|
The transition from DHS to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is now complete. Please note the following updates:
Physical location:
Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families
444 Lafayette Road North
Saint Paul, MN 55155
New Licensing Phone Number (Effective June 18): DCYF Licensing: 651-539-8300 DHS Licensing remains the same: 651-461-6500
Email Updates: Individual staff emails will stay the same. Shared inboxes have changed—see below:
|
Previous email address
|
Updated email address
|
|
ccregmodernization.DHS@state.mn.us
|
ccregmodernization.DCYF@state.mn.us
|
|
dhs.fcclicensing@state.mn.us
|
DCYF.fcclicensing@state.mn.us
|
|
dhs.fccproviderquestions@state.mn.us
|
DCYF.fccproviderquestions@state.mn.us
|
|
dhs.oig.ccaptips@state.mn.us
|
DCYF.oig.ccaptips@state.mn.us
|
Emails will forward temporarily, but please begin using the new addresses.
DCYF Commissioner: Tikki Brown
Inspector General: Randy Keys
Licensing Director: Mary Kelsey
Statutory changes: licensing
Minnesota Statutes have been updated:
-
Child care licensing statutes have moved from Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245A to chapter 142B.
-
Background Studies remain in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C.
-
Maltreatment of Minors Act remains in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E.
-
Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502 remains unchanged.
Effective June 18, 2025:
- Licensing actions will cite 142B or 142C.
- Actions before June 18 will continue to cite 245A or 245H.
Refer to the Statute Crosswalk for support locating requirements.
ELICI 25.2.1 release with DCYF updates
The latest version of ELICI was released on June 17, 2025, and includes:
- Updates to align with Statute 142B.
- Stair safety clarification: All stairs with four or more steps must have handrails.
Need support?
DCYF Commissioner Access
The new DCYF version of the Commissioner Access letter is attached in the supplemental email to this newsletter.
Check your county documents and website
Our child care websites and forms will continue to be updated from DHS branding to DCYF. As new webpages are eventually created for DCYF, there will be redirects in place from the old URLs. Also, always watch for the most current forms as they are developed.
In addition to our website, be reminded that county websites often reference DHS (instead of DCYF) and the old statute chapters. Check your county websites for links and references that may require updates at the county level.
The regular 2025 legislative session ended on May 19, 2025. A special session was held in June for the legislature to complete its work. Communication was recently sent to family child care providers and licensed child care centers providing a brief overview of the licensing changes. Full implementation plans outlining all of the legislative changes for family child care and licensed child care centers will be developed and communicated at a later date.
Beginning July 14, study subjects will have four days to complete the consent and disclosure. Once the study subject completes this, they will have 10 days to have their fingerprints and photograph captured.
What changed?
Currently, study subjects have 14 days to complete the consent disclosure and the fingerprinting and photograph requirement. When an entity user submits a background study application on or after July 14, the study subject must complete the consent and disclosure within four days. Once completed, they will have 10 days to have their fingerprints and photograph captured.
Study subjects who initiate their own background study application will continue to complete the consent and disclosure in the applicant portal when filling out their application. Once the entity submits the applicant-initiated application, the study subject will then have 10 days to have their fingerprints and photograph captured.
Refer to the Consent and Disclosure FAQ page for more information.
Future updates
The Background Studies Division will provide a weekly reminder of this change every week through Monday, July 14.
Questions
If you have questions or need additional instruction, please call the NS2 Contact Center at 651-431-6620 or email them at dhs.netstudy2@state.mn.us.
Accurate data entry on the Family Child Care section of the 3324 is essential. This info is printed on the license certificate and tells families whether children are in licensed areas of the home.
- When looking at Example 1, below, by answering “No” to both sections, it appears this licensor is indicating that the LH does not have a first floor, or a second floor. In short-they are living underground. If the LHs house has a first floor or a second floor, but it is not being used for care, the licensor needs to label these sections, Restricted/Conditional.
- Mark Restricted/Conditional for floors not used for care (instead of “No”).
- In Example 2, we can see the importance of having the correct information, the restricted floor is clearly marked on the license.
- See screenshots below for examples:
Example 1 – Incorrect:
 Example 2 – license will indicate restrictions when entered correctly:
The State of Minnesota continues to prepare the Provider and Agency Hub for family child care (FCC) county licensing staff and providers.
FCC licensing in the Provider and Agency Hub — update coming soon
Look for an email coming soon from the Provider and Agency Hub team. We’ll share updates on how and when FCC licensing will launch in the Provider and Agency Hub. County licensing staff do not need to take any action at this time.
We understand you may be fielding questions from providers and wondering yourselves about the transition. We appreciate your patience as we continue our efforts to deliver a quality product.
Child Care Assistance Program in the Provider Hub — available to FCC Providers later this summer
Below is information shared in the Child Care Assistance Program’s June newsletter for child care providers registered with the program.
Starting in August 2025, Minnesota licensed FCC providers may use the Provider Hub to manage Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) information. Registering, renewing, making changes to CCAP information, and viewing CCAP information are the only actions Minnesota licensed FCC providers may take in the Provider Hub starting in August — they will not be able to use the Provider Hub to manage licensing or Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program information. At this time, work to add these features for FCC providers continues.
Why should family child care providers use the Provider Hub for CCAP?
The Provider Hub is the easiest, fastest and more secure way for providers to submit CCAP information to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Using the Provider Hub to register, renew or make changes to CCAP information is optional for FCC providers after August 2025 but highly recommended.
Do family child care providers have to use the Provider Hub for CCAP?
Minnesota FCC providers who do not want to use the Provider Hub to manage their CCAP information may continue to use the CCAP Provider Forms Submission Site. Providers can get more information about how to manage their CCAP registration with DCYF on the Recent changes to CCAP provider registration process page.
Do family child care providers need to create a Provider Hub account?
No. Later this summer, the State of Minnesota will create Provider Hub accounts for all Minnesota licensed FCC providers. In July, we will provide more information on how Minnesota FCC providers can log in to the Provider Hub for the first time.
Where can family child care providers go with questions about CCAP?
Contact the DCYF Child Care Assistance Program Provider Support Team at ccap.providers.dcyf@state.mn.us or 651-431-4848.
Provider Hub resources available now
County licensing staff are encouraged to share available resources with providers:
Visit the Provider Hub webpage — recently updated with links to resources and descriptions of what’s currently available in the online tool
Subscribe to the Provider Hub newsletter
Check out this collection of technology resources — includes a guide to the tech skills that will be needed to use the Provider Hub, a tech skills self-assessment and a list of resources for technology access and help
Questions or feedback about the Provider and Agency Hub? Email ccproviderhub.dhs@state.mn.us.
Regulation modernization engagement sessions wrapped up last week. The timeline to complete the survey to provide input on draft 2 licensing standards has been extended to the end of day on Friday, July 11, 2025. The survey is also now available in Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.
The authority to collect licensing fees for Family Child Care licenses is delegated to the counties under Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.12. In 2023, the legislature appropriated funding to cover licensing fees for family child care providers for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. This period will come to an end on June 30, 2025. Previous communication from DHS stated that from July 1, 2025, licensing fees would be collected through the Provider and Agency Hub. Due to changes in the timeline for the rollout of the Hub, counties who charge licensing fees will need to resume collecting fees for new applicants from July 1, 2025.
Later this year, counties will also need to collect licensing fees for providers to renew their continuous licenses on January 1, 2026. DCYF will provide further guidance to county licensing units on the requirements for notifying providers of fees due and notifying DCYF of any licenses that will expire due to unpaid licensing fees.
The DCYF owned CDA training series called the MNCDA is being offered for free to those who are working on obtaining their CDA training hours for the Preschool or FCC versions of the national credential. Several improvements to the design and delivery of the program have been made based on feedback from participants and others close to the work. We have multiple supports in addition to the courses to enable completion of the process such as individual learning coaches who can work with them on their portfolio questions. Please see the attached documents for more detail. Interested participants can find event registration in Develop: https://www.developtoolmn.org/.
A new DCYF FCC contact list has been created and is shared as an attachment in this newsletter’s supplemental email.
Think of these statewide office hour sessions with DCYF as live triage, hosted by the Family Child Care Licensing team. The purpose of these sessions is to answer questions, listen to comments, and problem-solve together regarding the unique situations that we encounter. These office hours are open-house style, meaning attendees can come and go as needed. DHS will not be preparing content for each session so please come with questions and comments regarding FCC licensing.
July 2025
Tuesday, July 1, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, July 15, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, July 29, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
To register: contact the DCYF triage email.
July 2025
- Roundtable: Special Family Child Care (SFCC)
- July 22, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- July 29, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
August 2025
- Foundations Training (Required for new staff) must be completed within 90 days of hire. The training is also open to experienced licensors and supervisors.
As a reminder there is an upcoming Early Childhood Connector call on July 8, 2025, from 7-8 p.m. Connector Calls are a great opportunity for the early education and care audience to get questions answered and seek clarification directly from state agencies. During the call, state staff will answer questions related to legislation, licensing, programs, grants and more. Child care providers and early educators of all types, from licensed programs to Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers, are invited.
Upcoming Connector Call details
-
Next call date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 7-8 p.m.
-
Where: Hosted virtually on WebEx
The call will be recorded and temporarily available to folks who are not able to attend. Visit the Early Childhood Connector website to learn more about Connector Calls and the Early Childhood Connector Newsletter.
DCYF Office of Inspector General, Licensing Division 651-539-8300
Office of Inspector General, Background Study Division 651-431-6620
|
