COVID-19 Public Health Supports Funding

Congratulations! You are receiving this notice because your child care program has been confirmed as a recipient of COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care. Here’s what to expect next:

Your funding amounts

• $1,200 per month for three months (July – September) for family child care providers
• $8,500 per month for three months (July – September) for licensed child care centers
• $8,500 per month for two months (July – August) for certified centers.

The July checks are being processed, and you can expect to receive them via U.S. Mail as early as today or within the next two weeks. You will receive your next one or two payments at the end of August and the end of September.

As a recipient of these funds, you have indicated awareness of and in agreement to comply with funding requirements throughout the funding period of July through September. You can review those requirements at any time in this Frequently Asked Questions document, updated as of today.
If you close your program anytime between now and the end of September, which would make you ineligible to receive payments, you must report your closure using the closure form.

State of Minnesota checks - what you need to know

• The checks will come from Minnesota Management and Budget / State of Minnesota. Each check is contained in a green and white-colored self-mailer with a State of Minnesota seal. The self-mailers are smaller than a regular sized mailing envelope.
  
  
• Please contact Pete Stahley, DHS Financial Operations at 651-431-3727 or peter.l.stahley@state.mn.us if you haven’t received your first check by mid-August or if you receive your check and find an error such as an incorrect name.
  
  
• If information about your program changes such as address or authorized agent, please contact your licensor to update the information as soon as possible.
  
  
• Providers who receive these funds will be issued a 1099 form and will be required to report the funding amount received in future tax filings as income. If you have questions about your 1099 form, please contact Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) at 651-201-8201.
  
  
• For eligibility or other program-related questions, please contact Child Care Aware at 651-290-9704 or supportfunds@childcareawaremn.org. Please do not contact them with any check-related questions.

Your attestation

Below is the attestation that you signed when you submitted your application. This is for your information only; no additional action is needed from you. 

Attestation for COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care

To be eligible to apply for and receive COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care Providers, my program attests and agrees to the following:

• My program was open as of June 15, 2020 and was serving children except in the case of service disruptions that were necessary on that date due to public health guidance to protect the safety and health of children and child care providers requested by the Minnesota Department of Human Services or Minnesota Department of Health or for planned temporary closures for a provider vacation and holidays up to two weeks over the duration of the funding months - but not sequentially. The funding period for eligible licensed child care centers and family child care is between July 15 – September 30, 2020. The funding period for certified centers is between July 15 – August 31, 2020.
• My program intends to remain open and serving children through the subsequent months -- July, August, and September 2020. There is an exception during this period for service disruptions that are necessary due to public health guidance to protect the safety and health of children and child care providers requested by the Minnesota Department of Human Services or Minnesota Department of Health and for planned temporary closures for a provider vacation and holidays up to two weeks over the duration of the funding months - but not. The funding period for eligible licensed child care centers and family child care is between July 15 – September 30, 2020. The funding period for certified centers is between July 15 – August 31, 2020.

My program will use these funds:

• To provide incentives or overtime to working staff and/or
• For increased costs or lost revenue resulting from employment of business interruptions due to COVID-19 related business closures and/or
• For the use of health and safety practices that prevent the spread of COVID-19 in a child care environment based on guidance created by the commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the commissioner of Health. The guidance is posted on mn.gov/childcare/.

This funding can only be used for additional reimbursements of business interruptions and not for items that have already been supported by other state and/or federal funding.

My program will not use these funds to pay taxes.

Additional Requirements of Receiving Funds
I understand that by accepting these funds, my program:

• Must prioritize use of these funds during the monthly award period and must use funds to cover costs incurred after March 1, 2020 and before December 30, 2020.
• Must report program information via the child care program survey at mn.gov/childcare/.
• May charge fees to families attending the program. These fees must comply with the Governor’s Emergency Executive Order 20-10 prohibiting price gouging.
• May require fees from families to reserve space in the program.
• Must not require Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) copayments from families whose children attended prior to the declared peacetime emergency but are no longer attending.

Duration of Funding and Attestation
I understand that if my program is determined to be eligible, it will receive these funds in three monthly installments in July, August, and September 2020 and that this attestation is for the period of June 15, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

Data Sharing
I understand that by signing this agreement, I am allowing Minnesota Department of Human Services to share information with contracted agencies and other state agency partners for the following purposes:

• Administer the funding application process.
• Analyze data on use of funds.
• Analyze the effectiveness of the process of administering the COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care Providers Program.

I understand that if my program knowingly submits false or fraudulent information during the funding application process, including the attestation, my program will no longer be eligible for future funds and may be subject to criminal and civil penalties, including but not limited to repayment of funds previously received.

Thank you for the care you continue to provide for children and families in your community during these challenging times.