FAQs About Child Care Licensing and Becoming a Provider

According to state law, anyone caring for children from more than one unrelated family must be licensed. Providing child care, illegally, is a misdemeanor

Child Care Licensing fees will be implemented on November 1, 2003. Please refer to the "Licensing Fees & Payment Instructions" section for further information.

There may be a fee for fire inspections. It depends on the city in which the child care home is located. The fee varies, but, according to law, it may not exceed $50 per inspection.

Applications for licenses are distributed at required orientation training. (See Orientation Meeting Schedule) Once the county receives a completed application, a background study is completed of the applicant and family members. The background study includes a check with local police, social services and a criminal check with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

When all preliminary information has been received, and the background study is successfully completed, applicants are invited to attend a small group orientation training session. At the orientation training session, child care licensing staff will cover licensing rules and good child care practice. The final step in the licensing process is a home licensing inspection. Once the inspection is completed, and all other requirements are met, licensing staff recommends that the Minnesota Department of Human Services issue a license.

Licensing staff assists providers in many ways, including:

• Scheduled support and resource visits within the first six months of licensure

• Newsletters with important child care information, including training opportunities

• Licensing staff is available to supply state and local licensing and good practice information as well as to answer questions

• Providing health and safety information

• Referral to resources

• Funds for children’s activities (as available)

Licensed family child care providers can expect unscheduled visits from Anoka County as part of their license requirements. Some providers are surprised that licensing visits are not always scheduled ahead of time. The county recognizes that providers may feel inconvenienced and even annoyed. Visiting staff understands these concerns and does not expect activities with children to stop because of the visit. Staff recognizes that caring for children is the provider/s primary responsibility. The purpose of the visit is to monitor the success of licensed family child care.