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Child Care Assistance - Overview - Iowa

The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) provides assistance for parents to supplement their care by obtaining care and protection for children in or outside their homes for part of the day. Child care provides experiences for each child’s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development.

Child care services include supervision, food services, program and activities, and may include:

·           Transportation.

·           Comprehensive child development care

·           Services to a child with special needs, such as adaptive equipment, more careful supervision, or special staff training.

Child care assistance is provided to the children of income-eligible parents who are absent for a portion of the day due to employment or participation in academic or vocational training or PROMISE JOBS activities.

NOTE: Child care services are provided to people participating in activities approved under the PROMISE JOBS program and people who are recipients of the Family Investment Program (FIP) without regard to Child Care Assistance eligibility requirements if there is a need for child care services.

Assistance is available for a limited period of time to the children of a parent looking for employment or when the parent who normally cares for the child is absent from the home due to hospitalization, physical or mental illness, or death.

Child Care Assistance Services are approved in half-day increments of up to 5 hours per half day. Normally, up to two half-day units can be approved per day in accordance with the family’s need. In extraordinary circumstances a case worker’s supervisor can approve three half-day units in a 24-hour period.

FEES: Families who receive Child Care Assistance may be required to pay fees on a sliding scale according to their gross income. See: Child Care Assistance Fees.

Child care may be provided in a licensed child care center, a registered family or group child care home, a non-registered child care home, the child’s own home, a relative’s home, or by a child care facility which is exempt from licensing or registration.

NOTE: Child Care Assistance is being provided to some Iowa families under the Transitional Child Care (TCC) Assistance Program, a program that has not been approving new families starting July 1, 1999. See: Transitional Child Care Assistance

See Also:

·           Child Care Assistance Eligibility

·           Child Care Assistance Fees

·     Welcome and Introduction to Benefits in Iowa

Source: Iowa DHS Employees’ Policy Manual, Social Services, Child Welfare Services

Title 18, Child Care

·                        Chapter I, Child Care Assistance, Overview

Legal Reference: 441 IAC 170, "Child Care Services" and 130, "General Provisions."

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