License: Family Child Care and Group Family Child Care License (DHS Rule 2)

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MN

Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) <div style="" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <p class="bodyContent" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22.2857px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">In <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Minnesota, licensed child care is provided through either child care centers or family child care. </span></p> <p class="bodyContent" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22.2857px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><strong>Family Child Care</strong> is generally provided in the caregiverâ??s home with no more than 14 children cared for at any one time. An individual who intends to care for children from more than one unrelated family must obtain a license. <br /> <br /> A <strong>Child Care Center</strong> generally, is characterized by a location other than the providerâ??s or caregiverâ??s home, larger numbers of children being cared for, and staff qualifications and training requirements.</p> <p class="bodyContent" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22.2857px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">In some cases, a child care center may be excluded from licensure. <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/licensing/child-care-and-early-education/certified-license-exempt/" target="_top" style="color: rgb(0, 56, 101); display: inline;"><u style="display: inline;">License-exempt child care</u></a> is specific to certain groups of child care programs based on the setting, population of children served, services provided, number of children served, and/or the length of service. More information about exemptions for licensure can be found in <span style="color: rgb(0, 56, 101); display: inline;"><u><a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/245A.03">Minn. Stat. § 245A.03</a>,</u> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">subd. 2. In Minnesota, license-exempt child care centers may be required to meet certain standards if they participate in Minnesotaâ??s Child Care Assistance Program.</span></span></p> <p class="bodyContent" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22.2857px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Each licensed family child care provider and licensed child care center must apply for a license from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). A license to provide child care will be approved once the facility/program meets required standards. In addition, all staff must pass a <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/background-studies/" target="_top" style="color: rgb(0, 56, 101); display: inline;">background study</a></p> <p class="bodyContent" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22.2857px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Once a child care program is licensed and providing care, licensors will visit the program at least once every two years to ensure providers are meeting the licensing requirements. Licensors also visit to investigate complaints.</p> <p style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The Legislature has made a number of </span><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/licensing/legislative-changes/" target="_top" style="color: rgb(0, 56, 101); display: inline;"><u style="display: inline;">statutory changes for programs licensed by DHS</u></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">. These are only summaries of the changes enacted and may not reflect all changes to laws that impact licensed programs. For full requirements, please refer to the applicable law in </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: inline;">Minnesota statute</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">. Legislation includes <a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/background-studies/what-is-new/" style="color: rgb(40, 80, 159);">changes to </a></span><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/background-studies/what-is-new/" style="color: rgb(40, 80, 159);"><u style="display: inline;">background study requirements</u></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> for all child care providers to comply with the reauthorized federal Child Care Development Block Grant.</span></p> <p style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Additional information is in </span><a href="https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/background-studies/faqs/child-care-provider-faq/" target="_top" style="color: rgb(0, 56, 101); display: inline;"><u style="display: inline;">frequently asked questions about child care background studies</u></a></p> <p style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong style="font-size: 10pt;">Provider questions</strong></p> <p style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=DHS-285366" target="_top">Submit questions</a> to the Licensing Division for review. These provider questions allow the Licensing Division to determine where more clarification on licensing requirements can be provided.</p> <p style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Review </span><a href="https://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_017388"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Family and group family child care </span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">General child care licensing information</span></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="https://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=DHS-288390">Frequently asked questions - FCC</a></span></p> </div> None