CAP Agency supports the Child Care Aware mission: a child care system that effectively serves all children and families. CAP Agency helps both parents and child care providers by providing child care education, information, and resources. The overall impact supports children’s development and growth, leads to the economic stability of families, and sustains the small businesses of child care providers.

Finding the right care for your child is critical. Parent Aware is a top resource for searching providers and find the care you need.

If you have questions or need resources concerning your program, getting licensed, or a current child care situation, contact your local Child Care Aware professionals:

• Providers in Scott and Carver counties contact childcareaware@capagency.org  or 952- 402-9824
• Providers in Dakota County contact www.360communities.org  or 952-985-5300

Parent Aware
Parent Aware is Minnesota’s Quality Rating and Improvement system.  This system supports childcare providers as they build and enhance their programs. Child care providers receive coaching support, quality improvement funding, and professional development/training opportunities to ensure that children have quality early learning experiences. For more information visit www.parentaware.org or contact childcareaware@capagency.org or 952-402-9824.

We are now accepting applications for all licensed child care providers and centers to earn a Parent Aware star rating. Contact childcareaware@capagency.org

Child care providers can distinguish themselves by earning up to four stars. All star-rated programs go above and beyond licensing requirements to support school readiness.

Participating programs have:

• Volunteered for extra, in-depth training
• Devoted themselves to strong, caring relationships with each child
• Adopted the latest approaches to keeping children’s learning on track
• Committed to daily activities and routines that help children learn
• Placed a focus on children’s health and safety

For more information about Parent Aware star ratings, visit parentaware.org or call 952-402-9824.

Business Management 

Child Care Aware staff have the expertise and resources to help you put together all the components that complete the big picture of your program.  We are available to support you and ensure that your program information is correct, answering marketing questions and offering additional resources. For more information contact: childcarewayfinder.org  

Training
The Child Care Aware system supports providers by offering classes and professional development tools that help you meet your training requirements and educational goals. Classes are offered in a variety of formats – evenings, weekends, series classes and conferences:

• Face-to-face visit www.developtoolmn.org or call 651-641-3549
• Online via Eager to Learn or Anytime Learning. For more information visit www.eagertolearn.org

Professional Development

• All child care providers have access to a professional development advisor to assist with your educational goals. For more information visit www.childcareawaremn.org
• The Minnesota Center for Professional Development is a comprehensive system available to all child care providers that will assist in your child care profession. For more information visit www.mncpd.org
• All childcare providers are encouraged to create a learning profile in DEVELOP.  DEVELOP is a tool to track your professional development and training.  Visit:  www.developtoolmn.org

Grants

• T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) is a higher education scholarship program intended to help early childhood and school-age care professionals increase their education, compensation and commitment to the field.
• R.E.E.T.A.I.N. (Retaining Early Educators Through Attaining Incentives Now) reward child care professionals who have earned a degree or National Child Development Associate Credential and have demonstrated a general commitment to continuing education and professional development.
• Child Care Aware Child Care Services Grant Program provides funds for supplies and equipment, training and professional development opportunities. Contact childcareaware@capagency.org
• CDA (Child Development Associate ) Scholarships improve the quality of early childhood programs by helping National Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential students. Contact childcareaware@capagency.org

Additional information is available at www.childcareawaremn.org