A nonregistered Child Care Home (CCH) that accepts Child Care Assistance (CCA) and provides care in their own home must have a Provider Agreement with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and meet certain regulatory requirements. There are fewer training requirements than registered Child Development Homes (CDH) and the reimbursement rate for Child Care Assistance (CCA) is less (click here for rate chart page). Effective October 1, 2016, DHS will monitor annually.
Child Care Homes (CCH) accepting Child Care Assistance (CCA) regulation guidelines from Department of Human Services (DHS), which explains the minimum requirements:
If you want to become a Child Care Home (CCH) with a Child Care Assistance Provider Agreement (CCA), you’ll need to fill out Form 470-2890, Payment Application for Nonregistered Providers and Form 470-3871, Child Care Assistance Provider Agreement. Everyone who lives in the home over the age of 14 will need to fill out a Background Check and everyone 18 years of age or older must complete a Fingerprinting Card. New nonregistered provider application packets are available through CCR&R here.
To help prepare providers for Department of Human Services (DHS) home inspections, please use the Self-Assessment (monitoring) CCHA form. For more information, click here.
Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) provides training and consultation services that support the child care provider’s ability to achieve regulatory status. Please contact your Child Care Consultant with any questions you may have.
For more information about accepting Child Care Assistance (CCA), click here.
Child Care Homes accepting Child Care Assistance are also eligible to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), see requirements for participation here.
ID# 470-2890
ID# 470-5385
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ID# 470-3871
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ID# 470-4755
ID# 470-3301
ID# 470-5153
DHS Report of Suspected Child Abuse - ID# 470-0665
Required information from DHS checklist, 110.9(4)A and B.
Packet of required information to be kept in the children’s file for each child enrolled.
Go to Form
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.9(4)K.
To be completed with a copy to the parent and child's health record.
Checklist to assist CCHA providers in reviewing Children's Files.
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.9(4)I and J
Parent consent and release form addressing child pick up, trips, transportation, swimming, photos and other.
Go to Form Spanish
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.9(4)B and C.
Packet of required information to be kept in the children's file for each child enrolled.
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.8(1)A.
Information should be readily accessible.
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.8(4)A.
Required information for DHS Checklist, 110.8(4)A.
Fire and tornado drills are practiced monthly and documentation kept on file for the current year and previous year.
This link will take you to the Emergency Preparedness page.
Iowa law requires child care providers to have a written emergency plan in place by October 1, 2016. There are templates and tools available for child care providers to help meet your program's needs. You are not required to use any of the templates and tools offered, although the tools and templates will help you meet requirements in Iowa law.
Required information for DHS Checklist, 110.8(1)G and H.
Information should be readily accessible for equipment checks of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguisher and evacuation equipment.
Fire and tornado symbols may be used as visual aids to help children understand the required written emergency plans posted by the primary and secondary exits.
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Infant, Toddler, Preschool Age
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.9(4)D.
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.
Examples of forms and other available information on this site include:
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.
Go to Website
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
Form parents complete if they refuse to immunize their children because of religion or doctor recommendation.
Medical Form
Religious Form
Required information for DHS 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.
Form to document when provider has practiced monthly fire/tornado drills and changed batteries in smoke alarms.
Required information for DHS Checklist, 110.14(1)D.
Only two part-time children can be present at one time. Additional copies may be needed if there are more children attending as part-time.
Form to document training requirements prior to registration and tracking of required professional development hours for each registration period.
Renovation can disturb paint and this includes sanding, cutting, and demolition. Learn how this can hurt adults and children.
This applies to all persons who perform renovation, remodeling, or repainting for compensation in target housing or a child-occupied facility.
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.8(5)A through D.
Safe Sleep procedures for providers and parents.
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This self-assessment will be used by the provider and Child Care Consultant to assure homes are a safe, nurturing place for children that promote developmentally appropriate practices. Use this form to prepare for your DHS annual inspection.
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.8(1)M.
This link will take you to the Iowa Child Restraint Law document.
Iowa Professional Workforce Registry (i-PoWeR) is an online tool where child care professionals can locate and enroll for DHS-approved professional development. To access and enroll for DHS-approved professional development opportunities, please see their website.
Prior to the issuance of a Child Care Assistance (CCA) Provider Agreement and every five years thereafter, the primary and substitute provider shall complete minimum health and safety trainings approved by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
For complete Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) child care provider agreement guidelines on training requirements, please see Comm 95.
To view a complete listing of core trainings offered by CCR&R, click here.
Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) does not require additional training hours for Child Care Home (CCH) providers and substitutes accepting Child Care Assistance (CCA). However, it is encouraged to attend the suggested list of trainings to further professional development. CCR&R offers low- or no-cost training designed to help early childhood professionals meet registration requirements and become more successful in developing skills for working with children and families. Suggested core training options:
This virtual series is designed to support home child care providers with strategies to manage their business. Business topics covered include marketing, contracts, time-space percentage and recordkeeping.
This professional development opportunity presents research to understand SIDS, recommendations for safe sleep, the provider's role in the safe sleep environment and guidance for the importance of tummy time when infants are awake.
This series provides the foundational skills needed to operate a successful child care business. Upon series completion, providers will be eligible for ChildNet Certification and to obtain points in the Quality Rating System (QRS).
This training is designed to help child care providers be prepared for handling emergency situations that may affect their program and community. It will also provide the necessary tools and information to create an emergency plan that will meet Iowa law requirements.
Resource page only - Iowa law requires child care providers to have a written emergency plan in place by October 1, 2016. Emergency plans must include procedures for 6 key areas. There are templates and tools available for child care providers to help meet your program's needs. You are not required to use any of the templates and tools offered, although the tools and templates will help you meet requirements in Iowa law.
This series offers providers important information on 10 key health and safety topics and was developed to meet Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) professional development requirements.
This basic orientation training will focus on behavior shaping through a trauma-informed lens. It will use the latest science from multiple fields to support the practice of staff engaged in helping children overcome challenges that are not of their own doing or choice. Changing the question of “what’s wrong with you” to “what happened to you?”
Providers are required to attend this Iowa-specific training to learn how to identify the signs of child abuse and the steps needed to report incidents.
This course is designed to address the principles and skills needed to administer medications to children.
Participants will increase their understanding of current Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) research models, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) risk reduction recommendations, the importance of tummy time, the necessary components of a safe sleep policy and unresponsive infant drill in the child care environment.
In this training, providers will learn what can be done to protect the children in their care from the spread of germs and disease. Additionally, they will gain an understanding of the importance of post-exposure policies and procedures.
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.
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. Explore your registration options here.
Being a Child Care Home (CCH) with a Child Care Assistance Provider Agreement (CCA) allows you to be reimbursed when caring for children whose child care is paid by the state. You can care for no more than 5 children. Just as registered Child Development Homes (CDH) do, you'll get an annual inspection. You will be required to take some trainings. A registered Child Development Home (CDH) must take more trainings each year. As a Child Care Home (CCH) accepting Child Care Assistance (CCA) you are ineligible to participate in ChildNet Certification or the Quality Rating System (QRS), but if you are registered, you would be able to take advantage of these great programs!
Benefits of registration as a Child Development Home (CDH) provider include:
As a Child Care Home (CCH) accepting Child Care Assistance (CCA), you are ineligible to participate in this system. However, consider becoming a Child Development Home (CDH) to participate!
Iowa's Quality Rating System (QRS) is a voluntary child care rating system for Child Development Homes (CDH). The Quality Rating System (QRS) was developed to raise the quality of child care in Iowa, raise the number of children in high-quality child care settings and to educate parents about quality in child care. To learn more about becoming a QRS-rated provider, click here.
Join facilitated discussions driven by YOU! CCR&R is committed to improving communication with child care providers across Iowa. It is through the sharing of information and experiences that participants can learn from each other and have an opportunity to develop themselves personally and professionally.
Communities of Practice, also known as “CoPs”, are groups of people who share a passion for something they do and want to learn how to do it better as they interact. CoPs allow attendees to learn and collaborate as content is driven by the participants.
View our statewide event calendar here!
For a list of resources that you might find helpful, click here.