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All studies will be conducted using the study subject’s fingerprints. All new studies will require the department to review the following databases:
All current and new child care providers will need to have a new background study meeting the above requirements. There is no “grandfathering” of current individuals even if the previous study was conducted by DHS and used fingerprints.
The background study requirements affect four provider types:
State and federal law require a new child care background study for all “child care staff persons”. “Child care staff person” is defined as someone who meets at least one of these definitions:
We are working on guidance for implementing these standards.
Maybe. If any individual meets one of the four criteria described in the question above, they will need to have a new comprehensive study. We are working on guidance for implementing these standards.
Yes. While all individuals 13 and older living or working in a child care setting will require a fingerprint-based background study, individuals under the age of 18 will not have the FBI portion of the study. Rather, their fingerprints will be used to match against Minnesota criminal history through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension only.
There will be a few cases when a minor has a Minnesota criminal record where state law directs us to seek records via the FBI. In this situation and only this situation would a minor’s fingerprints be sent to the FBI.
The law does not make children in a child care home employees. State and federal law use the term “child care staff person” to reference who needs a study and this definition includes children 13 and older living in a child care home. However, it does not make them employees.
The state of Minnesota does not, will not, and cannot retain fingerprints for any DHS study subject. The FBI uses non-criminal justice fingerprints – like those from DHS background studies – for comparison with “latent” fingerprints. Latent fingerprints are those associated with an unsolved crime. The FBI may retain fingerprints after the latent comparison.
In 2014, the re-authorized federal CCDBG, which in Minnesota funds the federal share of the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. In addition to making changes that affect how CCAP operates, the federal law increased health, safety, licensing, and background study requirements. In Minnesota, the 2017 Legislature passed a law that implemented many of the CCDBG requirements.
Unfortunately, you will need to have a new study and be fingerprinted again through the Department of Human Services’ statewide fingerprint system. For child care center staff who have been recently studied through NETStudy 2.0, you will need to have a new study because of the new databases that need to be reviewed as a part of this study. You will be contacted well in advance with instructions for when the new studies will be required and how to initiate them. Implementation of the new comprehensive studies has not yet begun anywhere in the state.
A draft implementation timeline will be posted here soon. We will welcome your feedback on the draft plan. Implementation of the new comprehensive studies has not yet begun anywhere in the state.
Federal and state law require a new comprehensive child care study at least once every five years. Guidelines for how this will be operationalized and enforced are being drafted.
Federal and state law require a check of child abuse and neglect registries in any state where you have lived in the last five years.
Check back here for additional details. Implementation of the new comprehensive studies has not yet begun anywhere in the state.
Check back here for additional details. Implementation of the new comprehensive studies has not yet begun anywhere in the state.
No. You will need to be fingerprinted through the Department of Human Services’ statewide fingerprint system.
There will be two fees for a new comprehensive child care background study. The first is the background study fee which will be $40 per study. The second is a separate fingerprinting fee paid to the fingerprinting collection site. State law allows the child care program or the study subject to pay for the study.
Yes. You will not need to have study conducted on your household every one or two years. Instead, you will need to have a new comprehensive study with fingerprints every five years.
County social service agencies will continue to be involved in the background study process for family child care and legal nonlicensed programs. We will work closely with counties to coordinate roles and responsibilities.
We are working on draft implementation schedules for all child care provider types and will share them with you soon for your input and feedback. Implementation of the new comprehensive studies has not yet begun anywhere in the state.
Yes. The CCDBG makes the following crimes and conducts permanent disqualifications for all child care providers.
We are glad that you are interested in learning more! We want to hear from you. Send an email to DHS.CCDFReform@state.mn.us with your questions, comments, or recommendations. We will be updating this FAQ page as we get your questions – so check here again soon.
We are working to set up meetings across the state to talk with you about these changes. We will post the schedule here as meetings are set-up. If you would like us to come to your city or want us to meet with your organization or provider group to discuss these background study changes, please send an email to the address above with the following information: Name, contact email, contact phone number, proposed meeting location(s), proposed meeting date(s), proposed audience (provider type, advocates, county social services staff, etc.). While we may not be able to participate in every meeting request, we will respond and work with you to get you the information that you need.
