The Children’s Center
A licensed child care center in Jefferson, Iowa
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Iowa’s own record is on secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us.
The short answer
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean3
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
Iowa lists 8 reports: 4 compliance reports and 4 regulation checklists, the latest dated Jun 19, 2026.
On its 3 regulation checklists from the last three years, Iowa marked 21 rules not met, 7 of them on the latest, on Jun 19, 2026.
What its other reports found is in each one, linked with it; this page doesn’t count it.
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Childcare Compliance and Complaint Reports and Regulation checklists (PDF), Childcare Compliance and Complaint Reports. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Each deficiency, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Regulation checklists (PDF), Childcare Compliance and Complaint Reports. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Jun 19, 2026: regulation checklist7 deficiencies
-
Medications: The center shall have written procedures for dispensing, storage, and authorization, and recording of all prescription and non-prescription medications. •Staff must be over 18 to administer medication. •All medications shall be stored in original containers with physician or pharmacist directions. Labels should be intact and stored so they are inaccessible to children and public. Nonprescription medications shall be labeled with the child’s name. •For every day an authorization for medication is in effect and child is in attendance, there shall be a notation of administration including the name of medicine, date, time, dosage, given or applied, and the initials of the person administering the medication or the reason the medication was not given. •For ongoing, long term medications, authorization shall be obtained for a period not to exceed the duration of prescription. •Staff shall not provide medications to a child if pre-service/orientation training for medication management has not been completed.
-
Emergency instructions, phone numbers, and diagrams for fire, tornado, and flood shall be visibly posted and documented at least once a month for fire and tornado. Records shall be maintained for current and previous year.
-
Centers built before 1978: Assessment and plan for remedy of lead paint hazard is conducted.
-
All staff (within first three months of employment): •Iowa’s training for the mandatory reporting of child abuse. •At least one hour of training regarding universal precautions. •Certification in First Aid infant, child, and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or equivalent certification approved by the Department. A valid certificate indicating the date of training and expiration date shall be maintained. •Certification in infant, child, and adult first aid that uses a nationally recognized curriculum or is received from a nationally recognized training organization including the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, American Safety and Health Institute, or MEDIC First Aid or an equivalent certification approved by the Department. A valid certificate indicating the date of training and expiration date shall be maintained. •Minimum health and safety trainings, (Essentials) approved by the Department. If significant changes occur to content, the Department may require the training be renewed.
-
All files contain documentation to indicate that ongoing staff training requirements are met, including current certifications in first aid/CPR and mandatory child abuse training.
-
Preschool (for children five years and younger not enrolled in school): Physical exam report submitted within 30 days of admission, was obtained no more than 12 months prior to admission, is signed by a licensed MD, DO, Chiropractor, PA, or ARNP, and contains health history; present health status including allergies, medications, and acute/chronic conditions; and recommendations for continued care if necessary.
-
School-age (for children five years and older and enrolled in school): Annual statement of health status signed by parent is submitted prior to admission, certifies that the child is free of communicable disease, and lists allergies, medications and acute/chronic conditions.
Jun 18, 2025: regulation checklist9 deficiencies
-
Emergency instructions, phone numbers, and diagrams for fire, tornado, and flood shall be visibly posted and documented at least once a month for fire and tornado. Records shall be maintained for current and previous year.
-
For ongoing, long term medications, authorization shall be obtained for a period not to exceed the duration of prescription.
-
Center shall ensure that: 1.Facility and premises are sanitary, safe, and hazard free. 2.Adequate indoor and outdoor space is provided. The outdoor area shall include safe play equipment and area of shade. 3.Sufficient space provided for dining. 4.Sufficient lighting shall be provided. 5.Sufficient ventilation. 6.Sufficient heating. 7.sufficient cooling. 8.Sufficient bathroom and diapering facilities. 9.Equipment, including kitchen appliances, are maintained so as not to result in burns, shock, or injury to children. 10.Sanitation and safety procedures for the center are developed and implemented to reduce risk or injury or harm to children and reduce transmission of disease.
-
•Program structure that uses developmentally appropriate practices and written program of activities planned to the developmental needs of children served. •Program complements but does not duplicate school curriculum. •Schedule of program is posted in a place visible to parents.
-
•Sufficient toilet articles are provided for handwashing. •Sufficient and safe indoor play equipment, materials, and furniture that conforms with CPSC or ASTM. •Play equipment, materials, and furniture meet the developmental, activity, and special needs of the children. •Room’s arrangement does not obstruct the direct observation of children. •Individual covered mats, beds, or cots, and appropriate bedding is provided for all children who nap. •Procedures are developed and implemented to maintain equipment and materials in a sanitary manner. •Sufficient spacing is maintained between equipment to reduce transmission of disease and allow ease of movement by children and staff to respond to activities and care needs. •Sanitary procedures are followed for use and storage of personal hygiene articles.
-
All files contain: 1.A signed copy of DHS criminal history record check or any other permission form approved by the Department of public Safety for conducting an Iowa or national criminal history check. 2.A copy of Request for Child Abuse Information. 3.Copies of the results of Iowa records checks conducted. 4.Copies of national criminal history check results. 5.Any Department-issued documents sent to the center related to records check.
-
All files are updated at least annually and when a change occurs.
-
All files contain information regarding the specific health and medical needs of a child including information regarding any prescribed treatment. For school-age programs in the child’s school, all files include a statement signed by the parent that the immunization information is available in the school file.
-
All files contain parent authorization for attendance at center-sponsored field trips and non- center activities. If an inclusive authorization form for activities is used, a copy is kept on file at the center.
Jun 11, 2024: regulation checklist5 deficiencies
-
Emergency instructions, phone numbers, and diagrams for fire, tornado, and flood shall be visibly posted and documented at least once a month for fire and tornado. Records shall be maintained for current and previous year.
-
For ongoing, long term medications, authorization shall be obtained for a period not to exceed the duration of prescription.
-
Center shall ensure that: 1.Facility and premises are sanitary, safe, and hazard free. 2.Adequate indoor and outdoor space is provided. The outdoor area shall include safe play equipment and area of shade. 3.Sufficient space provided for dining. 4.Sufficient lighting shall be provided. 5.Sufficient ventilation. 6.Sufficient heating. 7.sufficient cooling. 8.Sufficient bathroom and diapering facilities. 9.Equipment, including kitchen appliances, are maintained so as not to result in burns, shock, or injury to children. 10.Sanitation and safety procedures for the center are developed and implemented to reduce risk or injury or harm to children and reduce transmission of disease.
-
All files are updated at least annually and when a change occurs.
-
All files contain information regarding the specific health and medical needs of a child including information regarding any prescribed treatment. For school-age programs in the child’s school, all files include a statement signed by the parent that the immunization information is available in the school file.
All 8 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 19, 2026 | Child Care Center Evaluation and Recommendation for License | Findings are in Iowa’s report |
| Jun 19, 2026 | Regulation checklist | 7 rules marked not met |
| Jun 18, 2025 | Child Care Center Evaluation and Recommendation for License | Findings are in Iowa’s report |
| Jun 18, 2025 | Regulation checklist | 9 rules marked not met |
| Jun 11, 2024 | Child Care Center Evaluation and Recommendation for License | Findings are in Iowa’s report |
| Jun 11, 2024 | Regulation checklist | 5 rules marked not met |
| Jun 8, 2023 | Child Care Center Evaluation and Recommendation for License | Findings are in Iowa’s report |
| Jun 8, 2023 | Regulation checklist | Findings are in Iowa’s report |
Is it licensed?
- Licensed Center, Iowa provider number 14171.
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Childcare Compliance and Complaint Reports. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.
Has Iowa acted against it?
- Iowa’s report list doesn’t show enforcement actions; any are written in the reports themselves.
Who does the caring?
- Iowa’s report list doesn’t show staffing. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.
Who owns it?
- Iowa’s report list doesn’t name owners.
How is it rated?
- Iowa’s quality rating (IQ4K) isn’t in its report list, so it isn’t shown here.
How does it compare nearby?
- Providers aren’t compared: Iowa’s checklists don’t cover every visit, and complaint findings aren’t on them.
| Place | |
|---|---|
| The Children’s Center This child care provider | Not given |
What the record doesn’t say
- Findings here are the rules Iowa’s regulation checklists from the last three years mark as not met, in the checklists’ own words. What evaluations, letters and complaint investigations found is in those reports, linked with each one, and isn’t counted here.
- Iowa lists a report once it is written up: most within two weeks of the visit, some six weeks or more after it, so a recent visit may not be listed yet.
- Each report is dated the day Iowa created it, which can be weeks after the visit; a checklist is dated the day of the inspection it records.
- Iowa’s report list gives only a provider’s city and county, not its street address, ZIP code or phone number.
- Iowa’s report list doesn’t show quality ratings (IQ4K), capacity, ages served, hours, owners or enforcement actions.
Sources
-
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Childcare Compliance and Complaint Reports.
Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. No licence stated.
-
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Regulation checklists (PDF), Childcare Compliance and Complaint Reports.
Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. No licence stated.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Iowa’s own record is on secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Oct 19, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.