Family Child Care Task Force

The task force shall submit an interim report to the Legislature by Mar. 1, 2020, and a final report by Feb. 1, 2021. The reports shall explain the task force’s findings and recommendations related to each of their duties. Any draft legislation needed to implement the recommendations shall also be included. 

• Family Child Care Task Force Interim Legislative Report
• Family Child Care Task Force Legislative Report

Duties

The task force’s duties are described in Minnesota Laws 2019, 1st Special Session, Chapter 9, Art. 2, Sec. 132 (pages 164-167), which established the task force. Those duties include the following:

1. Identify difficulties that providers face regarding licensing and inspection, including specific licensing requirements that have led to the closure of family child care programs, by reviewing previous survey results and conducting follow-up surveys, if necessary
2. Propose regulatory reforms to improve licensing efficiency, including discussion of criteria that would qualify a provider for an abbreviated licensing review based on statistically significant key indicators that predict full compliance with all applicable rules and statutes, and discussion of the development of a risk-based, data-driven, tiered violation system with corresponding enforcement mechanisms that are appropriate to the risk presented by a violation 
3. Review existing variance authority delegated to counties and recommend changes, if needed 
4. Recommend business development and technical assistance resources to promote provider recruitment and retention, including the potential need for mentors, a family child care provider network, or shared services 
5. Develop recommendations for alternative child care delivery systems that could be more financially viable in smaller communities with unmet child care capacity needs in greater Minnesota, which could include new licensure models for large group family child care or small capacity child care centers 
6. Review Parent Aware program participation and identify obstacles and suggested improvements 
7. Review how trainings for licensed family child care providers are offered, provided, coordinated, and approved, and make a recommendation on the establishment of a family child care continuing education training committee, to advise on compliance with federal and state training requirements 
8. Consider methods to improve access to and understanding of the rules and statutes governing family child care providers 

Roles and Responsibilities

• The task force is co-chaired by the DFL member from the House of Representatives and the Republican member from the Senate.
• The co-chairs shall alternate acting as chair between meetings.
• A neutral third-party facilitator will moderate each meeting.
• The co-chairs, Commissioner of Human Services or designee, and the facilitator will determine the agenda for each meeting.
• Meetings are open to the public under the Minnesota Open Meeting Law.

• Duty 2 - Work group assignment
• Duty 4 - Work group assignment
  
• Duty 7 - Work group assignment
  
• Duty 8 - Work group assignment

2021

Audio recordings and transcripts for all Family Child Care Task Force meetings

Thursday, January 28
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting   
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html   
OR    
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• Task force meeting #15 minutes
• January 28, 2021 agenda

Tuesday, January 12 
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting    
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html    
OR     
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• Task force meeting #14 minutes
• Tuesday, January 12 agenda

2020

Audio recordings and transcripts for all Family Child Care Task Force meetings

Tuesday, December 8
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting   
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html   
OR    
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• December 8, 2020 agenda 
• Task force meeting #13 minutes

Tuesday, November 17
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting   
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html   
OR    
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• November 17, 2020 agenda 
• Task force meeting #12 minutes
• Draft - Family Child Care Task force report, Nov. 17, 2020
  

Possible additional meeting date, if necessary: Tuesday, October 27
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting   
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html   
OR    
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• October 27, 2020 agenda
  
• Task force meeting #11 minutes
• Duty 2 work group recommendations
  
• Duty 2 work group presentation
  
• Duty 6 work group recommendations
• Duty 6 work group presentation
  
  
  

Tuesday, October 20
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting   
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html   
OR    
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• October 20, 2020 agenda
  
• Task force meeting #10 minutes
  
• FCCTF- Updated reimbursement policy
  
• Duty 4 work group recommendations
  
• Duty 4 work group presentation
  
• Duty 7 work group recommendations
  
• Duty 7 work group presentation
• Duty 5 work group recommendations
  
• Duty 5 work group presentation
  
• Duty 5 work group- existing MN and other state examples of child care models
  
  
  

Tuesday, September 22, 2020    
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting   
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html  
OR   
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• September 22, 2020 agenda (PDF)
• Task force meeting #9 minutes (PDF)
• Duty 4 work group presentation(PDF)
• Duty 4 work group recommendations (PDF)
• Duty 8 work group presentation (PDF)
• Duty 8 work group recommendations (PDF)
• Meetings and work groups timeline updated (PDF)

Tuesday, August 18, 2020   
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting  
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html   
OR  
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• Task force meeting #8 minutes 
• Alternate child care delivery systems presentation, Duty 5
• Parent Aware presentation, Duty 6
• August 18, 2020 agenda
• Report-Provider Perceptions of Parent Aware, Minnesota’s Quality Rating and Improvement System
• Duty 8 Work Group presentation
• Task Force and Work Group timeline

Tuesday, July 21, 2020  
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting 
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html  
OR 
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

• Family Child Care Training Presentation
  
• Task Force Duties List
  
• Task Force Work Group Expectations
  
• How Child Care Training is Offered, Provided, Coordinated, and Approved
  
• July 21, 2020 agenda (PDF)
  
• Task force meeting #7 minutes
  

Tuesday, June 23, 2020 
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Virtual meeting
To view the virtual meeting click on one of the links below. (There are two links listed in case one of them does not work with your browser.)

http://stream5.video.mn.gov/mnit/dhslive.html 
OR
http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/mnit/dhslive.html  

Task Force Duties: 
#1: Identify difficulties that providers face regarding licensing and inspection, including specific licensing requirements that have led to the closure of family child care programs, by reviewing previous survey results and conducting follow-up surveys, if necessary

• June 23, 2020 meeting transcript (DOC)
• June 23, 2020 agenda (PDF)
• June 23, 2020 Small Group Questions (PDF)
• FCCTF duties status (PDF)
• Former Child Care provider survey presentation
• Former family child care providers survey questions
• Former family child care provider survey expanded report
• Open meeting law overview memorandum - Prepared by the Minnesota House Research Department
  
  • The Minnesota Open Meeting Law is codified in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D.
  • Minnesota House Research Information Brief: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/openmtg.pdf
  • Discussion on how open meeting law is applied: https://www.lmc.org/wp-content/uploads/documents/Meetings-of-City-Councils.pdf
  • Data practices guidance from the Minnesota Department of Administration: https://mn.gov/admin/data-practices/meetings/

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020  

6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Brooklyn Center Community Center – Council chambers, 6301 Single Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 

Task Force Duties:
Work on Interim Report

• Feb. 4, 2020 agenda (PDF)
• DRAFT interim legislative report

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Bloomington City Plaza, 1800 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington MN 55431 (Council Chambers)

Task Force Duties:
Continuation of #1 (surveys) and #5 (alternative licensing models) and work on Interim Report

• Jan. 14, 2020 agenda (PDF)
• Children's cabinet proposal to task force on surveying former family child care providers
• County licensor immunity and uniform variance application (Kiffmeyer 2020)
• Task force meeting #4 minutes

2019

Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55305 (Robert H. Rohlf Room)

Task Force Duties:
#5: Develop recommendations for alternative child care delivery systems that could be more financially viable in smaller communities with unmet child care capacity needs in greater Minnesota, which could include new licensure models for large group family child care or small capacity child care centers.

• Dec. 16, 2019 agenda (PDF)
• Survey Proposal for Task Force Consideration 
• Draft Email from Task Force for Survey
• Draft Survey for Former Family Child Care Providers 
• Suggested Changes to the Draft Survey, Submitted by Senator Kiffmeyer
• Task Force Meeting #3 Minutes

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Creekside Community Center, 9801 Penn Ave S., Bloomington MN 55431 (Room 105)
Conference line - Dial: 1-408-650-3123 - Access code: 315-592-197 - Audio Pin # 
Weblink to access remote presentation from Dr. Richard Fiene: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/315592197

Task Force Duties:
#2: Propose regulatory reforms to improve licensing efficiency, including discussion of criteria that would qualify a provider for an abbreviated licensing review based on statistically significant key indicators that predict full compliance with all applicable rules and statutes, and discussion of the development of a risk-based, data-driven, tiered violation system with corresponding enforcement mechanisms that are appropriate to the risk presented by a violation

• Nov. 12, 2019 agenda (PDF)
• Potential Administrative / Legislative Actions for Variances
• Dr. Fiene’s Suggested Criteria for Abbreviated Inspections
• House Research Analysis of Liability for Variances
• Senate Counsel Analysis of Liability for Variances
• Task Force Meeting #2 Minutes

Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019
9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. - Broadway Place West, 1300 Godward St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Conference line - Dial: 1-408-650-3123 - Access code: 315-592-197 - Audio Pin # 

Task Force Duties:
#1: Identify difficulties that providers face regarding licensing and inspection, including specific licensing requirements that have led to the closure of family child care programs, by reviewing previous survey results and conducting follow-up surveys, if necessary and
#3: Review existing variance authority delegated to counties and recommend changes, if needed

• Oct. 12, 2019 agenda (PDF)
• Presentation on Licensing and Surveys
• Presentation on Variances
• Status of previous task force recommendations
• Task Force Meeting #1 Minutes
• Appendix A

Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Four Points at Mall of America Minneapolis Airport Conference Center, 7745 Lyndale Ave. So.
Conference line - Dial: 1-408-650-3123 - Access code: 315-592-197 - Audio Pin #

• Sept. 19, 2019 agenda (PDF)

Schedule by duty with locations (PDF)

The Family Child Care Task Force includes the following members:

Samantha Chukuske, Family child care provider appointed by the Speaker of the House, Welcome

Hollee Saville, Family child care provider appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, St. Michael

Mary Jane Albert, Family child care provider appointed by the Speaker of the House, St. Paul

Elizabeth Harris, Family child care provider appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, Cottage Grove

Julie Seydel, Minnesota Association of Child Care Professionals representative

Cyndi Cunningham, Minnesota Child Care Provider Information Network representative

Representative Ami Wazlawik, co-chair

Representative Lisa Demuth

Senator Mary Kiffmeyer, co-chair

Senator Melissa Wiklund

DHS Commissioner or designee

Ariane Bromberg, Family Child Care Inc. representative, Rochester

Kelly Martini, Stearns-Benton Child Care Association representative, Avon

Lanay Miller, Association of Minnesota Family Child Care Licensors, Chisago County

Kim Leipold, Association of Minnesota Family Child Care Licensors, Dakota County

Erin Echternach, Parent representative, Bemidji

Erin Johnson-Balstad, Parent representative, Argyle

JoAnn Smith, Parent representative, International Falls

Marit Woods, Parent representative, St. Paul

Dan Dorman, Greater Minnesota Partnership representative

Lauryn Schothorst, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representative

Ann McCully, Child Care Aware of Minnesota representative

Scott Marquardt, Southwest Initiative Foundation representative

Stephanie Hogenson, Minnesota Children’s Cabinet representative

Heidi Hagel Braid, First Children’s Finance representative

• Summary of 2019 legislation that impacts family child care
• Status of Child Care in Minnesota, 2019
• Status of Child Care in Minnesota, 2018
• Status of Child Care in Minnesota, 2017
• Legislative Task Force on Access to Affordable Child Care, 2017
• Background on abbreviated inspections and tiered violations
• MACSSA position statement
• Ratio Group Size for Small Family
• Ratio Group Size for Large Family and Centers