Family Child Care Homes

Minnesota Rules, parts 902.0300 to 9502.0445-or Rule 2- govern the licensing of family child care homes. The following information is a general outline for family child care start-up and does not include all the specific licensing requirements of Rule 2. For more information, read Rule 2 online. Contact the appropriate county licensing department for clarification on the interpretation of the rule.

Family or Group Child Care

Family child care is for 10 or fewer children at one time - with no more than six under school age.

Group family child care is for 11 to 14 children at any one time. The total number of children includes all children of any caregiver when the children are present in the residence. Minnesota Rules, parts 9502.0300-9502.0445 govern the licensing of family and group family child care.

Caregiver Qualifications

Basic qualifications of a family child care or group family child care provider must be:

Additional group family child care qualifications. A group family child care provider must also meet one of the following qualifications:

Physical Environment

Residence: Family child care may be provided in the license holder's own residence or another residence where the provider is the primary caregiver.

Indoor space: A minimum of 35 square feet or usable indoor space is required per child. Outdoor play space: An outdoor play space of at least 50 square feet per child, adjacent to the residence for regular use, or a park or playground within 1,500 feet of the residence is required.

Health and Safety: The child care residence must meet additional physical environment, and health and sanitation standards necessary to protect the health and safety of children in care by providing a safe and sanitary child care environment.

Licensed capacity: Providers are licensed for the total number of children under the age of 13 years who are present in the residence at any time, including all children of any caregiver when the children are present in the residence.

Activities and equipment: The provider must have equipment in adequate quantities for the number and ages of children in care and to carry out the activities.

Child Care Training

Initial training: Providers must complete 6-9 hours of training in a combined course for child related first aid and CPR, and 8 hours of training, approved by the county agency, in child development and child care within one year of or one year prior to initial license. County licensors can provide details about other necessary training, including SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and SBS (Shaken Baby Syndrome) requirements.

Ongoing training: Annually providers must complete eight hours of training in one or more of the 14 specified subject areas, including child development, child abuse, parent provider relationships and SBS (Shaken Baby Syndrome). County licensors can provide details.

Adult caregiver and helper training. Each adult caregiver, other than the provider employed on a regular basis, must have 6 hours of training in the specified areas within one year after the date of initial employment, and 6 hours of training each year after.

Behavior guidance: Caregivers give each child guidance that helps the child acquire a positive self-concept, self-control, and teaches acceptable behavior. Corporal punishment is prohibited; a time-limited separation of a child from a group must be appropriate to the age of the child and the circumstances.

Required Policies and Records

Policies: The provider needs to have the following written information available for the parents or the agency:

Records:This information from the parents is required prior to admission of a child:

Fire and Building Codes

Fire inspections are required for all new applicants for group family day care, as well as residences which uses the basement for child care and residences in mixed or multiple dwellings. The residence must comply with any applicable local ordinances. If the agency has reasonable cause to believe a hazardous condition may be present, a fire, building or health inspection may be required. A family or group family child care license holder is not required to spend more than $100 to meet the fire safety rules in excess of those required to meet Group "R" occupancies under the Uniform Building Code (Minn. Stat. 245.14, subd. 3).

Evaluations

DHS or the agency may, based on reasonable cause, require a physical, chemical dependency or abuse evaluation of any caregiver or person living in the residence or present during hours of care.

Background Studies

The applicant, all caregivers, and household members over the age of 13 must have a background study conducted by the agency. Once the application process is completed, the agency forwards a recommendation to DHS to approve or deny the application.

For more information about a family child care license or an application contact your local social service agency or contact the DHS Licensing Division at 651-296-3971 for general information. For TTY communication, contact the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529.