health-and-safety-prevention-of-shaken-baby-syndrome-abusive-head-trauma-and-child-maltreatment TRAUMA, AND CHILD MALTREATMENT

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency does not require pre-service or orientation training on prevention of child maltreatment for licensed centers, as required by 98.44(b)(1)(i). (Plan Question 5.4.1f) • The Lead Agency does not require an annual unannounced inspection for licensed centers for compliance with pre-service or orientation training requirements related to the prevention of child maltreatment, as required by 98.42(b)(2)(i)(B). (Plan Question 5.5.1aii) Overall Target Completion Date: 07/01/2025 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Draft new language for Iowa Administrative Code (Chapter 441.109) which clarifies that Essentials is the required pre-service training. Essentials has been reviewed and found to meet this requirement. 10/01/2024 2 Finalize Iowa Administrative Code (Chapter 441.109) for licensed centers to include Essentials as the required pre-service training. 07/01/2025 3 Update Child Care Center Licensing Standards and Procedures document (COMM 204) to remove the term recommendation and provide clarified guidance to child care center staff regarding licensing standards. 07/01/2025 4 Update compliance checklist used by licensing 07/01/2025 inspectors to reflect the updated licensing standards in Iowa Administrative Code (Chapter 441.109) COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECK:5 YEAR RENEWAL Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency does not conduct all background checks every 5 years, as required by 98.43(d)(2)(ii). (Plan Question 5.7.17) Overall Target Completion Date: 07/01/2026 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 The Child Care Policy Team informed the Lead Agency's Human Resources staff of changes needed to current background check operations for child care facilities and provided necessary legal information 11/01/2024 2 The Lead Agency's Division of Compliance, Bureau of Human Resources will develop policies for completion of background checks. 02/01/2025 3 The Child Care Policy Team will convene a workgroup to discuss implementation changes needed with licensed child care center directors to assess change impact. 07/01/2025 4 Based on the developed policy, the Lead Agency's Child Care Policy Team will work with the Human Resources Team on identifying required background checks and the parties that must be background checked. 09/01/2025 5 Lead Agency staffing needs to complete background checks will be determined based on assumptions of current numbers of completed record checks each year. 10/01/2025 6 Legislative action will be requested in January 2026 to modify Iowa Code 237A to change processes for completion of record checks. 01/31/2026 7 A communication plan will be developed, specific to provider type (center vs. family child care) that provides guidance for child care providers on the change in process to background checks being run through the Lead Agency's Human Resources department. 06/01/2026 8 An IT system enhancement will be developed to track and monitor results of background checks and clearance for child care employment. 07/01/2026