Iowa child care assistance available to eligible families.

Iowa Child Care Assistance Information

Need help paying for child care in Iowa? Iowa Child Care Assistance (CCA) is a program that provides funds to income-eligible parents to pay for child care services. Assistance is provided to children of parents who are employed, participating in academic or vocational training, PROMISE JOBS activities, for those parents looking for employment, or for parents unable able to work due to hospitalization or outpatient treatment for physical or mental illness.

All parents in the household must meet at least one of the need requirements. Need for child care service includes:

Full time, as defined by the school, academic or vocational training (limited to 24 fiscal months)
Employed 28 or more hours per week
Protective child care, when the child has a case plan that identifies protective child care as a required service
Medical absence or incapacity (temporary)
Seeking employment (limited to one 30-consecutive-day period in any 12-month period)
FIP recipient participating in PROMISE JOBS activities

Child care services are provided to people participating in activities approved under the PROMISE JOBS program and people who receive Family Investment Program (FIP) assistance without regard to Iowa Child Care Assistance eligibility requirements if there is a need for child care services. PROMISE JOBS staff administer Iowa Child Care Assistance for child care needed to participate in PROMISE JOBS activities.

Child care services for a child with protective needs are provided without regard to income. To receive protective child care services, the family must meet specific requirements, and child care must be identified in the child's case permanency plan as a necessary service.

Who is Eligible for Iowa Child Care Assistance?

You may get help from the Iowa Child Care Assistance program if you:

Have a child who needs care who is under the age of 13 (or under the age of 19 if the child has special needs, but documentation of the special need must be provided)
Have a child age 13 up to age 16 in which there are special family circumstances that put the safety and well being of the child at risk if left home alone (In this instance, the parent or guardian must apply for an exception to the policy.)

Children must be United States citizens or have a qualifying alien status to be eligible for CCA. Both earned and unearned income is used to determine eligibility. However, families applying for child care who are on FIP or have a protective need do not have to meet the income guidelines, but must have a need for service in order to be eligible.

How do I Apply for Iowa Child Care Assistance?

An application form must be completed and returned to the DHS office serving the county in which you live. You can either print the form online in English or Spanish or pick up an application from any county Department of Human Services office nearest you. The locations can be found here or see below for contact information by region.

The Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral System (CCR&R) is available to assist you in finding the best type of child care that fits your family's needs. Contact the Iowa CCR&R for more information about the child care locations that have openings and accept Iowa child care assistance payments.

Northwest Iowa
Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc.
418 Marion St PO Box 390
Remsen IA 51050
(800) 859-2025 or (712) 786-2001
Counties served: Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Hamilton, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Webster, Woodbury and Wright

Southwest/South Central Iowa
West Central Development Corporation
701 10th St PO Box 709
Harlan IA 51537
(800) 945-9778 or (712) 755-7381
Counties served: Adair, Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, Lucas, Mills, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Taylor, Union and Wayne

Southeast Iowa
Community Action of Eastern Iowa
500 E 59th St
Davenport IA 52807
(800) 369-3778 or (563) 324-3236
Counties served: Appanoose, Benton, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Mahaska, Muscatine, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Van Buren, Wapello and Washington

Northeast Iowa
Exceptional Persons, Inc.
3675 University Ave PO Box 4090
Waterloo IA 50704
(800) 475-0804 or (319) 233-0804
Counties served: Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Grundy, Hancock, Howard, Mitchell, Winnebago, Winneshiek, and Worth

Central Iowa
Orchard Place Child Guidance Center
808 5th Ave
Des Moines IA 50309
(800) 722-7619 or (515) 246-3560
Counties served: Boone, Dallas, Hardin, +Jasper, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Story and Warren

Child Care Subsidy Agency
Iowa Department of Human Services, Division of Child and Family Services
Bureau of Child Care and Community Services
Hoover State Office Building
1305 E. Walnut, 5th Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319-0114
Phone: 515-281-7266
Toll Free: 800-972-2017
Fax: 515-281-6248
Web Site: Iowa CCA

Who Do I Contact if I have a Complaint?

If you would like to file a complaint against a child care home or child care center that you feel is not meeting child care standards and regulations, you can notify Iowa DHS and a child care representative will determine if an investigation is needed.

Where to Report Child Abuse

Child Abuse - To report child abuse call (800)-362-2178

Child Abuse Prevention - www.iachild.org
The Coalition for Family and Children Services in Iowa represents private and county agencies that annually serve over 100,000 at-risk children and families. Member agencies work in the areas of child abuse and neglect, delinquency, substance abuse, and behavioral and mental health.

Prevent Child Abuse Iowa - www.pcaiowa.org
The fundamental - and critically important mission - of ending child abuse in the entire state of Iowa . Its single-minded focus on prevention is unique in the child abuse field, where most efforts involve counseling and treating children and families after abuse has already occurred.

Read about Iowa Child Care Licensing Standards and Regulations

Return Home from Iowa Child Care Assistance