Important notice for visitors to the Courthouse in Duluth: effective Monday, March 30, the 2nd Street entrance will be closed to the public. Visitors may enter the building through the main entrance off the Civic Center/Priley Drive or via the skywalk from the 3rd Street ramp.  
 
 

Considering opening a child care business?

St. Louis County and most of Minnesota is facing a child care shortage. Currently, there are 10,600 licensed day care programs in the state. Within St. Louis County there are 216 licensed family child care homes. But more are needed.

So if you’re interested in opening a child care business, the timing is good.

We know there are a lot of questions about the process and requirements for opening a child care business. Family Child Care Licensing is an early childhood health and safety prevention program. There are both federal and state laws regarding Child Care Licensing. These were created to provide specific requirements to provide health, education and safety standards for the youngest and most vulnerable in our community.

In Minnesota, per state statute, county governments are responsible for recruiting, orientation and determining if a licensed provider is meeting all the required Federal and State statutes and rules regarding safe and healthy environments for children. Meanwhile, it is the Department of Human Services (DHS) Licensing Division that has the responsibility to license, sanction and deny licensing of child care providers. 

DHS has developed resources to help those interested in starting a child care business review the requirements. See: https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS‐5407‐ENG. The following summary is also a place to start evaluating options and requirements.

Contact

Child Care Licensing

In home programs Non-home setting home child care license Center-based programs

Legal non licensed

Family Child Care

Group family child Care

Specialized Infant and Toddler Family Day Care [non-home setting]

Child Care Center

Relatives and/or a single unrelated family; or less than 30 days.

10 children or less; no more than 6 younger than school age

Up to 14 children at any one time

Up to 10 children

Adult/child ratio minimums are established by the state

Requires registration with the County. A friend, neighbor, or a relative who is 18 years of age or older can be registered.

These providers do not have to be licensed if: a) they only provide care for relatives and/or, b) they provide care to a single unrelated family, or c) they provide care for less than 30 days in any 12 month period. LNL providers are required to complete CPR/First Aid training and a background check and other specialized trainings.

A Licensed Family Child Care Provider is self-employed and licensed by the State. Because they are licensed, they can care for more families that are not related to them. This child care is done in the provider’s home. Licensed providers are required to follow State rules for family child care homes.

See: https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-5407-ENG for more information on State qualifications, training, space and condition requirements, behavior guidance and so forth.
 
A Child Care Center has teachers and assistants and has to meet State rules    for    their programs. They can care for as many children as their State license allows. Preschools and nursery schools are also in this category.
 
See:https://edocs.dhs.stat e.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DH S-5407-ENG for information about licensure, staff qualifications, background studies, training, facility requirements and so forth.

Note: License Exempt Center(s) are programs like a child care center but they are not required to have a child care license but a certification. More information is available about the certification process is available here: https://dcyf.mn.gov/applying-certified-license-exempt-child-care