CCR&R Provider Services
Are you a child care provider? Are you considering getting started in the child care industry?
We can help you find training that fits your needs and meets your goals, and we can assist you in getting grants for starting or expanding your business. Plus, we offer assistance in filling vacancies in your program through free parent referrals.
We offer...
- Resource materials to support your work with children and families.
- Guidance and help with the licensing process.
- Consultation and support to start and/or strengthen your child care program.
- Advisement regarding how to promote your services.
- Support with accounting, scheduling, and other issues to help you manage your business more effectively.
Local CCR&R Agencies
Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties
Region 3 Coordinator
800-890-5399 or 320-629-5146
Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena Counties
Denise Mauer, Region 5 Coordinator
800-422-7395 or 218-422-7395
dmauer@otwcac.org
Leech Lake Reservation
Dawn Thiele, Leech Lake Coordinator
800-551-0969 or 218-335-8257
dawn.thiele@llojibwe.com
Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties
Julie Kettner, Region 7E Coordinator
800-890-5399 or 320-629-5141
kettnerj@pinetech.edu
Becoming Licensed
In Minnesota, family child care must meet standards for caregiver qualifications, physical environment, number of children per caregiver, behavior guidance, required policies and records, activities, and equipment. Click here for a general overview of these standards. (Also, view a complete description of the Minnesota Rules here.) Contact your local social services agency to request an application and to get information about becoming a licensed provider. At the time of application, the applicant and all specified household members, over the age of 13, must have a background study. A fire inspection may also be required under certain conditions. Many counties offer a licensing orientation meeting, where you can get an overview of the licensing process.
Family Child Care Licensing Contacts
Aitkin County |
218-927-3744 |
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Carlton County |
218-879-4583 |
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Cass County |
218-547-1340 |
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Chisago County |
651-277-0360 |
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Cook County |
218-387-3608 Ext. 118 |
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Crow Wing County |
218-824-1344 |
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Isanti County |
763-689-1711 |
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Itasca County |
218-327-6153 |
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Kanabec County |
320-679-6354 |
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Koochiching County |
218-283-8405 |
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Lake County |
218-834-8426 |
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Mille Lacs County |
320-983-8208 |
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Morrison County |
320-632-0248 |
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Pine County |
320-629-5705 |
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St. Louis County, Duluth |
218-726-2175 |
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St. Louis County, Virginia |
218-742-9528 |
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Todd County |
320-732-4530 |
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Wadena County |
218-631-7605 |
Tribal Licensing Contacts
Fond du Lac Reservation |
218-878-2138 |
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Leech Lake |
800-551-0969 |
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Child Care Center Licensing |
651-296-3971 |
Center Licensing
The Department of Human Services is responsible for licensing child care centers. They can be reached at (651)296-3971. Click here to see the various types of child care licenses and the ratios of children to adults.
Education and Training
Find more information regarding time and location of classes offered by referring to our training catalog or by visiting www.mnstreams.org.
Three ways to register
- Online at www.mnstreams.org (pay by credit card)
- By mail by completing the registration form and mailing it to our office (pay by check)
- By phone, 800-890-5399 or 320-629-5164 (pay by credit card)
Cancellation and Refund Policy
- A credit or credit card refund will be issued for classes cancelled due to low registration (less than 5 participants) or due to weather conditions.
- A credit or credit card refund (minus a $5 processing fee) will be issued for cancellations prior to the early bird registration deadline. Credit can then be used for payment for future classes. No credit or refunds will be issued after the early bird registration deadline.
- Refunds will not be given except in extenuating circumstances.
- Extenuating circumstances will be considered and determined by CCR&R staff.
Weather Cancellations
NE District CCR&R may cancel a class when the weather is threatening. If you are questioning the status of a class due to inclement weather, call the referral line, 800-890-5399 or 320-629-5164 for the latest updates and cancellations.
Grant Training Requirements
All classes listed in the CCR&R Catalog and on www.mnstreams.org, are accepted for Child Care Resource and Referral grant training requirements. For questions regarding training to meet the grants requirement, please contact our grants administrator, 800-890-5399.
"What is a CDA?"
A Child Development Associate (CDA) is an individual who has successfully completed the CDA assessment process and has been awarded the CDA Credential. The CDA requires 120 hours of child care training in 8 subject areas. The classes in our catalogs are identified by which of the 8 subject areas they fulfill. If you are interested in a grant to obtain a CDA, click here for more information. For more information, contact the Council for Professional Recognition at 800-424-4310, or visit www.cdacouncil.org.
"What is the Minnesota Child Care Credential?"
The Minnesota Child Care Credential is a two-year program that offers training in all aspects of caring for and nurturing children. Participating child care professionals will learn and update their skills in a community of caregivers. The Minnesota Child Care Credential is aligned with the National Child Development Associate Credential so those who complete the Minnesota credential will have also completed all the training required for the national CDA. For more information, click here.
Online Classes
Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral has an online learning program for people who care for children, "Eager to Learn." For a complete list of class offerings, click here.
T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps)
TEACH seeks to improve education and compensation for child care providers, while reducing turnover rates. TEACH is a scholarship program that helps child care providers earning a college degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development. The scholarship pays for a large portion of college tuition and books and also provides assistance with transportation and substitution costs. Successful scholarship recipients also qualify for a pay raise or bonus upon completion of their scholarship contract. Centers and providers can use their participation in the TEACH program as a recruitment and advertising tool as well as market the reduced turnover rates and increased quality of their programs. Most critically, children benefit from caregivers who are specialists in early childhood education and understand the complexities of child development.
For more information, click here.
Grants
With the exception of Start-up and Emergency grants, that are on-going while funds last, the grants are open for application in the fall of each year. Applications will be available at www.mnstreams.org from the first day of availability through the deadline date. Please watch your mail, our training catalog and newsletter, and your local newspapers for announcements of application availability. You may also request that an application be sent to you, by calling 1-800-890-5399 or by e-mailing ccr&r@pinetech.edu. Grant funds are limited and awarded on a competitive basis to qualified child care providers.
Start-Up Grants
Funds are available, on an ongoing basis, to assist with the costs associated with start-up of newly licensed or soon to be licensed child care providers/programs. Grants are limited to items and services required in writing by licensing or the Fire Marshal.
Quality Care Grants
These funds are available to licensed or soon to be licensed providers to increase the quality of care for all children in their care. This may include items and equipment to improve the learning environment, health and safety items, and/or professional development opportunities.
Emergency Grants
These grants are available, on an ongoing basis, to assist licensed child care providers/programs and school-age care programs that are experiencing and emergency that jeopardizes their immediate ability to provide care.
Grant Requirements
Providers who receive grant awards are required to provide active licensed child care in Minnesota for a period of two years after receiving your grant award, or repay the grant on a pro-rated basis, and complete a certain amount of training. The training requirement is 12 hours of training for a grant award of up to $500 or 16 hours for a grant award of $500 or more. Approved Training: All CCR&R sponsored or co-sponsored trainings are considered approved training options. The 12 or 16 hours of training that you will be required to complete must be from:
- Child Care Resource & Referral Training Catalog or
- The Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral website or
- from a list of approved training projects or curriculums.
Contact the grants administrator @ 800-890-5399 or ccr&r@pinetech.edu for a complete list of accepted classes. Note: Association trainings must be co-sponsored by CCR&R or one of the approved training projects to count towards the grant requirement.
R.E.E.T.A.I.N Grants
Are you a child care provider in Minnesota who holds an Associate Degree or higher, or have you earned and maintained a CDA credential from the Council for Professional Recognition? Then you could qualify for a REETAIN grant. R.E.E.T.A.I.N (Retaining Early Educators Through Attaining Incentives Now) is a workforce retention program that strives to reduce the turnover rates among child care providers who work with young children. Grant recipients are free to use grant dollars as they choose. Grant dollars are considered additional salary and may be used to pay bills, reinvest in your in your child care setting, or cover personal expenses.
Awards
The grants range from $1000 to $3500 depending upon the level of education attained. REETAIN conducts one winter round (Dec. 1 - Jan. 31, accepting applications from center-based child care providers), and one summer round (June 1 - July 31, accepting applications for family child care providers.) Applications are available at MNStreams.org only during these time periods.
Requirements
REETAIN is a program that offers grants to providers who:
- Are licensed or work for a licensed program
- Work at least 30 hours per week directly with same one or two groups of children
- Have been working in their current position for at least one year
- Have earned a CDA, Associate Degree, Bachelors degree or higher
- Are willing to commit to staying in their position for one year.
If you meet the basic requirements listed above, log on to www.mnstreams.org to apply. You will need a user id and password to login. If you do not know your user id and password, contact Northeast CCR&R at 1-800-890-5399. Although online application is preferred, applicants can print the application from the website and mail them in. To find out more information about the R.E.E.T.A.I.N. grant visit http://www.mnchildcare.org/providers/reetain.php or call the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network office at 888-308-3224 extension 107.
Family, Friend & Neighbor Incentive Grants
As a Family, Friend and Neighbor provider, you are not licensed, but you care for children who are part of your extended family, circle of friends or in your neighborhood, while the parents are at work or school. Even if you do not get paid, you are part of this group, and you play an important part in preparing that child for success in school. Please call the NE District office @ 1-800-890-5399 or e-mail us at ccr&r@pinetech.edu, for supportive services, such as information on child development, first aid/safety classes, free supplies, and small grants. FFN providers limited to relatives and one unrelated family in their care.
Financial Resources
Loans
First Children's Finance provides loans to child care and early education centers. They offer loans for new businesses or expansion, and quality improvements or equipment/furniture/toys for existing homes or centers. Visit First Children’s Finance on-line or call 1-866-562-6801 for more information.
T.E.A.C.H Scholarships
TEACH offers scholarships to child care providers who want a CDA, an Associate's Degree, or a Bachelor's Degree. TEACH covers 85% of the CDA Assessment Fee, and up to 80% of the cost of tuition and books for Associate's and Bachelor's degree students seeking a degree in child development or early childhood education. TEACH also offers money for travel, release time, and a bonus (if applicable to the scholarship). To learn more about TEACH scholarships, visit http://www.mnchildcare.org/providers/teach.php or call the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network office at 888-308-3224 ext.107, 108, or 109.
