Becoming a licensed day care provider involves several steps and filling out a number of forms. Initially, you must attend a day care orientation meeting within one year prior to your application for a day care license. The purpose of the orientation meeting is to introduce you to the general Minnesota rules and policies which govern licensing.

Please sign up for orientation by calling Pam Foss at 320-968-5158.

Upcoming orientation dates:

April 13, 2010
June 8, 2010
August 10, 2010
October 12, 2010
December 7, 2010

*Please register at least three days in advance so we can plan accordingly. If we do not have two or more families enrolled the meeting will be cancelled.

Orientation is held at the Benton County Human Service Building, 531 Dewey Street, in Foley. Come in the main Human Service door (on 6th Ave) and ask to be directed to the orientation room.

The food programs will have information available and Child Care Resource and Referral will be presenting information. Please do not bring children to this orientation. You will receive all the necessary paperwork at the Orientation meeting! There is a fee that you will need to pay to become a licensed provider in Benton County, the current fee is $110 for the first year and $160 for a two-year license which you are eligible for after successfully completing your first year. This is subject to change!

Day care licensing rules are defined by the Minnesota Department of Human Services for the state of Minnesota. For more information about the rules regarding day care, see the Day Care Rule, Chapter 9502 of Minnesota Statutes, Session Laws and Rules at www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/9502/ or retrieve the entire Human Services Licensing Act by visiting www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us and then searching for chapter 245a. The purpose of these rules are to ensure that minimum levels of care and service are given and the protection, proper care, health, safety and development of the children are assured.

Legally Unlicensed Child Care: A person may provide care to any number of children related and/or provide care to children from one single unrelated family. Minnesota Statute 245A.03 Subd 1 requires licensure if the above exemptions are not met. Call for a licensing application. A person who has a license suspended, revoked or denied is prohibited from providing child care.

MN State Licensing Website

Required Training Video on Shaken Baby Syndrome:
(Choose Language: English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong)

Forms for Daycare Providers

Enrollment Forms
Day Care Rule Summary for Parents - Mandatory
Family Day Care Admissions Arrangements - Mandatory
Child Care Program Reporting Notification - Mandatory
Permission to Administer - Mandatory
Child Immunization Record - Mandatory
Family Daycare Supplemental Form - Optional
Reporting Policy - Mandatory to give to parent

Miscellaneous Forms
Initial Background Study
Fence Guidelines
Swimming Pool Guidelines
Swimming Pool Fact Sheet
Swimming Pool Statutory Requirements
Ornamental Pond Guidelines
Shaken Baby Syndrome Video Acknowledgment
Crib Record
Fire and Storm Drill Log
Requirements for Substitutes and Helpers
Mandatory Training Requirements
Transportation/Field Trip Permission Form - optional
Injury Report
Parent Directive for Infant Sleep Position

Capacity Variance Request Packet
Items 1-5 must be printed, completed and submitted to the agency, otherwise it will be an incomplete request which may be denied. The agency has 30 days to process a variance request.

Variance Guidelines - for your information
1. Request Form - must complete
2. Enrollment Form - must complete
3. Parent Notification Statement - must complete
4. Self Evaluation - must complete
5. Variance Calendars - must complete

Bleach Solution Variance

Other Helpful Information

Daycare Provider Newsletters
Winter 2009
Spring 2009
Fall 2008
Summer 2008
Spring 2008
Winter 2008
Fall 2007

For useful information for current child care providers, visit Midwest Child Care at www.midwestchildcare.com, or visit Child Care Choices at www.childcarechoices.net.

Other websites that may be of some interest to daycare providers:

Information on Special Needs
www.thearc.org
www.familyvillage.wisc.edu
www.arcmidstate.org
www.starsnetwork.org
Assistance Line: 1-800-728-5420

Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association: www.mlfcca.org
www.mnchildcare.org
www.childcareaware.org
www.midwestchildcare.com
www.childcareworks.org
Stearns/Benton Child Care Association, call Cynde Hammeral at
320-252-0018.

General Resources
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care
National SAFE KIDS
mnparentsknow.info
Adults & Childrens Alliance
Consumer Product Safety Commission - check recalls on products including toys and cribs.
http://www.childcare-ppin.com/ - A Cyber Center for Family Home Child Care Advocates.
http://www.zerotothree.org/ - Provides a wealth of information including an interesting section that answers questions on brain development in young children and what providers can do to help with brain development.
http://www.foodsafety.gov/ - An informative website containing information on food safety, diet, and breast feeding.
webtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek3/lilones.htm - Contains activities children can do on the computer and a unique online story book.
http://www.tlcdaycare.com/ - Provides hundreds of links for child care related businesses.
http://www.preschoolprintables.com/ - Provides activities, games, and folder book games for children.
www.mnchildcare.org/pdfs/CCRR_Toolkit.pdf - Choosing Child Care--Parent Toolkit - A helpful resource for parents choosing child care which offers ideas for questions to ask and how to choose a quality child care setting.
http://www.midwestchildcare.com/ - The official site for the Midwest Child Care Resource and Referral. Includes information on starting your business, including grant information.
http://www.childcarechoices.net/ - The local child care resource and referral site for the 4 county area, Wright, Stearns, Sherburne and Benton counties.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/childcare/ - The Role of Professional Child Care Providers in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect.