Child Development Home (CDH) is classified as any person providing child care in their home. Those serving more than 5 children are required to register with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A registered child care location is in a single-family residence that is owned, rented or leased by the child care provider.

  • A Child Development Home (CDH) is a registered child care facility and categorized as either an A, B, C  or C1.
  • A Child Care Home accepting Child Care Assistance (CCHA) is a nonregistered child care facility that is approved to accept Child Care Assistance(CCA).
  • A Child Care Home (CCH) is a nonregistered child care facility.

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 System 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 support to child care businesses 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 Development Home (CDH) provider:

  • Is registered with Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • May or may not have a signed Child Care Assistance (CCA) Provider Agreement with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Is sometimes referred to as a registered home provider
  • Must implement Comm 143
  • Department of Health and 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 and consultations to meet the individualized needs of each provider. Consultation topics may include:
  • Behaviors
  • CCR&R Orientation
  • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
  • ChildNet Certification
  • Curriculum & Assessment
  • Developmentally Appropriate Practices
  • Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Assessment
  • Tools - Required and Suggested Forms
  • Grants
  • Health
  • Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®)
  • Registration & Regulatory Requirements - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Marketing
  • National Accreditation
  • Outdoor Play Spaces
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Professional Development
  • Program for Infant/Toddler Care of Iowa (PITC)
  • Provider or Program Goals
  • Referrals to Other Services
  • Room Arrangement
  • Safety
  • Working with Families

Contact a CCR&R Community Development Specialist in Your Area

Child Care Options


There are five categories of home child care facilities recognized under Iowa law, based on the number of children in care, the space available for child care and the provider’s education and experience:

Resources

Child Development Home A
Child Development Home B
Child Development Home C, C1

  • Registered with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Comm 143 - HHS Child Development Home (CDH) Registration Guidelines (Spanish)
  • Chapter 110 - HHS Registration Rules
  • Chapter 170 - HHS Requirements for Child Care Assistance (CCA)

Child Care Home Accepting Child Care Assistance

  • Registered with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Comm 95 - Minimum Health & Safety Standards
  • Chapter 120 - Procedures for Child Care Homes (CCH) that have Child Care Assistance (CCA) Agreement
  • Chapter 170 - Requirements for the payment of Child Care Assistance (CCA)

Child Care Home

  • Not registered with Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • The only guideline for a Child Care Home (CCH) is Iowa Code Section 237A.3 
  • To be available for referrals, a nonregistered program must complete a background check with CCR&R
  • 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).

 Child Care Assistance Forms and Information

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

 Emergency Preparedness -  Resources to help write plans and procedures

 Child Care Injury/Incident Report - Form to be completed any time an injury that requires first aid or medical care which occurs in a child care home, child development home, or licensed child care facility.

 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.

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

Check with your local city zoning and county regulations for requirements.

Getting Started


Contact a CCR&R Community Development Specialist to start your early childhood career.

Resources

  Child Development Home Orientation Guidebook

 Are You Ready to Start a Child Care Business?

 Data resources - Assess child care needs in your county

 Business Plan Checklist

 Financial Management Toolkits

 Estimated Start-up Costs - (Spanish, Burmese, Swahili)

 Operations of a Child Development Home - video

 Application Process for Home Child Care

  Self-Assessment Inspection for CDH

 Child Care Assistance - Forms and Information

 Child Care Ready - Professional development series for individuals seeking a career in early childhood care

To review quality initiatives and credentialing opportunities, visit the Support Your Future section below.

Tools for Registration - Guidelines and Procedures

Required Forms - HHS

Pre-Inspection Checklist for CDH Registration

ID# 470-5384

Spanish »

English »

Checklist for CDH Registration

ID# 470-0625

Spanish »

English »

Application and Instructions for CDH Registration 

ID# 470-3384

Spanish »

English »

Fillable »

Provider Agreement for Child Care Assistance 

ID# 470-3871

English »

CCA Resources »

Authorization for Release of Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Information

ID# 470-3301

Spanish »

English »

Fillable »

Fingerprinting Guidance

Iowa’s partnership with FieldPrint, the Livescan Fingerprinting Process

Link »

Provider Physical Examination Report 

ID# 470-5152 required per HHS Checklist 110.9 (237A) (1). (for household aged 18 and older)

Spanish »

English »

Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan

Required per HHS Checklist 110.8(4).

Template »

EP Resources »

Child Care Injury/Incident Report

ID# 470-3384 (required for any injury that requires first aid or medical care)

Spanish »

English »

Pet Health Exam

ID# 470-5153

Spanish »

English »

Child Abuse 

HHS Report of Suspected Child Abuse - ID# 470-0665

View »

Child Care Expense Statement for Foster Children

This document must be accurately completed and signed by the foster parent and child care provider for reimbursement to occur to the foster parent after services have occurred and payment has been received.

Child Care Expense Statement » How-To Guide » Direct Billing for Foster Children »

Criminal History Record Check Request Form

DCI-77 State of Iowa form

View »

 

Providers will be responsible for having their fingerprints "rolled" before submitting their registration materials. The provider is responsible for the completion of all required criminal record check forms. To obtain these forms please contact CCR&R staff for an application packet.

Suggested Forms - CCR&R

 

Training


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

Resources

  i-PoWeR Professional Workforce Registry

 Professional Development Record (Spanish) (Word) form to assist individuals in their professional development plan.

Minimum required training for registration:

 CCR&R Professional Development Opportunities

 Child Care Ready

 Child Development Associate (CDA) CredentialTM

 HHS Approved Professional Development Opportunities

 Iowa Early Learning Standards

Support Your Future


Opportunities for Connection!

Resources

  Business Technical Assistance for Child Development Homes - featuring CCR&R, First Children's Finance and Child Care Collaborative of Iowa

  Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ - Nationally recognized credential for early care and education

  ChildNet 3.0 - Series training for home child care programs

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

  Sign-up for HHS/CCR&R Emails - Stay connected and register to receive correspondence from HHS & CCR&R

  Sign-up for HHS/CCR&R Text Updates - Stay connected and register to receive correspondence from HHS & CCR&R

  Update Your File - Update your file and program surveys

Resources and Program Referrals


Links to resources that child care businesses might find helpful.

Resources

Benefits of Registration

Benefits of registration as a Child Development Home (CDH) provider include:

  • Satisfaction of knowing you meet the minimum requirements for child care in accordance with the Iowa Administrative Code.
  • Prestige of a Certificate of Registration that shows the parents and the public that you meet the minimum requirements for child care in the state of Iowa and your commitment to keeping children safe in your care.
  • Eligibility for consultation from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in all aspects of child care.
  • Being listed with the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency to help parents find available child care.
  • Being identified to community resources, such as extension services, Community Action programs, Head Start and Child Care Nurse Consultants and Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies. These and other agencies can provide services such as training, consultation, collaboration and resource development.
  • A path to qualifying for participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for reimbursement for meals and snacks.
  • A path to participate in the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), known in Iowa as Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K®).
Thumbs Up

 

 
 

Provider Survey Response

"My Child Care Consultant is polite, extremely knowledgeable and always informative. She has always gone the extra step to help me out! I would be lost without her." - Susan, Child Development Home Provider