Latest information about COVID-19 from Licensing

This page will be updated with the latest news about the COVID-19 pandemic and information from the Licensing Division for our partners, providers and the people we serve. For information about temporary changes to background studies, visit the DHS Background Studies page.

For updates related to agency-wide DHS programs, visit the DHS homepage. To be notified when changes occur, you can sign up for COVID-19-specific DHS email notifications.

All licensed and certified services

In March 2020, the commissioner suspended or modified specific routine licensing activities and requirements so that essential services could continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, the commissioner extended and amended some of these modifications until June 30. On July 1, the commissioner amended this decision now that Minnesota’s “stay-at-home” orders have been lifted and providers have been required to develop a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.

Waiver details here
The ongoing modifications include the following:
- Continue to allow some routine licensing and certification reviews to be conducted through onsite visits or through the use of video or other modes of communication.
- Allow the DHS Licensing Division, county licensors, and private placing agencies to waive the statutory requirement to conduct unannounced annual licensing visits for licensed child care programs that are not in response to complaint investigations.
- Require licensors to communicate with and provide technical assistance to providers to the greatest extent possible using remote technologies that support social distancing and community mitigation.
- Require that if issued, corrective actions reflect the provider’s operation during the pandemic.
- Licenses for family child care, child and adult foster care, and community residential settings that are set to expire through the COVID-19 peacetime emergency will be automatically extended for three additional months.
- Timelines for training for existing staff and license holders that expire during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency are extended.
These changes are effective July 1 through the end of the COVID-19 peacetime emergency. More information about these waivers can be found here.

Executive Order on Face Coverings

As of July 25, 2020, Executive Order 20-81 requires Minnesotans to wear face coverings in certain settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All Department of Human Services-licensed and certified programs are expected to comply, except for family foster care programs which are exempt. License and certification holders are required to update their COVID-19 Preparedness Plans and practices to implement them, as necessary. The Executive Order encourages licensing agencies to assess for compliance and use existing enforcement tools to bring businesses into compliance.

Required COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Beginning June 29, 2020, DHS-licensed and certified critical businesses are required to have developed and implemented COVID-19 preparedness plans incorporating guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. License holders need to review, monitor, and update their plan as guidance, requirements, and circumstances evolve.

Licensing will monitor that service providers meet the following additional licensing requirements
- develop and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that includes at least the topics included in the optional templates, or, if you have already created such a Plan, you must ensure it addresses all required elements set forth in the Guidance and Optional Template;
- train staff, other caregivers, and volunteers on the plan and ensure they are capable of implementing it;
- post the plan in a prominent place and make it accessible to staff, caregivers, and volunteers who need to review it;
- review and update the plan as guidance evolves and provide updates to staff, caregivers, and volunteers about any changes;
- notify service recipients (and/or their families, legal representative, or case manager, as appropriate) about the plan and offer to give them a copy, and
- make the plan available to the Commissioner upon request.
Residential Programs: COVID-19 Preparedness Plan guidance and template
- Guidance current as of June 18, 2020
- Template (optional) current as of June 18, 2020
Non-residential Programs: COVID-19 Preparedness Plan guidance and template
- Guidance current as of June 18, 2020
- Template (optional) current as of June 18, 2020
Child Care: COVID-19 Preparedness Plan guidance and template
- Guidance current as of June 18, 2020
- Template (optional) current as of June 18, 2020
Certified Behavioral Health Programs: COVID-19 Preparedness Plan guidance and template
- Guidance current as of June 18, 2020
- Template (optional) current as of June 18, 2020

Child Care

HCBS and Adult Day Centers

Behavioral Health and Children's Residential Facilities

Foster Care

DHS-wide information

Under the Governor’s Emergency Executive Order 20-12, the Minnesota Department of Human Services has temporary authority to temporarily suspend or modify requirements so that the agency and its partners can continue to provide essential programs and services to Minnesotans safely and without undue delay during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find a complete list of temporary waivers and program modifications here.