Choosing a child care provider is one of the more important decisions you will make for your child. ISU Child Care and Family Services provides expertise and guidance as you explore your child care options. Whether you are looking for information about the types of child care, licensing standards, or quality measures, we are confident we can help.
Send us your child care questions and a member of our team will be happy to assist.
Campus Child Care Services
Iowa State University has three campus child care centers, each of which has achieved and maintains the highest levels of quality. Our centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and participate in Iowa Quality 4 Kids (IQ4K), Iowa's voluntary quality rating and improvement program.
We encourage families to tour and interview many child care programs before making a decision. Use the links below to explore what our campus child centers have to offer!
Child Development Laboratory School
4380 Palmer Building, Ste. 035 | (515) 294-3040
Interim Director: Heather Bruno
Ages: Infants through preschool
Hours: 7:30am-5:30pm, Monday-Friday
ISU Child Care Center at Veterinary Medicine
1520 Christensen Drive | (515) 294-2273
Director: Angela Adams
Ages: Infants through preschool
Hours: 7:00am-6:00pm, Monday-Friday
University Community Childcare
2623 Bruner Drive | (515) 294-9838
Director: Stacy Lehman
Ages: Infants through school-age
Hours: 7:00am-5:30pm, Monday-Friday
Tools to Aid Your Search
To assist you in your child care search, we've compiled a list of useful tools. These resources can help you find, compare, and connect with child care providers in your area, making the process more manageable and efficient.
Iowa Child Care Connect (C3)
This online tool boasts a guided search feature that asks specific questions to match families with suitable child care providers. Users can also explore an interactive map, enter routes, and customize their search to find both home-based and center-based child care programs.
Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)
Looking for a list of child care programs with openings? Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) is a statewide agency that helps parents take the guesswork out of choosing care by providing FREE customized referrals to local child care providers. Referrals are provided so that parents can look into all of their options and find the child care arrangements that best meet the needs of their family. Parent Referral Specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM by calling (855) 244-5301. Families can also conduct their own child care search online 24/7.
Iowa HHS Child Care Compliance and Complaint Reports
Licensed and registered child care providers receive annual inspections by Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Summaries of these inspections, as well as complaint reports, are available online.
Guide to Choosing Quality Child Care
A detailed guide to Iowa's child care system from Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral.
Additional Resources
The following resources can help you make the best decision for your child and your family.
Starting Your Child Care Search
An overview of the process of choosing a child care provider, published by Child Care Aware of America.
Selecting a Child Care Program
Checklists to help you organize information and make the best decision for your child from Child Care Aware of America.
Budgeting for Child Care
Tips and tools to help you plan for this major expense, published by Child Care Aware of America.