Child Care Home

Not registered with Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Not accepting payment to care for families on Child Care Assistance (CCA)
Sometimes referred as unregistered or nonregistered home providers
The only guideline for a Child Care Home (CCH) is Iowa Code Section 237A.3 (see below)
This provider type does not have to follow Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Comm 95
To access the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Child Care Provider Portal, click here
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will not inspect or monitor a Child Care Home (CCH) unless they receive a complaint
If you have concerns regarding a child care provider:

Call 866-448-4605 - Iowa Child Care Complaint Hotline
If safety concerns, report as potential abuse or neglect to the Child Abuse Hotline 800-362-2178

Please note: A home providing child care to more than 6 children at one time is required to be registered as a Child Development Home (CDH).

237A.3 Child Care Home

A person or program providing child care to any of the following children at any one time that is not registered to provide child care under this chapter, as authorized under Iowa Code section 237A.3:

Five or fewer children
Six or fewer children, if at least one of the children is school-aged

Is a child care home provider and is not required to register under section 237A.3A as a child development home. However, the person or program may register as a child development home.

Further, Iowa Code Section 237A.19 outlines the penalties of operating a child development home without registering.

If registration is required under section 237A.3A, a person who establishes, conducts, manages, or operates a child development home without registering or a person who operates a child development home contrary to section 237A.5, commits a simple misdemeanor. Each day of continuing violation after conviction, or notice from the department by certified mail violation, is a separate offense. A single charge alleging continuing violation may be made in lieu of filing charges for each day of violation.

Update your File

Having accurate information on your child care program in the CCR&R database allows us to assist in marketing your child care program to parents looking for child care. To match your program to the needs of families we need to know important information like hours of operation, ages served, changes in phone numbers or email address. Update your program file here.

How to Become a Registered Child Development Home

CCR&R strives to help providers create unique environments that allow children to develop and grow in their own way while focusing on the provider’s strengths, education and skills.