Resources for Child Care and Youth Programs

COVID-19 and our state’s emergency response has highlighted what we already know - child care providers are essential workers and our families and employers depend on their work. This pandemic has changed the landscape of how centers and family child care operate, and the Governor has worked with his Administration and Children’s Cabinet to develop guidelines, programs, and resources to help ensure child care providers have what they need to care for our youngest Minnesotans to the best of their ability. Youth programs are also working to be available this summer and the Administration is working to share specific public health guidance to support these programs in meeting the needs of children and families.

More specific and updated information on mn.gov/childcare.

Guidance for operating during the pandemic

• Information for child care providers during COVID-19. Resources from the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet.
  • COVID-19 guidance for child care settings. Follow this guidance that includes health and safety best practices to operate your child care program during the pandemic.
  • COVID-19 Child Care Exclusion Guidance
  • Masking Recommendations for Child Care and Schools: Coronavirus Disease
  • MDH Cleaning Guidance for Schools and Child Cares 
  • Guidance library for child care providers at staysafe.mn.gov

• Child care provider hotline. The Department of Human Services child care provider hotline can be reached at 1-888-234-1268 if you have questions related to child care. DHS Licensing is working with certified and licensed centers and licensed family child care programs to accommodate the need for increased access to school-age care.

• Support for families seeking care. If you are a family in need of child care including school-age care, call the Child Care Aware parent line at 1-888-291-9811 for assistance. More information for families on special State of Minnesota child care website .The family webpage includes resources and a map of open providers.
  
  
• Families in need of financial assistance may still apply for and eligible families may receive Child Care Assistance and Early Learning Scholarships. The Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota’s Bridge to Benefits screening tool can be used to help you determine potential eligibility and information needed to apply for these and other public programs that support economic stability. Families may also call 1-888-291-9811 for assistance with financial resources to afford care.

• Supplies and resources: The Governor through his Children’s Cabinet is working to compile information and build public-private partnerships to support child care providers securing the food and cleaning product and supplies they need. More info at: mn.gov/childcare
  
  

Financial assistance for child care providers

• The Children’s Cabinet created documents to help child care providers navigate needed business supports:
  • Child Care Financial Support Matrix
  • Family Child Care Provider Financial Supports Outline
    
    
• Governor Walz signed into law a COVID-19 Response Package, which includes $30 million in financial support to organizations licensed to provide child care to children of emergency responders that is administered by Child Care Aware of Minnesota. Applications for the Peacetime Emergency Childcare Grants for licensed providers serving essential workers are now being accepted. Selected applicants will receive an award on a month-to-month basis starting at $4,500, with additional $1,000 available for programs providing non-standard hours care, care for children whose first language is not English, and/or who have special needs. Providers that are licensed to serve 15 or more children will be eligible for an additional amount of up to $15,500 per month. Check out an FAQ for the Peacetime Emergency Childcare Grants.
  
  
• There are private organizations offering grants to child care providers during the peacetime emergency. The Minnesota Initiative Foundations is offering grants to child care programs in Greater Minnesota and Think Small is offering grants to eligible licensed family child care programs in the seven-county metropolitan area.
  
  
• Economic and Employment Programs: The status of these federal programs are changing – and may be closed – based on availability of federal dollars appropriated by Congress. Please check here for current status.
  • Child care providers may also be eligible for business loans, including the Federal Small Business Administration COVID 19 Disaster Loans. 
  • The federal Coronavirus Aid, Response and Economic Security Act has provisions that expand the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (allows a $10k grant upfront regardless if you take a loan – apply at SBA.gov/disaster) and the new Paycheck Protection Program (with certain conditions can be forgiven; apply directly through participating lenders), for which providers may be eligible. 
  • SBA Resource Partners are available to help with no-cost, one-on-one business counseling regarding COVID-19.