Iowa law requires licensing of agencies that provide child-placing services (adoption, foster care, and supervised apartment living), children's residential facilities and group foster care facilities. The goal is to provide appropriate protection for children who are separated from their families. See the licensing categories listed below.
Licensing Categories
- Certified Adoption Investigators - a person who conducts home studies to provide adoption services to individuals and families independent of an agency.
- Child Placing Agency - an agency that provides adoption, foster care, supervised apartment living services.
- Children's Residential Facilities and Group Foster Care Facilities - a facility that provides children's residential, group foster care, shelter and detention services.
Licensing Applications (not for child care)
To request an application for a child-placing, children's residential facility and group foster care facility, please contact:
Carol Gerleman
Dept. of Human Services
Division of Adult, Children & Family Services
Hoover Bldg., 5th Floor
1305 East Walnut
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-242-5451
To fill out an online Application for License or Certificate of Approval, click Application for License or Certificate of Approval.
Licensing Rules
The Administrative Rules pertaining to Licensing are in sections 105, 106, 107, 108, 112, 114, 115, and 116 of the Regulatory Standards chapter of the Iowa Administrative Code.
Licensing List of Iowa Agencies and Facilities
Certified Adoption Investigator Applications
To request an application for a Certified Adoption Investigator please contact:
Carol Gerleman
Dept. of Human Services
Division of Adult, Children & Family Services
Hoover Bldg., 5th Floor
1305 East Walnut
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-242-5451
To fill out an online Certified Adoption investigator application, click Certified Adoption Investigator application.
Certified Adoption Investigator Rules
The Administrative Rules pertaining to Certified Adoption Investigator are in section 107 of the Regulatory Standards chapter of the Iowa Administrative Code.
Certified Adoption Investigators List
DHS maintains a complete list of Certified Adoption Investigators licensed in Iowa.
Special Services (children/adult services)
For information on ICF/ID (Intermediate Care Facility/Intellectual Disabilities), contact:
Catie Campbell
Dept. of Inspections & Appeals
Health Facilities Division
Lucas Building, 3rd Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-3759
For information on RCF (Residential Care Facility), RCF/ID (Residential Care Facilities/Intellectual Disabilities), and RCF/PMI (Residential Care Facility/Persons with Mental Illness) contact:
Deb Dixon
Dept. of Inspections & Appeals
Health Facilities Division
Lucas Building, 3rd Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-4081
Additional Contacts
For information regarding complaints about children's residential facilities including group care, shelters or detentions, contact Deb Dixon at 515-281-4081 or deb.dixon@dia.iowa.gov
For information regarding child care centers or registration of child development homes, contact Mykala Robinson at 515-281-0442 or mrobins@dhs.state.ia.us
For information regarding adoption services and certified adoption investigators, contact Laura Leise at 515-281-8799 or lleise@dhs.state.ia.us
For information regarding foster care homes, contact Nancy Swanson at 515-281-6379 or nswanso@dhs.state.ia.us
For information regarding supervised apartment living services, foster group care, shelters, detention and children's residential facilities, contact Kristin Walker at 515-281-9368 or kwalker1@dhs.state.ia.us
For information regarding Iowa Foster & Adoptive Parents Association (IFAPA) visit IFAPA at www.ifapa.org or call 1-800-277-8145.
For information regarding Foster Home Licensing and Special Needs Adoption visit iowafosterandadoption.org.
For information regarding International Adoption procedures, visit www.uscis.gov. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Servicesin Iowa is located in the Federal Building, 210 Walnut, Room 369, Des Moines, IA. Business phone is 515-323-2050.
For information regarding International and/or private infant adoptions, visit the Iowa Association of Adoption Agencies (IAAA) website at www.iowaadoption.org
For information regarding home and community based services waivers.