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Develop – Scott Parker, Supervisor and Mailinda Kou, Develop Administrator
Division/Unit: Child Care Services Division, Quality and Family Supports Unit
During the October 16th FCC Licensor Call, our guest speakers shared useful updates about Develop’s new training badge system and upcoming enhancements to make it easier for licensors and providers to identify state-approved training events.
Until recently, Develop did not have a specific way to identify state-approved licensed training events. The only badges in use so far are for Eager to Learn (ETL) and Anytime Learning (ATL) training events.
The first set of trainings to receive badges, released in August 2025, are the AHT/SUID trainings. Because these courses apply to both Family Child Care and Child Care Centers, they display both badges when searched in Develop.
Additional state-approved training badges will be introduced gradually in phases. The Active Supervision trainings may be among the next set to receive badges.
At this time, the Learning Record in Develop does not group trainings by badge, but staff are exploring how to add this functionality in the future.
The speaker provided a live demo of the Develop “Search for Training” page, highlighting how to:
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Filter trainings by Qualification Type
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Use the Badge Icon Key to understand each badge
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Hover over badges to view which training group they represent They also noted that the badge color and logo were intentionally designed to be simple, since a single training event can carry multiple badges.
A demonstration was also provided of the DCYF Develop webpage, featuring new “How-To” videos released in August 2025. These short tutorials walk users through navigating and using Develop more effectively. More videos and guides are planned for future release.
State Fire Marshal, Tony Clafton
During the October 16 Licensor Call, Tony Clafton from the State Fire Marshal’s Office shared important information regarding the use of gates in licensed family child care (FCC) programs.
In FCC programs, gates may be used when required at the top or bottom of stairways to help prevent injuries. However, gates cannot replace active supervision and must not block access or create barriers that could interfere with evacuation or emergency exits. Providers and children must be able to exit the home in the event of an emergency.
If you have specific questions about gate use or safety requirements, please contact DCYF FCC Licensing via email at dcyf.fcclicensing@state.mn.us or by phone at 651-539-8300.
Federal requirements call for every licensed family child care (FCC) provider to have an unannounced, annual visit each year. Annual visits are a key part of ensuring ongoing health and safety in family child care programs and maintaining compliance with federal and state monitoring standards. These visits are ideal when the program is open, operating, and children are present.
If you arrive for a visit and find that a typically operating provider is closed for the day—perhaps due to illness, vacation, or a planned day off—the best approach is to return when children are in care.
In some cases, a provider may have an active license but is not currently operating for an extended period (for example, pending reopening). If the annual visit still needs to be completed to meet federal requirements before the end of the year, it can be conducted without children present in those situations.
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The DCYF FCC team traveled to Waite Park to present at the Shaping the Future Conference, which is organized by the Office of the Ombuds for Family Child Care. We shared information with providers about special family child care, including what the requirements are, and shared examples of currently operating SFCC programs. Our second presentation included information about correction orders and licensing actions, including what they are and what receiving an action means for a family child care program. We were also able to answer questions from attendees.
If you have not already, please submit your county/agency’s third quarter (July 1-September 30, 2025) Serious Injury Report.
Link to Serious Injury Data form
If you have not already, please submit your county/agency’s Quarterly Progress Report (QPR). Most of the information needed to complete this report can be found in your county/agency’s Complaint Log. If you have questions about what is required, please contact Triage for support.
Thank you to those who have already submitted their reports!
Link to Quarterly Progress Report form
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. DCYF 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.
November
- Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
December
- Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, December 16, 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.
November
- Thursday, November 20, 1:00 p.m.-2 p.m.
- Guest speakers:
- Wayfinder Navigator program
December
- Thursday, December 18, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The ELICI tool’s purpose is to ensure consistent compliance monitoring throughout the state. DCYF has planned monthly workshops to support counties with their ongoing compliance with the requirement to use the ELICI tool to do licensing work in Minnesota. We value our partnership with counties and encourage feedback and suggestions to inform these workshop sessions. Here is the link to the ELICI manual: https://mn.gov/dhs/assets/ELICI-user-guide_tcm1053-376631.pdf
November
- Monday, November 17, 2025, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- November’s ELICI workshop topic: Tips and Tricks with ELICI’s Correction Orders and Fix it Tickets.
December
- Monday, December 15, 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- December’s ELICI workshop topic: TBD
Foundations training (required for new licensing staff prior to carrying out licensing work) must be completed within 90 days of hire. The training is also open to experienced licensors and supervisors. We have made a change to the format this round, and ELICI onboarding will be integrated into various sessions rather than be separate sessions. As a reminder, new licensors must attend all sessions to complete the required Foundations training. Please plan accordingly.
The next scheduled dates are:
- Foundations Training Part 1/10: Monday, December 1, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 2/10: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 3/10: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 4/10: Thursday, December 4, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 5/10: Friday, December 5, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 6/10: Monday, December 8, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 7/10: Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 8/10: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 9/10: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Foundations Training Part 10/10: Friday, December 12, 2025, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Register for trainings via TrainLink. If you need help with the process, please contact Triage.
For calls, office hours and ELICI workshops, you should receive an invite with a link to join. If you are not receiving these invites, please contact Triage.
DCYF FCC Licensing continues to gather 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.
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.
- Use this email for CANR related items and for questions about a specific BGS for child care: backgroundcc@state.mn.us
- Use this email for anything else BGS related: netstudy2@state.mn.us
- The BGS contact center number: 651-431-6620, is available from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
County licensing staff can expect to receive an update on the launch of family child care (FCC) licensing in the Provider Hub and Agency Hub via email in November.
Below are reminders on previously shared information:
Provider Hub resources for FCC providers
Provider Hub Information Session: The next information session is Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more about the Provider Hub is welcome to attend. Please register in advance. — This event series is specifically focused on the Provider Hub; the online tool FCC providers will use. Information and training on the Agency Hub, the online tool FCC county licensors will use, is under development and will be shared with you separately.
Provider Hub Newsletter: The latest edition was sent Oct. 15. Providers and others who may be interested can subscribe directly to receive future editions in their inbox.
Provider Hub Information Line: FCC providers can call 612-504-1298 to listen to information about the Provider Hub. The information line offers recorded information; it will not connect callers to staff. Currently, the information is available in English. The Spanish, Somali, and Hmong versions are being updated.
Questions about licensing in the Agency Hub?
FCC county licensing staff are welcome to send comments and questions about licensing in the Agency Hub to agencyhub@state.mn.us. This new email is a dedicated inbox for state and county licensing staff who currently use or will use the Agency Hub.
Providers can connect with the Provider Hub team at providerhub@state.mn.us.
Child Care Assistance Program feature now live in Provider Hub for Minnesota licensed FCC providers
Minnesota licensed family child care providers can now use the Provider Hub to manage their Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) registration information.
Managing CCAP registration — and applying for a child care center license — are the only actions family child care providers can take in the Provider Hub. Family child care providers are not yet able to manage their family child care license or Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program information in the Provider Hub.
Family child care providers should not create their own Provider Hub account. If they want to register with CCAP for the first time, or after a period of not being registered, they should email ccap.providers.dcyf@state.mn.us to request a Provider Hub account.
In most cases, FCC county licensing staff do not need to take any action. However, if a provider:
Has questions about their Provider Hub account, direct them to call the Product Success team at 651-431-6075 or submit a case to get help
Has questions about CCAP registration, direct them to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) CCAP Provider Support team at ccap.providers.dcyf@state.mn.us or 651-431-4848
Needs to update their email address, use the Licensing Recommendation Form (3324) to submit the new email address to the DCYF FCC Licensing team.
Sign up to receive communications from the Early Childhood Connector Newsletter. By signing up, you can expect to receive a newsletter highlighting resources, supports and updates on child care and early education from the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet and Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, and Children, Youth, and Families. Content will be tailored to licensed and nonlicensed child care, Head Start and prekindergarten programs. In addition to the Early Childhood Connector Newsletter, occasional updates will be sent.
On October 21, 2025, DCYF hosted the most recent cross-agency Early Childhood Connector Call. 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 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.
Calls are recorded and temporarily available to those unable to attend. Visit the Early Childhood Connector website to learn more about Connector Calls and the Early Childhood Connector Newsletter.
Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) Podcast/80x3 Podcast: Bridges, Not Barriers – Reimagining support for families
80x3 Podcast: Bridges, Not Barriers – Reimagining Support for Families
In this episode, CICC Executive Director, Priscilla Weigel sits down with Leo Howard III, Program Officer for the 80x3 Initiative at Greater Twin Cities United Way, for a powerful conversation on building trust and partnering with families. Leo shares insights from his work and personal experiences, highlighting how 80x3 is reshaping support systems for early childhood.
Listen Now! (Length: 30:22)
Looking for more information check out these links!
Voices for Change - United Way's Impact
Great Start Scholarship
80x3 Resilient from the Start
Free self-study courses on the CICC Website
Updated early learning standards available
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The updated Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (ECIPs) are now available. These standards outline what children from birth to age 5 typically know and can do as they grow. The new version is easier to use and based on the latest research. Full implementation is planned for fall 2028.
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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!
DCYF Office of Inspector General, Licensing Division 651-539-8300
Office of Inspector General, Background Study Division 651-431-6620
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