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 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!
A Child Care Center (CCC) or a Preschool is a commercial facility providing child care for many children. A Child Care Center is:
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:
Contact a CCR&R Community Development Specialist in Your Area
Regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which meet the minimum requirements for centers in Iowa.
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.
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires additional training during each licensing period.
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
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.
ID# 470-3940
Written policies required by 441 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 109.
HHS reviews use of forms DCI-77, 470-3301 and 470-2310
Iowa’s partnership with FieldPrint, the Livescan Fingerprinting Process
DCI-45 State of Iowa form
ID# 470-5152 (Acceptable physical examinations shall be documented on form 470-5152 per checklist 109.9(1)d.)
This form is required for reporting serious injury. For traditional injury documentation, this form is recommended per HHS Checklist 109.10(10)
This is a universal tool for the provider and consultant which is applicable to continuous quality improvement actions: i.e. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Referrals, Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®) Strategies, ChildNet Certifications or training key concepts.
Required information from HHS checklist, 109.9(2)a
Packet of required information to be kept in the children’s file for each child enrolled.
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.9(2).
Checklist of required information to be included in each child's file.
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.9(2)d and f.
Parent consent and release form addressing child pick up, trips, transportation, swimming, photos and other.
Required information for HHS Checklist, 109.15(3)a/Infant, 109.10(1)a/Preschool, 109.10(1)b/School-age.
If a participant needs to avoid specific foods for a medical reason, a prescribing licensed medial professional must document the diet modifications and sign this form.
Required information for HHS checklist, 109.9(2)b. This suggested form is being utilized from Comm 143.
Information should be readily accessible.
Required information for HHS Checklist, 109.10(15)b.
Fire and tornado drills are practiced monthly and documentation kept on file for the current year and previous year.
Required information for HHS checklist, 109.10(15)b.
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.6(7) and 109.9(1)a.
Signed statements regarding convictions, abuse, communicable diseases & controlled substances.
Information should be readily accessible for equipment checks of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguisher and evacuation equipment.
Required information for HHS checklist, 109.10(1).
The provider should give this form to the parent/guardian of the attending child, to have the form completed by a physician. The provider should then keep a copy of this form in the child's personal file.
The provider should give to the parent/guardian of the attending child for completion. The provider should then keep a copy of this form in the child's personal file.
English Fillable Spanish
Examples of forms and other available information on this site include:
Physical forms for all ages, breastfeeding support, child illness guide, diapering procedures, electrical outlet safety, exposure plan, first aid checklist, handwashing instructions, infant daily report, injury report, mandatory reporting site poster, sleep safe policy, etc.
When a Certificate of Immunization or Immunization Exempt Form are not available, a Provisional Certificate of Immunization can be used. Expiration date is usually 60 days. If the immunizations are further behind than can be caught up in 60 days, another provisional can be issued for an additional 60 days. As you can see on the record, a child must have received at least one dose of each of the required immunizations for this to be a valid option.
Medical or Religious
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.10(1)c.
Form parents complete if they refuse to immunize their children because of religion or doctor recommendation.
Required information for HHS checklist, 110.8(3)C.
Form to be completed by the parent and provider when an enrolled child is given any medicine, topical cream, sunscreen, diaper ointment, breathing treatment, etc. Parent signature is required.
English Spanish
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.11(3)e.
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.7(2).
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.12(5)e.
Safe Sleep procedures for providers and parents.
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.10(11).
A direct link to the Iowa Department of Health Smoke Free Air Act information. Providers contact this email regarding no smoking/tobacco signs tobcontactus@hhs.iowa.gov or call 888.944.2247
(PDF & Word formats)
Required information from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) checklist, 109.7(1).
Tracking form from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Forms and resources for Center Directors.
**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
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.
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
Retaining Important Records List
Staff Survey
Surveying for Child Care Needs
Vision Statement
Links to resources that Child Care Centers might find helpful.
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
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® IOWA - Teacher Education and Compensation Helps
"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