- Find a Daycare Provider
- Becoming a Daycare Provider
- Forms for Daycare Providers
- Other Helpful Information
Finding a Daycare Provider
When it comes to looking for child care, you want the best for your child. Research shows that high quality child care can have a positive impact on a child's overall development. Finding high quality child care is very important for your child's well-being.
Contact Midwest Child Care Resource and Referral at toll free at 1-866-511-2244 for FREE individual assistance from a child care referral specialist, who will search for child care that meets your specific needs. Midwest Child Care Resource and Referral services our four county area plus more.
Once you have found a provider, please feel free to contact the county that the provider is licensed in to find out information regarding complaints/investigations.
- List of current daycare providers for Benton County
- Daycare Locator
- Choosing a Quality Provider (PDF)
- Keeping Good Child Care (PDF)
- Visiting the Child Care Site (PDF)
- Your Child's Safety (PDF)
- What Providers Can & Can't Do
Other helpful resources in obtaining child care can be found at www.mnchildcare.org or www.childcareaware.org.
Benton County Daycare Licensors:
Jessie Borash: 320-968-5099
jborash@co.benton.mn.us
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 Kim Klein at 320-968-5102.
Upcoming orientation dates (1:30pm to 4:15pm):
- Apr 9, 2013
- June 11, 2013
- Aug 13th, 2013
- Oct 8th, 2013
- Dec 10th, 2013
*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 Benton County Government Building, 531 Dewey St in Foley. The meetings are held in the County Board 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.
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
New! Child Care Assistance Plan
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
Reporting Policy for Licensed Family Child Care
Program
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
Other Helpful Information
Daycare Provider Newsletters
Winter 2010
Fall 2010
Spring 2010
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 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.
http://www.blendcentralmn.org/ - BLEND Beginnings is a nutrition and physical activity program developed for child care through the cooperative efforts of experienced early child care providers, nutritionists and educators.
http://www.hennepin.us/ChildcareManual -
Infectious Disease Control in Child Care Settings Manual
Weather
Safe weather chart - Determine safe temperatures for taking children outside.
CPR Resources
American Red Cross (320) 251-7641
St Cloud Technical College, Door 15 Program
(320) 308-5089
InPulse CPR (763) 262-4776
Tanja Burthwick
218-821-1340
tanholan@yahoo.com
Online Training Information For Providers
Eager-to-Learn
mnstreams.org
CARECourses.com
Business Management
Inexpensive Gifts, Party Favors, Crafts
www.orientaltrading.com
www.carsondellosa.com
www.current.com
www.cptoys.com
Activities, Printables, etc.
www.familyfun.com
www.thefeltsource.com
www.preschoolprintables.com
www.hellokids.com
$7.95 per month curriculum
Free printables forms and coloring pages
Free lesson plans and downloads, activities for circle time, file folder games, lesson plans, etc
www.childcareland.com
www.dltk-teach.com
www.handwritingworksheets.com