Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) invites southwest Minnesota child care providers, economic development professionals, community leaders and champions of child care to attend a listening session to learn about and provide feedback, ideas and concerns regarding the second draft of licensing standards for child care centers and family child care published by the Department of Human Services (DHS) as part of the Child Care Regulation Modernization Projects. You can read the second drafts, including the revision documents and summaries of significant changes on the Child Care Regulation Modernization Projects website under “News and updates”.
One of our priorities is supporting the growth and retention of child care programs in the region because we know access to quality child care is critical to community vitality and economic mobility.
We are seeking the engagement and participation of child care providers and child care champions across the region to ensure the perspectives of southwest Minnesota are represented. All listening sessions will be led by Cheryl Glaeser of Achieve Consulting. DHS staff will be present to help educate attendees on the updates made to the second draft and to answer questions. Most of the time will be allocated to ensuring attendees understand the key points and content in the second draft. There will also be opportunities for attendees to provide feedback and ask questions. DHS and NARA will incorporate feedback from the southwest Minnesota listening sessions to further refine and improve the draft language for the third draft of revised licensing standards. DHS will incorporate feedback from the southwest Minnesota and other listening sessions to further refine and improve the third draft of the licensing standards and present a final proposal at the 2026 legislative session.
Child Care listening sessions hosted by SWIF
- Child care centers: Virtual via Zoom, May 14 from 12:00-2:00 p.m.
- Child care centers: This session, originally scheduled for May 15, has been cancelled due to low registration numbers.
- Family child care: In person at Prairie’s Edge Casino & Resort (Dakota I & II) in Granite Falls, May 21 from 6:00-8:00 pm (meal available at 5:30 p.m.)
- Family child care: Virtual via Zoom, June 2 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
The listening sessions hosted by SWIF are for providers and child care champions who live and/or work in the region SWIF serves, which includes the counties of Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift and Yellow Medicine, as well as the Lower Sioux Indian Community and the Upper Sioux Community.
If you do not live and/or work in this geography, you can provide feedback in other ways:
- Complete the DHS Regulation Modernizations survey by June 30.
- Attend a listening session hosted by DHS. Visit their website and click the tab “Get Involved” to view dates of upcoming virtual sessions.
- Email the Child Care Regulation Modernization Team directly at [email protected].
- Contact your local Representative or Senator. Contact information can be found by visiting the Minnesota State Legislature website.
If you have questions about the listening sessions hosted by Southwest Initiative Foundation, please contact Briana Mumme at [email protected].
If you have questions specific to the draft revised licensing standards for family child care and child care centers, please email the Child Care Regulation Modernization team at [email protected].
