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 Human Services (DHS). A registered child care location is in a single-family residence that is owned, rented or leased by the child care provider.
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 (QRS). Please contact your Child Care Consultant with any questions you may have.
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!
A Child Development Home (CDH) provider:
Contact a CCR&R Community Development Specialist in Your Area
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:
Child Development Home A Child Development Home B Child Development Home C, C1
Child Care Home Accepting Child Care Assistance
Child Care Home
Child Care Assistance Forms and Information
Department of Human Services (DHS) - 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 Human Services (DHS) child abuse website.
844-786-1296 please call the Iowa Child Care Complaint Hotline if you have concerns regarding a child care provider.
DHS Child Care Reports - Showing the history of complaints and compliance reports.
Check with your local city zoning and county regulations for requirements.
Contact a CCR&R Community Development Specialist to start your early childhood career.
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
Pre-Inspection Self-Assessment or Spanish
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.
ID# 470-5384
Spanish »
English »
ID# 470-0625
ID# 470-3384
Fillable »
ID# 470-3871
CCA Resources »
ID# 470-3301
ID# 470-5152 (required for all residents of the home age 13 and up)
Required per DHS Checklist 110.8(4).
Template »
EP Resources »
ID# 470-3384 (required for any injury that requires first aid or medical care)
ID# 470-5153
DHS Report of Suspected Child Abuse - ID# 470-0665
View »
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.
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.
This is a universal tool for the provider and consultant which is applicable to continuous quality improvement actions: i.e. Department of Human Services (DHS) Referrals, Quality Rating System (QRS) Strategies, ChildNet Certifications or training key concepts.
Required & suggested forms booklet from CCR&R.
Policy guidebook offers suggestions of items to think about when creating policies for a family child care business.
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.
English fillable EP Spanish
Checklist of required information to be included in each child's file.
Go to Form
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.
English Spanish fillable
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.14(3)C.
Child Development Homes (CDH) can use this document to learn about emergency exits.
Child Development Homes (CDH) can use this document to post emergency numbers.
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.
English fillable Spanish
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.8(1)A.
Information should be readily accessible.
English Spanish
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.
Go to EP Webpage
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.
View
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.
English Fillable Spanish
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
Suggested poster by Child Care Nurse Consultants for Health & Safety Assessment.
Designed for Child Development Homes to post for notifying parents that they operate a mandatory child abuse reporting site.
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.
Form to document training requirements prior to registration and tracking of required professional development hours for each registration period.
English PDF English Word Spanish
Renovation can disturb paint and this includes sanding, cutting, and demolition. Learn how this can hurt adults and children.
Lead Hazard Notification Process
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.
English » Spanish » Burmese » Swahili »
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.
English
Visuals
Spanish
Burmese
Bosnian
This pre-inspection self-assessment will be used by the provider and Child Care Consultant to help assure homes are ready for the DHS pre-inspection visit.
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.8(1)I.
A direct link to the Iowa Department of Health Smoke-Free Air Act information including a link to print signs.
Website 4x6 Sign
Required information for DHS checklist, 110.8(1)M.
This link will take you to the Iowa Child Restraint Law document.
Chart will help plan for safe daily outdoor time.
Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) requires additional training during each licensing period.
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
DHS Approved Professional Development Opportunities
Iowa Early Learning Standards
Opportunities for Connection!
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 IQ4KTM - Iowa’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
Sign-up for DHS/CCR&R Emails - Stay connected and register to receive correspondence from DHS & CCR&R
Sign-up for DHS/CCR&R Text Updates - Stay connected and register to receive correspondence from DHS & CCR&R
Update Your File - Update your file and program surveys
Links to resources that child care businesses might find helpful.
Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA - FAQ for Child Care Programs
Area Education Agency - AEA
Child and Adult Care Food Program - CACFP
Child Care Nurse Consultant - CCNC
Family Child Care Resource - Child Care Aware of America
NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment
Teacher Education and Compensation Helps - T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® IOWA
Resource Page - links to additional services
Benefits of registration as a Child Development Home (CDH) provider include: