent Survey - sample

 Iowa Child Care Workforce Study - 2023

 Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) - Quality Rating and Improvement System

 Recruitment & Retention - Recruitment for Early Childhood Professionals

 Staff Performance Evaluation Sample

 Staff Policies - sample

 Update Your File

Board of Directors or Owner's Resources


Learn more about: Articles of incorporation, By-Laws, Board Insurance, Center Director responsibilities or Board member responsibilities in overall management, Strategic Planning: Mission and Vision. 

 

Resources

**Under Construction - please stop back, this section undergoing frequent updates

 Articles of Incorporation - Minimum code requirement - Iowa Code section 504.202

 Assigning Fiscal Responsibilities - blank

 Board Agenda Sample

 Board Application

 Board Member Roles & Responsibilities

 Board Member Selection - Professional Resources

 Board Orientation

 Board Recruitment Announcement

 Board Skills Matrix

 Business Plan

 Business Structures - First Children's Finance

 Business Structures, For-Profit vs Nonprofit - First Children's Finance

 By-Laws

 Center Business Plan Outline - First Children's Finance

 Center Considerations - Before opening

 Center Packet Letter - Steps to starting a Child Care Center

 Child Care Aware of America - Child Care Center Provider Resource

 Child Care Collaborative of Iowa

 Color and Interior Design Ideas

 Director Board Update Sample

 Director Competencies - Early Childhood Iowa

 Director Requirements - Comm 204

 Emergency Preparedness - Template and tools

 First Children's Finance Center Resources - Business tools

 Forming A Nonprofit - Iowa.gov

 Iowa Principles and Practices for Charitable Nonprofit Excellence

 NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment

 Property Maintenance Considerations

 Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) - Quality Rating and Improvement System

 Recruitment & Retention - Recruitment for Early Childhood Professionals

 Retaining Important Records List

 Staff Survey

 Surveying for Child Care Needs

 Vision Statement

Resources and Program Referrals


Links to resources that Child Care Centers might find helpful.

Resources

  CCR&R Helpful Links Webpage

  Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - Equal Access to Child Care

  Area Education Agency (AEA) - Special Education Services, Birth to 21

  Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) - Reimbursement Program for Meals & Snacks

  Child Care Collaborative of Iowa - Business Library

  Child Care Nurse Consultant (CCNC) - Experts in Child Health, Care & Safety

  Child Care WAGE$® IOWA - Salary Supplement Program

  First Children's Finance - Business Resource Center for Child Care Centers

  Iowa DCI - Launchpad for Non-Criminal Justice Forms

  Iowa Source Link - Helping Iowa Business Start and Grow

 Recruitment & Retention - Recruitment for Early Childhood Professionals

  T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® IOWA - Teacher Education and Compensation Helps

Provider Survey Response

"My Child Care Consultant has been great to work with and very helpful. I feel confident in my first year as a director with her guidance." - Teri, Center Director

"My Child Care Consultant is always a huge support for us with resources, answering questions and helping us be the best program we can be!" - Kim, Center Director