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.
CPS Licensing
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 or detention services.
To request an application for a child-placing, children's residential facility and group foster care facility, please contact Carol Gerleman at 515-377-0327 or cgerlem@dhs.state.ia.us
Carol Gerleman, Division of Family Well-Being & Protection, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, 1305 E. Walnut, B-Level, Hoover Building, Des Moines, IA 50319
To fill out an online Application for License or Certificate of Approval, click Application for License or Certificate of Approval.
The Administrative Rules pertaining to Certified Adoption Investigator are in section 107 of the Regulatory Standards chapter of the Iowa Administrative Code.
HHS maintains a complete list of Certified Adoption Investigators licensed in Iowa.
To request an application for a Certified Adoption Investigator please contact Carol Gerleman at 515-377-0327 or cgerlem@dhs.state.ia.us
Carol Gerleman, Division of Family Well-Being & Protection, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, 1305 E. Walnut, B-Level, Hoover Building, Des Moines, IA 50319
To fill out an online Certified Adoption investigator application, click Certified Adoption Investigator application.
For information on ICF/ID (Intermediate Care Facility/Intellectual Disabilities), contact Catie Campbell at 515-669-3089 or catie.campbell@dia.iowa.gov
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 at 515-669-4198 or deb.dixon@dia.iowa.gov
For information regarding complaints about children's residential facilities including group care, shelters or detentions, contact Deb Dixon at 515-669-4198 or deb.dixon@dia.iowa.gov
For information regarding child care centers or registration of child development homes, contact Kim Hahn at 319-356-6050 or khahn@dhs.state.ia.us
For information regarding adoption services and certified adoption investigators, contact Laura Leise at 515-377-0329 or lleise@dhs.state.ia.us
For information regarding foster care homes, contact Nancy Swanson at 515-377-0332 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 Konchalski at 515-377-0328 or kkoncha@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 Services in 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
Information regarding home and community based services waivers.