MINNESOTA CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL NETWORK
10 RIVER PARK PLAZA NO 820, ST PAUL, MN 55107 www.childcareawaremn.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: CHILD CARE AWARE OF MINNESOTA WAS INCORPORATED IN 1992 TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING AND COORDINATION FOR THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA, TO COLLECT DATA REGARDING THE SUPPLY OF AND DEMAND FOR CHILD CARE, AND TO CREATE AND MANAGE STATEWIDE, CHILD CARE-FOCUSED PROJECTS.

TO PROVIDE STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP IN SHAPING COLLABORATIONS THAT COLLECTIVELY BUILD A DIVERSE, HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL MINNESOTA FAMILIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH AND IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES.

PEACETIME EMERGENCY CHILD CARE GRANTSTHE PEACETIME EMERGENCY CHILD CARE GRANTS PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID-19 PEACETIME EMERGENCY, AS PART OF GOV. TIM WALZ AND LT. GOV. PEGGY FLANAGAN'S COVID-19 RESPONSE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PROPOSAL IN MARCH 2020. IT RECOGNIZED THAT THE CHILD CARE SECTOR OPERATES UNDER VERY THIN FINANCIAL MARGINS, AND GRANTS WERE NEEDED TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY OF CHILD CARE FOR CHILDREN OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS. LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE, LICENSED CENTERS, AND NON-PROFIT CERTIFIED CENTERS (BEGINNING IN JUNE) WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE GRANTS. PROVIDERS WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE A LICENSE IN GOOD STANDING, PRIORITIZE SPACES FOR CHILDREN OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, MAINTAIN SERVICE, FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE FOR COVID-19, AND NOT REQUIRE FEES FROM FAMILIES NO LONGER ATTENDING. THE CHILD CARE AWARE OF MINNESOTA COORDINATING OFFICE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE GOVERNOR'S CHILDREN'S CABINET TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. CHILD CARE AWARE PROCESSED THE APPLICATIONS AND ALLOCATED THE FINAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS AND PAYMENTS WITH APPROVAL BY THE OTHER PARTNERS.THERE WERE THREE ROUNDS OF THE PEACETIME EMERGENCY GRANTS WITH FUNDS DISPERSED MONTHLY IN APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE. * A TOTAL OF $39,849,250 WAS DISTRIBUTED IN STATE FUNDS AND FEDERAL CARES ACT CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS. (DURING OCTOBER 2020, CHILD CARE AWARE OF MINNESOTA DISTRIBUTED AN ADDITIONAL $1,357,250 TO A SMALL NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS WHO WERE INADVERTENTLY EXCLUDE FROM THE FIRST ROUND).* WE RECEIVED AND PROCESSED 14,166 APPLICATIONS (FROM 6,184 UNIQUE PROGRAMS), AND AWARDED A TOTAL OF 5,403 GRANTS (TO 3,168 UNIQUE PROGRAMS). * THE RANGE OF GRANTS WAS $4,500 - $21,000. THE AVERAGE GRANT WAS $5,223 FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE, $16,481 FOR CENTERS, AND $21,000 FOR CERTIFIED CENTERS.

CHILD CARE AWARE SYSTEM SERVICESPROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE ACROSS THE CHILD CARE AWARE SYSTEM TO CREATE AN INTEGRATED STATEWIDE STRUCTURE ORGANIZED FOR SERVICE DELIVERY. HELD STATEWIDE AND PROGRAM-SPECIFIC MEETINGS FOR CHILD CARE AWARE SYSTEM STAFF AND ATTENDED DISTRICT PLANNING MEETINGS TO HEAR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AND SHARE INFORMATION. AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EMERGED, WE ORGANIZED WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH DISTRICT COORDINATORS TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION AND TO ADDRESS AND SUPPORT CHANGES TO SYSTEM WORK PLANS. OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR OVER 100 SYSTEM STAFF AT THE BIENNIAL CHILD CARE AWARE INSTITUTE IN NOVEMBER, 2019 FEATURING THIRTEEN WORKSHOPS INCLUDING A FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP, SELF-CARE, AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THE CHILD CARE AWARE ACCESS AMBASSADORS EXECUTED SEVERAL ACTIVITIES WITH THE GOAL OF ADVANCING EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING:GRANTS* UPDATED THE SYSTEM'S GRANT MANUAL TO INCLUDE MORE CLARITY AROUND PURCHASING MULTICULTURAL ITEMS. * HELD A WEBINAR TO TRAIN GRANT ADMINISTRATORS ON THE CHANGES RELATED TO MULTICULTURAL ITEMS. COACHING* CREATED A PARENT AWARE COACH DISCRIMINATION POLICY/PROTECTION POLICY TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION FROM PROVIDERS AGAINST COACHES.ENTIRE SYSTEM* CONTINUED THE CULTURAL WEBINAR SERIES FOR STAFF, INCLUDING A FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITIES: LGBTQ, OJIBWE, HISPANIC/LATINO, DAKOTA. * ADDED SIX NEW ACCESS AMBASSADORS MEMBERS, INCREASING THE GROUP'S GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY. COORDINATE AND DELIVER A SYSTEM OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT RAISES THE LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE IN CHILD CARE AND EARLY LEARNING IN MINNESOTA* OUR STATEWIDE SYSTEM DELIVERED OVER 2,100 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS REFLECTING 564 DISTINCT COURSES TO 17,984 UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS. TOTAL ATTENDANCE AT THESE SESSIONS WAS 52,874. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, FACE-TO-FACE COURSES WERE CANCELED AND SHIFTED TO ONLINE DELIVERY THROUGH THE END OF THE CONTRACT YEAR. * WE CONTRACTED WITH SEVEN CDA LEARNING COMMUNITY COORDINATORS WHO PARTNERED WITH 13 COHORTS ONLINE OR FACE TO FACE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO THEIR PARTICIPATION, STAY CAUGHT UP ON MATERIAL, AND SUCCESSFULLY EARN THEIR CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL.* A TOTAL OF FIVE LEARNING COMMUNITIES SUPPORTED 58 DIRECTORS TO ATTAIN THEIR DIRECTOR'S CREDENTIAL. * CONTINUED OUR SERIES OF TOPICS FOR EARLY LEARNING LEADERS (T.E.L.L.) TALKS. THESE MONTHLY WEBINARS FACILITATE SOLUTIONS-FOCUSED DISCUSSIONS FOR CHILD CARE CENTER DIRECTORS. EACH WEBINAR TOPIC IS SELECTED BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS AND INCLUDES A RELATED EXPERT FROM THE FIELD. THIS YEAR'S TOPICS INCLUDED: SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS FOR DIRECTORS, SERVICES FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) IN MINNESOTA, CENTER LICENSING INFORMATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES.COORDINATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARENT AWARE RATINGS PROGRAM* AS OF SEPT. 30, 2020, THERE WERE 2,845 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS WITH A PARENT AWARE RATING. TWENTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF ALL ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE (SCHOOL BASED, HEAD START, ECSE, AND ACCREDITED AND NON-ACCREDITED CHILD CARE) CURRENTLY HOLD A RATING.* WORKED WITH COACH CHAMPIONS TO ENSURE BROAD SUPPORT OF THE 60 PARENT AWARE QUALITY COACHES AND TO GAIN INSIGHT ON THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS THAT COACHES NEED. THIS INCLUDED:* ENGAGING COACHES IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CURRENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PARENT AWARE QUALITY COACH ENDORSEMENT.* SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE, WHERE THE TOPICS INCLUDED GROUP COACHING, COACHING BETWEEN RATINGS, AND HOW TO SUPPORT QUALITY SPENDING OF PARENT AWARE GRANTS. * HOLDING INFORMAL "OPEN SPACES" IN OCTOBER TO ALLOW COACHES TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ABOUT RECENT EVENTS INVOLVING RACIAL INJUSTICE AND WHAT IMPACTS IT HAS HAD ON OUR OWN JOURNEYS AND OUR WORK WITH OTHERS.* GATHERING INPUT ON POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROGRAM AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE TO THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.* SURVEYED PROGRAMS PARTICIPATING IN THE PARENT AWARE COHORTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND RECEIVED RESPONSES FROM 198 PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING BOTH FAMILY CHILD CARE AND CENTER PROGRAMS. FINDINGS INCLUDE:* 90% RECEIVED THE STAR RATING THEY SET AS THEIR GOAL.* 91% AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED THAT THEY HAD A POSITIVE OVERALL EXPERIENCE IN PARENT AWARE.* PROGRAM PARTICIPATION REMAINED STEADY DESPITE THE PANDEMIC. WHILE WAIVERS FOR DELAYED COMPLETION OF THE JANUARY 2020 PARENT AWARE COHORT WERE OFFERED TO PARTICIPANTS, THERE WAS NOT A SIGNIFICANT DROP OFF IN PARTICIPATION, WITH MOST PROGRAMS CHOOSING TO COMPLETE THE RATING PROCESS. ENROLLMENT WAS ALSO STEADY FOR THE JULY 2020 COHORT.PROVIDE ALL FAMILIES WITH THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHILD CARE CHOICE* PROVIDED MORE THAN 1,000 PARENTS WITH CHILD CARE REFERRALS AND INFORMATION ON QUALITY CARE THROUGH PHONE REFERRALS OR OUR CHAT FEATURE, AND HOSTED OVER 53,000 COMPLETED SEARCHES USING THE ONLINE SEARCH TOOL AT PARENTAWARE.ORG.* RELEASED AN UPDATED PARENT TOOLKIT, "FINDING CHILD CARE: A GUIDE FOR FAMILIES," AVAILABLE ONLINE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, HMONG, AND SOMALI. PRINTED COPIES ARE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. WE ALSO COMPLETING AN OUTREACH BOOKLET AND INTERACTIVE WEBINAR FOR USE WITH INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS.* PROVIDED ENHANCED SUPPORT TO FAMILIES LOOKING FOR CHILD CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC THROUGH OUR CHILD CARE INFORMATION SPECIALIST TEAM. WE PARTNERED WITH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENTS OF HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR'S CHILDREN'S CABINET, TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES KNEW THAT WE WERE A LEADING RESOURCE FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED CHILD CARE.* INCREASED OUR OUTREACH WORK TO HEALTH CARE AND HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS IN AREAS THAT WERE HARDEST HIT BY COVID-19 CASES.

DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORTS HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE REQUIRES STRONG INVESTMENTS IN THE CERTIFICATION, EDUCATION, AND RETENTION OF THE FIELD. OUR SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT PROGRAMS FOCUS ON RETAINING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS AND SUPPORTING THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. .T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD MINNESOTA IS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT HELPS EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL-AGE CARE PROVIDERS INCREASE THEIR LEVELS OF EDUCATION, COMPENSATION, AND COMMITMENT TO THE FIELD BY EARNING COLLEGE CREDITS AND DEGREES.IN 2019-2020:* WE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $ 1,235,080 TO 178 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.* OF THESE, 63 (35%) IDENTIFIED AS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR AMERICAN INDIAN. * T.E.A.C.H. RECIPIENTS COMPLETED MORE THAN 2,731 CREDIT HOURS.REETAIN BONUSES REWARD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO THE FIELD BY CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. REETAIN BONUSES CAN BE USED FOR PROGRAM SUPPLIES, TRAINING, OR PERSONAL EXPENSES. IN 2019-2020:* WE AWARDED GRANTS TOTALING $ 134,000 TO 57 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS. * OF THESE, 7 (12%) IDENTIFIED AS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR AMERICAN INDIAN.(THESE NUMBERS REFLECT ONLY ONE OF OUR TYPICAL TWO ROUNDS OF FUNDING. THE SPRING 2020 CENTER ROUND WAS DELAYED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND IS BEING COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 2020.)CDA AWARDS HELP PROVIDERS PAY FOR THE REQUIRED TRAINING, APPLICATION, AND RENEWAL OF THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL (CDA). APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AT ANY TIME. AWARDS ARE DISTRIBUTED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.IN 2019-2020 WE AWARDED CDA TRAINING, ASSESSMENT OR RENEWAL SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $29,735 TO 47 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS. OF THESE, 15 (32%) IDENTIFIED AS PEOPLE OF COLOR OR AMERICAN INDIAN.

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