Family child care licensing

Hennepin County is responsible for licensing family child care homes in the county, and supports providers in meeting the health and safety needs of children in their care.

Providers who care for children from more than one family must be licensed.

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Orientation, application and licensing process

Family child care providers support families and help kids learn, play and grow. Learn more about the process to become a licensed provider.

Orientation

The first step to becoming licensed is to complete the required Hennepin County orientation.

Allow 30 minutes to complete the self-paced online orientation. You must complete the online orientation to receive an application packet by email. Note: If you exit the orientation without finishing it, you will have to start over.

Access the online orientation.

Application process

Once you have completed the orientation and sent the required email to the automated location, you will be sent an application packet by email.

Currently, the licensing process will take a minimum of 3 to 6 months. Completed applications are processed in the order they are received.

Application packet

Once you receive the packet, follow the instructions included with the packet to complete and return. Incomplete packets will be returned. A checklist is provided in your packet as reference.

Training for applicants

Prior to obtaining your license, any caregiver must complete specific training approved by Achieve, the Minnesota Center for Professional Development.

Find a complete list of training required by DHS: Training requirements for licensed family child care (PDF)

Find training

Develop – find required trainings and track your completed trainings
Think Small – other classes and training information
CPR Twin Cities – additional source for CPR and first aid training. Call 651-699-3333.

Background study

Background studies are completed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Background Studies Division through NETStudy 2.0. Background studies are required for anyone age 13 and older living or working in the family child care setting. Additional fees apply for each person needing a background study.

Questionnaire

Once your application packet is received and your background studies have cleared, you will receive an email with the applicant and fire inspection questionnaire.

In the DHS orientation modules, you will learn about child care licensing requirements and answer the questions in the questionnaire. You will also be asked to complete questions that will help us determine if you need a fire inspection.

Additional items to complete

These additional items must be completed and received in order to be assigned to a licensing worker.

Three references – Hennepin County will send the reference letter directly to each non-relative reference you provide in the application packet
Fire inspection – Hennepin County will provide you with the appropriate documentation and forms needed for your fire inspection, if a fire inspection is required.
Licensing packet forms – Hennepin County will provide you with the appropriate documentation and forms needed to complete the licensing packet

Virtual and home appointments with licensor

The licensor will meet with you in a virtual meeting and visit you at your proposed child care site/home and will determine any necessary corrections before you're eligible to be licensed. We will check all areas of your home and property for certain safety items.

License recommendation

Once you and your home are in full compliance with child care licensing rules and statutes, the county will recommend that the Minnesota Department of Human Services issue your license.

Barriers to licensure can include:

Background checks – everyone in your household or working in the day care must receive clearance. The Minnesota Department of Human Services processes disqualifications, which will take more time.
Fences – locations near heavy traffic, railroads, or water hazards such as ponds, marshes, or lakes may require a fence that meets city code and licensing requirements.
Pools and water features – swimming pools or water features in your yard must be separated from children’s outdoor play space by fencing that meets city code and licensing requirements.
Fire inspections and safety requirements – you may need to make changes to your home after fire or licensing inspections.
Your house – we will check all areas of your house and property for certain safety items.

Public information about you

With the exception of personal information and personal financial data, information classified as public will be shared with others upon request such as your name, address, phone number, licensed capacity, and type of children preferred, as well as any information about complaints filed about your child care, disqualifications or negative actions. We are required by law to share public information with interested persons who call to inquire about your business.

Additional resources

Visit Child Care Wayfinder, your one-stop navigation network for starting child care programs in Minnesota
Read the Guide to becoming a licensed family child care provider (PDF)
Watch optional DHS orientation modules for an overview of the licensing process
Find answers to frequently asked questions about family child care licensing

For current providers

Child-specific forms

Forms for business use

Child enrollment form DHS 7934 (PDF)
Program plan DHS (PDF)
Primary provider of care (PDF)
Special family child (PDF)
Certificate of compliance form (PDF)
Drug and alcohol policy (PDF)
Monthly crib safety inspection form (PDF)
Monthly fire and storm drill log (PDF)
Grievance policy DHS 7740 (PDF)
Serious injury reporting form (PDF)
Training requirements for licensed family child care (PDF)
Background study data collection form (PDF)
Requirements for ongoing training and helper training are being revised. Updated versions will be available soon. Please refer to Training Requirements for Family Child Care (PDF) in the interim, or contact your licensor.

Provider forms and related materials

Bleach alternative checklist – November 2016 (PDF)
Complaint investigation procedure (PDF)
Data privacy notice (PDF)
Provider policies (PDF)
Fact sheet – risks of wading pools at child care homes (PDF)
Fact sheet – risks of swimming pools at child care homes (PDF)
Family and group child care age group definitions (PDF)
Family child care allergy form (PDF)
Family child care best practices guide for wading pools/pool questions and answers (PDF)
License capacity breakdown (PDF)
Family child care questionnaire – please ask your licensor for this form
Minnesota Poison Control
Swimming pools risk form (PDF)

Child care neighborhood provider groups

Neighborhood provider group list (PDF)

Child Care Wayfinder

A one-stop navigation network for starting and growing child care programs in Minnesota, with personalized support and resources.

Visit Child Care Wayfinder

Child maltreatment mandated reporting

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has produced three short videos on Child Maltreatment Mandated Reporting to help you learn more about your responsibility as a mandated reporter.

View the videos

Make a child protection report

Child safety announcements

Find active child safety announcements from the Minnesota Department of Human Services: Child care and early education – News, reports, work groups

Recent product recalls

Find product recalls and other safety information, and sign up for email alerts about recalls involving infant/child products: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Food program and liability insurance coverage

While not legally required, many family child care providers carry liability insurance. You can purchase insurance through an insurance agency or as part of the provider’s homeowner’s insurance.

Assure Child Care
80 – 8th Street South, Suite 700
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Food program only

Licensed providers can also get reimbursed for some of the expense of feeding the children in their care. Here's a partial list of insurance and food program providers. Hennepin County provides this list as a courtesy and does not endorse or ensure the quality of these programs. Learn more about providers' role in the food program.

Insurance program only

MN Underwriting Association
PO Box 1760
St Paul, MN 55101
651-222-0484

Program Managers
1001 Cliff Rd E
Burnsville, MN 55337
952-707-8674

Variance request process

Notify your licensor of the request for a variance at least 30-45 days prior to the requested start date.

Complete the Variance request: Family child care form (DHS-7297) and return to your licensor.

If the request is for a change in capacity, you must also include a Family child care enrollment form (DHS-7934).
You will need to write out the additional steps you will take to ensure the health, safety and protection of the children in your care. For example, "I will conduct weekly fire drills to make sure I can get all children out of the house safely" or "I will add an additional caregiver during the variance period."

After receiving your form(s), your licensor will request an updated Physical environment form (PDF) and Floor and escape plan (DHS-2720).

Your licensor will review the variance request, submit a recommendation and consult with the supervisor, and return the variance request with the final decision.

Your licensor will contact you regarding the decision.

More about variances

A variance will not be approved on a capacity or age/ratio issue if you are over your number at the time of the variance request.
Special consideration will be given in granting a variance for capacity or age/ratio when there is a sibling in care.
Hennepin County does not grant capacity or age/ratio variances over 30 calendar days.
All variance decisions made by Hennepin County are final.

For parents

Finding child care

Think Small provides individualized referrals reflecting a family’s preferences: location by schools, openings by age, hours and days of care, program information, and special services. Visit the Think Small family referral website.

Parent Aware provides free tools and resources to help families find quality child care and early education programs. Search Parent Aware’s online database to find child care and early learning programs near you.

The Department of Human Services Licensing Information Lookup is a simple online search tool. Use the licensing information lookup tool.

Financial help for child care

The child care assistance program helps families pay for child care so parents can work, look for a job or attend school. Learn more about child care assistance.

Evaluating child care programs

Submit your feedback

If you have a child currently or previously enrolled in a family child care program in Hennepin County, you can provide feedback to us about your experience with the provider. Your feedback will be kept confidential and helps us improve training and other programs for family child care providers to better serve the community.

Survey of parent satisfaction with licensed family child care provider services

Safety and standards

Complaints about family child care providers

File a family child care complaint or check complaint records

Call Hennepin County family child care licensing at 612-348-3883.

Complaint investigation procedure (PDF)

To report concerns about a licensed or certified child care center, contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services at 651-297-4123.

Other important numbers

Child protection concern: call 612-348-3552
Emergencies: call 911
Unlicensed provider operating illegally: call 612-348-3883

Complaints are confidential

Hennepin County is required to investigate possible violations of child care licensing rules. This is usually done face-to-face with the provider. Once the investigation is complete, one of these findings is made:

Occurred facts in the complaint were found to be true. This could result in a correction order, licensing action, or some other form of correction as deemed appropriate by the licensor, the county attorney, and the program supervisor. A licensing action would only be taken in the most serious cases.
Did not occur complaint found to be false. Usually no further action is taken.
Unable to determine county unable to determine whether the facts alleged were true. Licensing staff might offer suggestions or corrections if warranted.

After the complaint is filed, all complaints are retained in the licensing file

The Minnesota Data Privacy Act prevents the county from releasing certain information about the complaint, such as any identifying information about who made the complaint. The nature of the complaints considered public information once the investigation is complete. State law requires the county to release the basic complaint information, the results of the investigation, and whether or not any corrective action was taken as a result. Parents can contact the provider if they want more information.

Providers have the right to give input into the process

The provider has the right to appeal a correction or licensing action if they believe it is incorrect. Under the licensing rule, the licensor has the right to enter your home at any time the child care program is in operation. The provider may opt not to talk with the licensor, although this may result in a substantiated finding, since most often the provider is the primary source of information.

Rules and laws