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Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026
Thank you for your continued partnership and patience as we navigate the challenges caused by some recent federal activity regarding the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). We know this has been a challenging and uncertain time for many child care providers.
Recent news and increased public attention around CCAP have added stress to an already demanding role. We want to begin by acknowledging the essential work you do every day to care for children and support families across Minnesota, and by sharing information about steps the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is taking in the weeks ahead.
Child care program funding
On Jan. 2, we sent our first update on child care program funding after federal officials posted on social media about a child care funding freeze in Minnesota last Tuesday evening. Federal actions are still not currently disrupting payment for child care services in Minnesota:
- The Child Care Assistance Program is continuing to operate as usual. Providers should continue following all CCAP, licensing and certification requirements and practices, including billing, as usual.
- State-funded programs, including the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program and Early Learning Scholarships, are not affected by the availability of federal funding.
In Minnesota, CCAP is funded by a combination of state and federal funds. State funds are sufficient to support CCAP services for several months while DCYF works to respond to federal requests.
DCYF teams continue to analyze the legal, fiscal, and other aspects of the federal action. We do not know the full impact yet, but we will provide updates when available.
On-site compliance checks
DCYF is working with our state and federal partners, and we take program integrity seriously. DCYF remains committed to fact-based reviews that stop fraud, protect children, support families, and minimize disruption to communities that rely on these essential services.
As part of an ongoing commitment to oversight and to instill the necessary public trust in the integrity of Minnesota’s child care providers participating in CCAP, DCYF is adding additional on-site compliance checks in child care programs. These do not replace annual licensor visits.
These checks will be conducted by DCYF Office of Inspector General investigators with assistance from agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The partnership reflects a coordinated working relationship between state agencies to protect taxpayer dollars and prevent fraud. BCA agents will be clearly identified as law enforcement. The presence of BCA agents does not mean there is a criminal investigation.
These compliance checks come as some Minnesota child care centers have reported an increase in concerning visits or contacts from individuals who are not affiliated with the state and who attempt to gain access to child care programs. We understand that the presence of BCA agents may be unsettling; however, due to the recent rise in attempts to gain access to programs, we are grateful for the BCA's assistance in protecting the safety of children and early childhood staff during these visits.
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