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Title 13: Social Service Resources Page 75 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter G: Child Care Assistance Identifiying the Provider Revised June 14, 2024 Eligible Providers Identifying the Provider In many situations, parents will have already selected the child care provider by the time they apply for child care services. If the parent needs assistance in choosing a provider, refer the parent to the Child Care Resource and Referral agency serving the county, direct them to the child care website provider search link, or provide the parent with a list of providers in their local area. The policies and procedures for identifying eligible providers and the requirements that must be met by a provider are organized into the following sections: ▪ Eligible providers ▪ Provider requirements Eligible Providers Legal reference: 441 IAC 170.4(3) A parent can choose care from: ▪ A licensed child care center. ▪ A registered child development home. ▪ A nonregistered child-care home. ▪ A provider who provides care in the child’s own home. ▪ A provider located in another state. The parent indicates the choice of provider on form 470-3624 or 470-3624(S), Child Care Assistance Application, or 470-0462 or 470-0462(S), Financial Support Application. There are limits to parental choice of provider: ▪ Children who are receiving protective child care services must be served in a licensed center or registered child development home, unless the service worker determines that a nonregistered provider is the most appropriate choice for the specific case. Consider the child’s needs when child care is part of a protective services plan to prevent or alleviate child abuse or neglect.
The worker determines that a child is in need of social skills and language development and that the child would benefit more from placement in a child care center where the peer group experience is optimal. The parent chooses a registered child development home, where the child is the only child receiving care besides the provider’s own child. The child care arrangement chosen by the parent is not approved, because it is determined not to be in the best interest of the child.