Programs and services

Finding high-quality, affordable child care is important to children's healthy development and families' self-sufficiency and peace-of-mind. The state helps income-eligible families pay for child care, and helps child care and other early learning programs improve the quality of care they offer.

Do you need help paying for child care?
Looking for child care?
Need help finding child care? Search the Parent Aware website or call 888-291-9811. The search is available in multiple languages and provides:
- Quality program ratings through Parent Aware Star Ratings for child care and early education programs
- Information about help paying for child care and early education
- If you don't find what you are looking for, you can call 888-291-9811, for help from someone from Child Care Aware of Minnesota who knows about child care and early education options and who speaks your language
- Head Start and School Readiness Programs are free or low cost early learning options for income-eligible families who qualify. Search online by county, city or school district to find early learning programs.
To review whether or not child care programs are in compliance with child care licensing requirements, use the DHS Licensing Information Lookup.
Need child care safety information and forms?
Child care providers receive training on numerous safety issues. This includes:
- Safe sleeping position for infants
- Risks of wading and swimming pools
- Effects of abusive head trauma, including shaking a baby.
See our child care safety information page for more details and videos on these topics, as well as related forms that you may need.

This is valuable information for anyone who cares for a child, not just child care providers.