Information for Child Care Providers

New: Classes for Providers: Starting a Child Care Center: The Basics

The Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network supports child care providers in three ways:

  1. by sponsoring professional development programs to further the quality of care provided
  2. by administering or acting as a clearinghouse for financial aid programs to help providers pay for professinal development programs; and
  3. by building capacity for more and better child care through facility financing, technical assistance, and recruitment and retention of staff.

Building Child Care Capacity

Minnesota CCR&R helps local CCR&R agencies respond to gaps in the market supply through recruitment and retention activities and the development of community partnerships. Wherever children are cared for, whether they are in their own home, a family child care home, a child care center, a Head Start program, a preschool or schoolage program, or the home of a family member or friend, the quality of the child care is dependent upon the amount of information and resources available.

In order to ensure access to high-quality early childhood settings for all children, Minnesota CCR&R Network is committed to supporting all people who care for children. Each of the 19 local CCR&R agencies have staff who provide information and resources to those who care for children.

They provide:

For more information, click on Resources and Grants for Providers or contact Linda Magel, Provider Support Coordinator, at lindam@mnchildcare.org.

Professional Development

The goal of the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network's Professional Development Program is to assist regional Child Care Resource & Referral agencies in improving the quality of child care in all 87 counties of the state. By offering timely, accessible, quality training and professional development opportunities to child care providers, CCR&Rs play a pivotal role in effecting the quality of care children receive. The MNCCR&R Network's role is to work with the CCR&Rs to provide technical assistance, information, orientation, policy recommendations, as well as develop and coordinate statewide initiatives, and serve as a liaison between the CCR&R system and other statewide early childhood training and professional development programs. The MN CCR&R Network also provides leadership in shaping and supporting a coordinated statewide professional development system.

The Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network and the Minnesota Department of Human Services are pleased to introduce MNStreams.org (Minnesota State Registry for Education and Meaningful Supports). MNStreams is designed to put trainings, educational opportunities, grants, and financial incentives at your fingertips. A training registry with many additional features, the site offers searchable trainer listings, REETAIN and CCR&R grant applications, and conference details—a real community hub! The site will serve family child care providers, child care center staff, Head Start, school-age/out of school-time program staff, parent educators, parents, and all others interested in the health and development of children.

Log on to MNStreams.org and drop in on our community’s new one-stop meeting spot.

The contact for the MN CCR&R Network's Professional Development Program is Mary Wynne, Professional Development Director. She can be reached at 651-290-9704, extension 104 or maryw@mnchildcare.org

Financial Aid

MN CCR&R is the statewide administrator for two national programs:

The Network also has information about scholarships available for a variety of other professional development opportunities. For more information, contact your local CCR&R.

Minnesota CDA Support Project

The Miinesota CDA Support Project offers financial sipport and guidance to child care professionals—including licensed family child cxare providers, child care center staff and Head Start staff—who are working toward their National Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). READ MORE (PDF)

Classes for Providers

Eager-to-Learn is an innovative, community based, e-learning program of the Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network.

Courses are designed to provide quality, accessible, educational opportunities for people who care for children. A leader in the field, Eager-to-Learn is built upon several decades of research supporting the effectiveness and universal reach of the online learning model. Making the most of the new ways technology brings us together. the program never strays from the timeless ideals of the classroom, including community building and communication. Our thriving community of trained professionals offers classes covering a wide range of topics which focus on children from birth to 12.

Starting a Child Care Center: The Basics

Chat Sessions:  Tuesdays from 10:30-11:15 am CST March 4, 11, 18 and 25 2008     

So…you are deeply passionate about serving children and families and want to start a child care center! Your passion will take you far in achieving your goal, however strategic analysis, detailed planning and financial strength will be decisive factors in your success. Join us to study your dream and work toward deciding if opening a child care center is the business strategy for you.

Instructor Karen Foster Jorgensen

For more information, visit the Eager-to-Learn web site.