Resources for Caregivers

 

 

The Child Care Profession

 

 

Will Caregiving Work For You?

 

Things you want to consider are:

  • Do you enjoy working with children?

  • Does it fit your family situation?

  • What are your income needs?

If you decide to become a child care provider, you have some choices about the type of child care setting in which you may work.

 

Types of Child Care

 

Family and Group Family Child Care

 

Family Child Care providers may choose, or be required by law, to become licensed.  The process includes a background check, a safety inspection of your home, and some training.  A family child care provider must be 18 years of age or older, physically able to care for children, with a physical exam within 12 months of obtaining their initial license.

Visit http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/9502/   for the Minnesota State Family Child Care Rule 90502

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT

 FAMILY CHILD CARE LICENSING

 

 

Unlicensed (Informal) Care

  • Many child care arrangements are informal. You may be caring for the children of a friend, relative or neighbor. You may be providing care for free or you may receiving payment.

  • In Minnesota you may care for the children of one unrelated family and the children of related family members without needing a child care license.

  • Training grants and other incentives are occasionally available to legal unlicensed child care providers. Call our Child Care Resource and Referral program to learn more about these opportunities

 

Center Based Care

  • You may also choose to work in a child care center. Centers employ different types of child care workers. Depending on your experience and education, you may qualify to be a director, teacher, assistant teacher, aide, or cook.

  • Many centers offer child care for their employees at a reduced rate. Some offer other benefits including health and dental insurance and paid vacations.

  • Visit www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/9503/  for the Minnesota State Child Care Center Rule 90503

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Child Development Associate (CDA)

A Child Development Associate (CDA) is an individual who has successfully completed a CDA assessment and has been awarded the CDA Credential. S/he is able to meet the specific needs of children and works with parents and other adults to nurture children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework.

A CDA would also demonstrate competence in her/his ability to meet the CDA Competency Goals through her/his work in a center-based, home visitor or family child care program. To date, there are more than 150,000 CDAs across the country—in all 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands.

The Credential is awarded for three child care settings: 1) Center-based, for which Candidates receive endorsements to work with infants and toddlers or preschool children; 2) Family Child Care; and 3) Home Visitor.

For more information visit www.cdacouncil.org  or contact your Child Care Resource & Referral office.

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Accreditation

Family Child Care Accreditation

The mission of NAFCC is to support the profession of family child care and to encourage high-quality care for children. NAFCC has promoted high-quality family child care through accreditation, leadership training, technical assistance, public education, and policy initiatives. NAFCC holds an annual national conference and publishes a quarterly newsletter.

For more information visit www.nafcc.org/accreditation/accreditation.asp

Child Care Center Accreditation

For nearly 80 years, the National Association for the Education of Young Children has worked to raise the quality of programs for all children from birth through age eight. A major part of NAEYC's efforts to improve early childhood education is through different systems of accreditation for programs that are committed to meeting national standards of quality:

For more information visit www.naeyc.org/accreditation.

 

 

An Exciting Opportunity For

Big Lake, Becker, and Elk River School Districts

 

Have you ever wondered if your  preschoolers are really

going to be ready to start school next year? 

 

 

Child Care Choices, Inc. is implementing “Steps to School Success,” a new opportunity for child care providers in the Big Lake School District.  This program will provide training and resources to family child care providers and child care centers in preparing children in their care for school success.  The project will cover things such as:

  • Kindergarten expectations

  • Second Step violence prevention curriculum

  • Developmental information

  • Environmental information

For more information contact Child Care Choices, Inc.

320-251-5081  ext. 29 or   800-288-8549 ext. 29  or jbaker@childcarechoices.net

or visit us at www.childcarechoices.net

 

Click here more information about this project

 

Click here for a Steps to School Success Application