Choosing child care for your children is one of the most important decisions you can make as a parent.

Family Resource Center
Directors: Lou Ann Mowrey or Jeanie Running
502 W. 7th Street, Carroll, Iowa 51401
Telephone: 712-792-6440
Fax: 712-792-3435

To Find a registered provider link for anywhere in Iowa, click here

Child Care Services in Iowa may be provided in a licensed Child Care Center, a registered Child Development Home , the home of a relative, the child’s own home, a non-registered family child care home, or in a facility exempt from licensing or registration.

A. Licensed Child Care Center: (Handbook)

A child care center licensed by the Iowa Department of Human Services is found to be in compliance with minimum standards, including the requirements of the State Fire Marshal. Centers must comply with, among others, requirements for personnel, staff ratio, child records, health and safety policies, activity programs, discipline policies, building standards and food services. Programs must be designed to be appropriate for the ages of children cared for by the center. Child abuse registry and criminal record checks are completed on all staff. (A child care center shall be licensed by the department to meet the requirements set forth in 441—Chapter 109 and shall have a current Certificate of License.) Facility Assessment Checklist for Child Care Centers.

B. Child Care Homes: (Guidelines)

A child care home that is registered with the Iowa Department of Human Services has agreed to meet safety and sanitary standards, to provide programs and equipment appropriate for the ages of children being cared for and to maintain records on each child. Providers in registered homes are required to be 18 years or older and everyone in the home 14 years or older must pass a child abuse registry check and a criminal records check. Under registration, a caregiver must self-certify that they meet minimum health and safety standards and minimum annual training requirements. (A child care home shall meet the requirements for registration set forth in 441—Chapter 110 and shall have a current Certificate of Registration.) Individual providers may become registered with the State Department of Human Services under one of the following categories:

C. Relative care.

An adult relative who provides care in the relative’s own home solely for a related child may receive payment for child care services when selected by the parent.

D. In-home care.

The adult caretaker selected by the parent to provide care in the child’s own home shall be sent the pamphlet Comm. 95, Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for Nonregistered Care Home providers.Signature by the provider certifies the provider’s understanding of and compliance with the conditions and requirements for nonregistered providers that include: minimum health and safety requirements, limits on the number of children for whom care may be provided, unlimited parental access to the child or children during hours when care is provided, unless prohibited by court order, and conditions that warrant nonpayment.

E. Nonregistered family child care home.

The adult caretaker selected by the parent to provide care in a nonregistered family child care home shall be sent the pamphlet Comm. 95, Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for Nonregistered Child Care Home Providers. By the provider signing they  certify their understanding of and compliance with the conditions and requirements that include: minimum health and safety requirements, limits on the number of children for whom care may be provided, unlimited parental access to the child or children during hours when care is provided, unless prohibited by court order, and conditions that warrant nonpayment.

F. Exempt facilities.

Child care facilities which are exempt from licensing or registration as defined in Iowa Code section 237A.1 may receive payment for child care services when selected by a parent.

  CHILD CARE ASSISTANCEFinancial EligibilityLegal reference: 441 IAC 130.3(234); 441 IAC 170.2(1)

Child Care Assistance is provided without regard to income for:

Families with a child with protective needs.

Participants in PROMISE JOBS-approved activities.

Recipients of FIP.

People whose income was considered in determining the needs of a FIP recipient.

Links to Child Care Assistance:

To Read the Full Information from the Department of Human Services on Child Care Assistance in Iowa,

click here (it will open a separate window)

Other families are financially eligible for Child Care Assistance when their monthly gross income, according to family size, is no more than the following amounts:

MONTHLY GROSS INCOME  

FAMILY SIZE  COLUMN A

BASIC CARE  COLUMN B

SPECIAL NEEDS  COLUMN C

1 member                                        $1034                                    $1292
2 members                                        1393                                      1741
3 members                                        1752                                      2190
4 members                                        2112                                      2640
5 members                                        2471                                      3089
6 members                                        2830                                      3538
7 members                                        3190                                      3987
8 members                                        3549                                      4436
9 members                                       3908                                      4885
10 members                                     4268                                      5335
11 members                                     4627                                      5784
12 members                                     4986                                     6154
13 members                                     5346                                     6277
14 members                                     5705                                     6400
15 members                                     6064                                     6523
16 members                                     6424                                     6646
17 members                                     6770                                     6770
18 members                                     6893                                     6893
19 members                                     7016                                     7016
20 members                                     7139                                     7139

For column A, add $123 for each additional person over 20 members.For column B, add $123 for each additional person over 20 members. Are you eligible for Child Care Assistance? 
Where to apply? At your local county Iowa Department of Human Services Office. To find your local county office click here.  

As a parent, you are strongly encouraged to visit and evaluate any child care facility you are considering for your children. Spend at least 15 minutes interviewing the prospective provider and visit the facility with your children more than once, with one of the visits unannounced.

The following are suggestions for the types of questions to ask and observations to make during a visit to a prospective child care facility.

Questions/observations regarding:
Payments	Provider	Setting	Activities

 

Payments:

 
• What is the fee per hour/day/week/month?
• Are there late arrival fees or other fees I should be aware of?
• Is there a formal contract to sign?
• How much notice is required to end the contract?
• What are the arrangements if/when the provider is on vacation, ill, etc.?

 

Does the Provider:

• appear patient and friendly?
• encourage parents to observe, discuss policies, make suggestions and participate in the program?
• seem to be someone your child will enjoy being with?
• seem to enjoy his/her work?
• understand what children can and want to do at different stages of growth?
• have methods of dealing with behaviors that agree with your own and are constant with licensing standards?
• seem to have enough time to look after all the children in care?
• show an interest in your child, family and your expectations?
• appear organized, with a routine and rules that children can understand and follow?
• have previous experience/training in working with children?
• have other people who will be caring for your child?
• make arrangements when he/she has an emergency that takes them away from the children?

 

Does the setting:

• have a safe outdoor play area and equipment?
• have a safe, clear area where infants can play?
• provide enough space for napping and appropriate surfaces (cots, cribs, mats)?
• have locked storage for medications, cleaners, poisons, guns and ammunition?
• have working smoke detectors?
• have pets?  if so, are they vaccinated?
• have at least two approved exits from child care areas?
• have enough space inside and outdoors so all children can move freely and safely?
• have enough furniture, play toys and other equipment for all children to be individually involved?
• have equipment and materials that are suitable for the ages of the children?
• have a clean, safe place to change diapers?

 

Do activities include:

• creative experiences such as play acting, music, reading and art?
• transportation ( if needed) with appropriate seat belts and care seats?
• adequate supervision at all times when children are in care?
• time outdoors with supervision?
• toys and play equipment that are right for the child's age and state of development?
• washing hands after diapering, toileting and before preparing food?
• enough caregivers/teachers to give individual attention to all children?
• nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day?
• quiet and active play, indoors and outdoors?
• a schedule that meets young children's need for routine, but is flexible enough to meet the needs of each child?

Do you suspect Child Abuse? If you suspect a child under the age of 18 is being abused or neglected call the following numbers. CALL a DHS Local Office(Clickable Map of County Office Locations)8:00 AM – 4:30 PMMonday-Friday OrCALL Iowa’s Child Abuse Hotline1-800-362-2178 Please be ready to provide identifying information and the whereabouts of the child.  If you believe the child is in imminent danger, CALL 911 immediately.