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This notice replaces and updates the notice you received by email dated October 15, 2021, titled “Licensed Child Care: Notice of Pandemic Requirements.”
Dear Providers,
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is grateful for the work you continue to do in service of children and their families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. DHS works closely with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Children’s Cabinet, providers, and families to monitor COVID-19 and evaluate whether modification of licensing requirements is appropriate. As a result, DHS is at this time modifying licensing requirements related to COVID-19 as indicated below.
Change to COVID-19 Related Licensing Requirements
No Longer Required
Effective immediately, child care license holders are no longer required to quarantine children and staff who are close contacts with a positive COVID-19 case as part of licensing requirements. While no longer a licensing requirement, DHS does strongly encourage providers to follow MDH and CDC guidance for quarantining, which can be found here.
Continuing Requirements
All licensed child care providers are still required to report COVID-19 cases to MDH, inform families of COVID-19 exposures, and isolate positive COVID-19 cases as follows:
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Report Cases: Report cases of COVID-19 to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Minnesota Rule 4605.7070 requires any person in charge of any institution, school, child care facility, or camp to report cases of COVID-19 to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Use the COVID-19 Case Report Form for K-12 Schools, Childcares, and Youth Programming (Camps, Sports, Extracurricular Activities) to report each child or staff member who receives a positive test result.
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Notification: Notify the parent/guardian of a child who is identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. DHS is not prescribing a format for how providers make this notification.
DHS may issue licensing actions including correction orders, fines, conditional licenses, revocations, and suspensions to providers who do not comply with the MDH guidance and recommendations related to COVID-19 as specified in the three bullets above.
For questions regarding licensing compliance, you can call your licensor directly.
No Change to Requirements for Child Care Stabilization Grant Recipients
COVID-19-related obligations for child care programs that receive child care stabilization grants remain more restrictive due to federal and state law. Specifically, grant recipients agreed to implement COVID-19 policies in line with state, local, and tribal guidance and orders, and, to the greatest extent possible, CDC guidance. DHS will focus its enforcement of the COVID-related policies requirement on the COVID-19 related licensing requirements described above. This notice is not intended to change the Child Stabilization Grant eligibility criteria or the application process. For questions about the Child Care Stabilization Grant Program, including eligibility criteria, the application process, and masking of children, please see the FAQs: Child Care Stabilization Base Grant and FAQs: Child Care Stabilization Financial Hardship Grants or email SupportFunds@childcareawaremn.org.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Under federal and Minnesota OSHA laws, Minnesota employers continue to be responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. For additional information or assistance, businesses can contact MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation at 651-284-5060 or osha.consultation@state.mn.us. Workers who have concerns about safety in the workplace can contact MNOSHA Compliance at osha.compliance@state.mn.us, 651-284-5050 or 877-470-6742.
Authorities:
- Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.04, subdivision 15 (pandemic planning)
- Minnesota Statutes, sections 245A.06 and 245A.07 (licensing sanctions)
- Minnesota Rules, part 4605.7070
- 2021 Minnesota Session Laws – First Special Session, Chapter 7, Article 14, Section 21 (child care stabilization grants)
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