Licensing help for child care providers

Licensing requirements for child care centers help protect the health and safety of children by requiring that providers meet minimum standards for care and physical environment. The requirements are in law and published by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

• Licensed Child Care Centers: Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503
• Human Services Licensing Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245A
• Human Services Background Studies Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C
• Maltreatment of Minors Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E

Licensing requirements for family child care providers help protect the health and safety of children by requiring that providers meet minimum standards for care and physical environment. The requirements are in law and published by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

• Licensed Family Child Care: Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502
• Human Services Licensing Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245A
• Human Services Background Studies Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C
• Maltreatment of Minors Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E

Legislative requirements for certified license-exempt child care centers help protect the health and safety of children by requiring that providers meet minimum standards for care and physical environment. The requirements are in law and published by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

• Certified License-Exempt Child Care Centers: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245H
• Human Services Background Studies Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C
• Maltreatment of Minors Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E

Sign up to receive communications from the Early Childhood Connector, a cross-agency effort to provide updates to child care providers and early educators in Minnesota. By signing up, you can expect to receive a quarterly newsletter highlighting resources, supports and updates on child care and early education from the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet and Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services. Content will be tailored to licensed and nonlicensed child care, Head Start, and prekindergarten programs. In addition to the Early Childhood Connector newsletter, occasional updates will be sent.

The Minnesota Children’s Cabinet and the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services offer quarterly Early Childhood Connector provider calls to child care providers and early educators in Minnesota. The purpose of Connector Calls is to answer clarifying questions related to legislation, licensing, programs, grants and more from providers and improve state communications. Calls are recorded and available on the Early Childhood Connector webpage.

Educators of all types are invited to these calls. We welcome questions from licensed programs, certified centers, exempt programs, legally nonlicensed providers, Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers, and individuals interested in starting a child care business.

Learn more about Early Childhood Connector calls, including upcoming dates, and submit your questions here.

The next call will be on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 7-8 p.m. Central Time. During the call, state staff will answer questions related to legislation, licensing, programs, grants and more. The purpose of the call is to answer clarifying questions that providers may have. Educators of all types, from licensed to Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers, are invited to these calls.

Early Childhood Connector Call details

• Next call date: Tuesday, Oct 15 2024 at 7 p.m. Central Time
• Where: Hosted virtually on WebEx
• Meeting link: https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/j.php?MTID=mdc37b2ac6b93255464b3e2aa47598e11
• Purpose: For the state to answer clarifying questions for child care providers and early educators. The state will not address individual grievances during this time.

Licensed and certified child care programs are responsible for meeting all training requirements for reporting as outlined in Statute: 

• Licensed child care centers: Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.40. 
• Licensed family child care providers: Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.50. 
• Certified license-exempt child care centers: Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.14. 

Below is a link to a Mandated Reporter Training that was created by the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy. Use of these training videos is optional and can be used by child care providers as part of meeting the requirements for training.

The training is a self-paced learning module designed for various professionals who must make a report if suspected or known child maltreatment has occurred. This training features videos, quizzes, and activities that can be completed through self-study.

• Mandated Reporter Training - Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy 

If a child is in immediate danger, contact 911 immediately. If the child is not in immediate danger, call 651-431-6600 to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child in DHS licensed facilities. To make a report of suspected maltreatment in family child care or child foster care, call your local county child protection agency.

More information can be found on the Maltreatment investigations in DHS-licensed programs webpage.