Information for Child Care Providers - Responding to COVID19
This section applies specifically to licensed child care settings. Please review this website for school public health and related guidance. If you are looking for public health and related guidance for schools, youth programs, camps, sports or other programs, please visit this Community Settings: COVID-19 Minnesota Dept. of Health (state.mn.us) page.
Public Health Guidance for Open Providers (reviewed weekly for most recent updates)
- Guidance for Child Care Programs (CDC Guidance)
- COVID-19 Isolation Guide for Schools, Child Care, and Youth Programming (PDF): For people who are sick or test positive. (3/15/22)
- COVID-19 Quarantine Guide for Schools, Child Care, and Youth Programming (PDF): For people who are in close contact (exposed) to a person with COVID-19. (3/15/22)
- MDH presentation: CDC Isolation and Quarantine Guidance (slides)
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Child care providers may also be eligible for business loans, including the Federal Small Business Administration COVID-19 Disaster Loans.
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SBA Resource Partners are available to help with no-cost, one-on-one business counseling regarding COVID-19.
- Sign up for the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector. The Vaccine Connector will inform you about vaccine opportunities in your area.
- Use the Vaccine Locator Map to find vaccine providers near you.
- Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
- Vaccine Connector users may also be randomly selected to make an appointment at one of the state’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program sites. If you are selected, you will be notified by text, email, or phone call by one of the state vaccination partners running those sites: Vault Health, Primary Bio or SpeciaLysts (Solv).
- Your employer may also reach out with information about vaccination opportunities.
- Visit this page to learn more about COVID-19 Vaccine including recommendations for those who are fully vaccinated.
Family Letter.
The Minnesota Department of Health, in partnership with the Children’s Cabinet, has created communications you can share directly with your families and staff, as well as a poster (see links below) you can post in your setting to inform them of the ways they can support you. This should provide clarifying information on the Delta variant that is impacting our child care providers and their families in multiple ways.
Posters:
8.5x11: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/materials/ccsafety.pdf
11x17: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/materials/ccsafety11x17.pdf
Posters and other Materials and Resources are available.
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Minnesota’s Early Childhood Mental Health System is offering support to licensed child care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Child care sites may participate in up to 5 sessions of Mental Health Consultation with an option of up to 1 year if Parent Aware Enrolled. Mental Health Consultation focuses on building the childcare provider’s capacity to support children’s social-emotional development. This includes a combination of training, supported skill building, active listening, exploration of the child care provider's/teacher's attitudes and beliefs about situations, and problem solving. More details are included in the flyer.
OTHER LINKS
Additional information related to state guidance on operating and prioritizing the health, safety, and security of yourself, your staff, and the children and families in your care for is below.
- Minnesota Department of Human Services:
- COVID-19 Updates
- Memos for Child Care Assistance Program providers are on the Department of Human Services page: Information on COVID-19 for Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Providers
- Minnesota Department of Health: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-schools.html
- Minnesota Unemployment Insurance: https://www.uimn.org/applicants/index.jsp
- Minnesota Department Education:
- Early Learning Scholarships: Visit this webpage for COVID-19 Guidance for Early Learning Scholarships.
- Food and Nutrition Program: Review updated technical assistance and program guidance on the Food and Nutrition COVID-19 Resources webpage.
ABOUT THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE
The information provided here reflects the coordinated efforts of the Governor's Children's Cabinet, the Department of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, Minnesota Management and Budget, and other agencies' expertise. Coordinated efforts are ongoing and information will continue to be updated as circumstances change.