The Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) provides free relationship-based professional development (RBPD) including support, modeling and resources to child care programs throughout Minnesota. A coach will partner with your program to provide support focused on the successful inclusion of children with special needs or challenging behaviors, implementing health and safety best practices and/or supporting the unique needs of infants and toddlers in your care. For more information, visit CICC's webpage, email CICC at info@inclusivechildcare.org, or call 651/603-6265 for more information.
The Child Care Assistance Program can pay a higher rate for children with special needs if children require higher levels of care for their age due to a physical, behavioral or medical disability. The disability must be documented, and the provider must explain why the child needs a higher than normal level of care, what their extra costs are and what steps they have taken to meet those needs. To ask for a special needs rate for an individual child, the parent and provider must complete the CCAP Special Needs Rate Variance Request DHS-4194 (PDF), include proof of the child's special needs due to disability and submit the form to the child's case worker.
Guide to Creating Inclusive Child Care Spaces
There are easy steps and resources child care providers and early educators can take to make their spaces more inclusive to children with disabilities. Creating Inclusive Child Care Spaces is a guide to help providers think more inclusively about children with disabilities, and provides easy to access steps and free resources to improve care for children with disabilities. Creating inclusive spaces is especially important for children with disabilities, whose families often struggle to find care who meet their needs. As an educator you can positively impact these families and grow your business by providing quality child care. Learn more by reading the guide.
