We would like to provide a staffing update.
Alison Rahn, DCYF Family Child Care (FCC) Licensing Supervisor, will be moving to the Foster Care Unit on a temporary reassignment for 12 weeks starting September 10, 2025. She will be filling the vacant DCYF Foster Care (FC) Licensing Supervisor position. The family childcare team will be temporarily reallocating work and management responsibilities within our unit while she is away.
Think of these sessions 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. If you have not received an invite to join, please reach out to DCYF FCC Triage.
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Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
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Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
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Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
DCYF FCC Licensing will provide information and updates during this call and be available for questions. If you have not received an invite to join, please reach out to DCYF FCC Triage.
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Thursday, September 18, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
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Thursday, October 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
September
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Monday, September 29, 2025, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Monday, October 20, 2025, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Foundations Training (Required for new staff) must be completed within 90 days of hire. The training is also open to experienced licensors and supervisors. The next scheduled dates are:
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Foundations Training Part 1/8: Monday, Dec.1, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training Part 2/8: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training Part 3/8: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training Part 4/8: Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training Part 5/8: Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training Part 6/8: Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training Part 7/8: Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training Part 8/8: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training ELICI Onboarding: Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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Foundations Training ELICI Onboarding: Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Registration for our upcoming December Foundations Training is via TrainLink.
To register for the class, go to the TrainLink homepage and select “Licensing” under the “Learning Centers” section. Enter the key word “Foundations” and select the December class. To register you need your unique key. If you are not sure what your unique key is, or you are new to licensing, please check with your supervisor.
We will continue to keep you up to date on how to register for other trainings as we transition from contacting triage to using TrainLink.
As always, we are willing to help! Please contact us with any questions.
During the August Licensor Call, the Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) shared an overview of CICC’s coaching services and learning resources. Below are some key highlights from the session:
CICC is funded to provide coaching to early care and education programs throughout MN. Coaching focuses on the areas of inclusion, health & safety and infant and toddler related topics. Coaches partner with providers to determine the focus of coaching and work on building the capacity of early care educators. You can learn more on CICC's website at www.inclusivechildcare.org/coaching
Below are a few key points about CICC:
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Coaching is available to all licensed providers in MN and it's free!
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Anyone can initiate a coaching request, but we have to be invited into a program, so it's best to have the provider contact the intake line or email directly. Those contact details are below.
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Coaching engagements last 3-5 months and use a hybrid model of in-person and virtual coaching sessions.
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Coaches work to build the capacity of the educator through hands-on modeling and reflection and supporting participants in implementing new approaches to their work.
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CICC does not conduct child assessment or provide 1:1 services to children, but we do help make connections to the appropriate resources.
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Relationships are key! Coaches set a solid foundation for ongoing support with each educator to set them up for continued success.
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We have an "Ask an Expert" feature where you can submit an inquiry and get a personalized response from a trusted professional. You can find that at www.inclusivechildcare.org/ask-expert
DCYF FCC Licensing is requesting your feedback about your experience as a new FCC licensing worker. If you haven’t already participated, please complete this brief survey. Your feedback is valuable and will be used to develop and refine DCYF FCC training.
Please indicate on the 3324 (form), the date the provider would like to begin operating.
However, it may take DCYF up to 2 weeks to process applications.
In instances where the 3324 hasn't been processed prior to the date the provider wants to begin operating, the provider may NOT operate until the license has been issued by DCYF. We are asking licensors to ensure they submit the 3324 at least two weeks prior to the date the provider wants to begin operating to give our team time to process it.
We would like to provide some examples for clarity:
Example 1: X County sent in the 3324 on Sept 1 and indicated the provider would like to begin operating on Sept 3. DCYF processed the 3324 and issued the license on Sept 8. The provider can begin operating on Sept 8.
Example 2: Y County sent in a 3324 on Sept 1 and indicated the provider would like to begin operating on Sept 18. DCYF processed the 3324 and issued the license effective Sept 18. The provider can begin operating on Sept 18.
Example 3: Z County sent in a 3324 on Sept 1 and indicated the provider would like to begin operating on Sept 10. The licensor indicated in the notes that the provider would like to open ASAP. DCYF processed the 3324 and issued the license effective Sept 3. The provider can begin operating on Sept 3.
As you work with your applicants and license holders, please set clear expectations on timelines. Every applicant must understand they cannot operate until their license has been issued by DCYF. When a license holder is requesting a change to their licenses, the changes cannot go into effect until the updated license has been issued by DCYF.
Program Plans must be submitted along with a recommendation for a new SFCC license or after an annual licensing visit to an SFCC program.
Please review each Program Plan document carefully prior to submitting them to DCYF FCC Licensing. Use the program plan guidance document to ensure each field has been completed accurately.
If you have any questions, please reach out to DCYF FCC Triage. Incomplete program plans and incorrect program plans slow the processing timeline.
Users must log-in to Develop at least every 30 days or an email will be sent from Develop. It is advised to log-in right then, when reminded. If it gets to 60 days, the account access will be deactivated. If your account is deactivated, please contact lisa.mills@state.mn.us for help with reactivation. If there are general issues with your Develop account (password reset, how to access, etc.), contact the Develop help desk at support@develophelp.zendesk.com.
For information about background studies, please visit Minnesota child care provider background studies.
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The BGS contact center number: 651-431-6620, is available from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Over the past month, the first Provider Hub Newsletter was sent, a dedicated Agency Hub email opened for county and state staff, and the Child Care Assistance Program feature in the Provider Hub became available to Minnesota licensed family child care (FCC) providers.
First Provider Hub Newsletter sent August 15
FCC county licensing staff are welcome to send comments and questions to the Agency Hub team at agencyhub@state.mn.us. This new email is a dedicated inbox for state and county staff who currently use or will use the Agency Hub.
Child Care Assistance Program feature goes live in Provider Hub for Minnesota licensed FCC providers
Minnesota licensed FCC providers who had an active or pending Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) provider registration as of July 28, 2025: These providers now have access to the Provider Hub. This is approximately 1,500 Minnesota licensed FCC providers. These providers have already received or will receive an email from ccap.providers.dcyf@state.mn.us with specific instructions on how to access their Provider Hub account. We’re targeting to send this email to each of these FCC providers by the end of August.
Minnesota licensed FCC providers who want to register with CCAP for the first time, or after a period of not being registered: These providers need to email ccap.providers.dcyf@state.mn.us to request access to their Provider Hub account. Minnesota licensed FCC providers should not create their own Provider Hub account.
What Minnesota licensed FCC providers can now do in the Provider Hub: Once an FCC provider activates their Provider Hub account, they’ll be able to submit CCAP information (including registration, changes, renewal), request access to MEC² PRO (once they have an approved registration in the Provider Hub) and view CCAP notices.
What FCC county licensing staff need to do: In most cases, FCC county licensing staff do not need to take any action. However, if a provider:
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Has questions about their Provider Hub account, direct them to the Product Success team at 651-431-6075
For more details on the launch of the Provider Hub CCAP feature to Minnesota licensed FCC providers, check out the CCAP August newsletter.
As a reminder there is an upcoming Early Childhood Connector call on October 21, 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
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Next call date: Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 7-8 p.m. Central Time
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Where: Hosted virtually on WebEx
Please save the below meeting information in your own calendar. The state will not send a calendar invite.
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 partner training opportunity (not directly related to FCC)
While this training is not directly related to Licensed Family Child Care, we understand that many of those working with us in FCC Licensing, also have responsibilities in other social service areas in your counties. Therefore, we are helping out our fellow DCYF colleagues in sharing information about a training that may be of interest to some of our county partners.
Join child protection professionals from across Minnesota for Aligned for Impact, a free in-person training designed to strengthen teamwork and collaboration in multidisciplinary child protection teams (MDTs).
Aligned for Impact: Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration in Child Protection
This free training is ideal for professionals actively working with a child protection multidisciplinary team (MDT), a child protection collaboration in Minnesota or in tribal nations, or those that are interested in starting one. Applicable disciplines include child protection workers, law enforcement, prosecution, medical, mental health, advocacy, community-based liaisons/supports, cultural or spiritual leaders, policy partners, and others. Sessions will utilize case studies, panels and facilitated exercises led by Minnesota-based child protection MDT professionals to highlight practical suggestions for building effective MDTs and child protection collaborations.
Locations and dates include:
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October 29 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Staples
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November 3 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Mankato
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November 5 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Bemidji
Want to stay up to date on news and updates from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families? Visit the new website and sign up for the DCYF newsletter.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is now on Facebook and LinkedIn! Follow DCYF on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay in-the-know of important updates. Help grow our reach by sharing with others!
Using the Minnesota Children’s Fiscal Map, the Children’s Cabinet has released a new report analyzing the state’s spending on early childhood programs and services. The new report uses this data to analyze the $3.48 billion in spending across six state agencies during 2020–21.
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Children under age 5 make up 29% of Minnesota’s child population, but only 11% of total state spending for children goes to this age group.
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More than half of early childhood spending goes to Medical Assistance for young children. Without this, only 8% of all child-related state spending supports kids under age 6.
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Early childhood programs depend heavily on federal funding; 60% of the money comes from federal sources, compared to 24% for children overall.
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Most of the funding (60%) goes toward prevention and health promotion, aiming to support children and families early on.
DCYF Office of Inspector General, Licensing Division 651-539-8300
DCYF website: Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Office of Inspector General, Background Study Division 651-431-6620
DCYF FCC Triage (for county use only), DCYF.FCClicensing@state.mn.us
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