Resources for New Child Care Providers
Otter Tail County completes the family child care licensing process under delegation from the MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) State Rules and Statutes governing family child care and group family child care providers. Otter Tail County makes recommendations to the MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families regarding initial and renewal of licenses and any necessary licensing actions.
Information about becoming a licensed child care center is available on MN DCYF’s website.
Licensing Process
Step 1: Inquiry
Individuals interested in becoming a licensed family child care provider can review the following information:
- Guide to becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider
- Family Child Care Orientation Training Series
- DCYF Licensing Information
After reviewing the DHS information, contact the Otter Tail County Family Child Care Licensor to inquire about next steps and provide a physical mailing address for the orientation packet to be mailed out.
Step 2: Orientation
Once the orientation packet is received, email the Licensor to schedule a phone call or virtual meeting to review the licensing process and ask questions.
Step 3: Application
Submit Family Systems Licensing Application to Otter Tail County along with signed Tennessen Warning form.
Step 4: Background Study, Training & Form Completion
Once the application has been processed, the County Licensor will email the background study forms. The applicant would then complete the background studies, required trainings, licensing forms included in the packet and develop their plans and policies.
Step 5: Licensing Visit
Once the background studies have cleared the applicant can schedule a licensing visit with the Licensor for a walk through. The Licensor will verify that all requirements have been met and submit a request for your family child care license to be issued.
Step 6: Begin Providing Care
Congratulations! You have completed the application process and now own your own family child care business.
Get connected to the existing provider resources and financial support to kickstart your successful child care business.
Licensing Resources
Local Coaching & Mentorship
Otter Tail County was awarded funding from West Central Initiative to contract with two Child Care Project Managers. Both Project Managers can help navigate resources, funding, and connections to advance projects supporting existing and new child care providers.
Employers, city partners, and individuals interested in learning how the Project Managers can support your child care projects and ideas can contact:
Tammy Anderson
Focus areas: Child care centers, identifying child care opportunity sites, employer engagement in child care solutions
Katie Ganoe
Focus areas: Family child care, technical assistance and resource connections for existing providers, and provider recruitment
Child Care Wayfinder
Child Care Wayfinder is a one-stop navigation network for starting and growing child care programs in Minnesota. They offer personalized support and resources to help you succeed and get connected to the right resources.
Grants, Loans and Scholarships
Child Care Aware Grants
Whether you are looking to increase your level of education or improve the quality of your program, Child Care Aware has grants and scholarships available to help.
First Children’s Finance Grants & Loans
Access to Technology Grants are available to help licensed child care businesses access technology for business management and technology training. First Children’s Finance can also finance small business loans to child care entrepreneurs.
Training Requirements
Training requirements are critical in promoting a minimum level of health, safety, and supervision in family child care. There are two types of training requirements – initial training requirements and ongoing training requirements.
Office of the Ombuds for Family Child Care Providers
The Office for the Ombuds for Family Child Care Providers:
- Registers complaints
- Educates and consults
- Refers and supports
- Investigates and resolves
- Recommends change
More information about the role of the office is available here; contact information for the office is listed on the linked page.
Rules, Statutes & Policies
- MN Rule 9502
- MN Statute 245A
- MN Statute 245C
- Otter Tail County Family Child Care Capacity Variance Policy