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January 14, 2026 CERTIFIED MAIL St. James Lutheran Church dba Little Saints Childcare Attn: Stacey Sparkman 1000 7th Avenue Howard Lake, MN 55349 License Number 1093917 FCC ORDER TO PAY A FINE Dear Ms. Stacey Sparkman: Based on the recommendation of Wright County Health and Human Services (Wright County), the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is ordering you to pay a fine of $400. Details of our findings are provided below. Our next steps and your options are also detailed. REASON FOR FINE Failure to Complete Training As a result of a licensing visit on October 6, 2025, Wright County determined that you failed to ensure that a caregiver completed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training prior to caring for children. Statute Violated: Minnesota Statute, section 142B.70 subdivision 4, paragraph (a) and Minnesota Statue, section 142B.70, subdivision 5, paragraph (a). Fine: $200 As a result of a licensing visit on October 6, 2025, Wright County determined that you failed to ensure that a caregiver completed training on abusive head trauma (AHT) prior to caring for children. Statute Violated: Minnesota Statute, section 142B.70 subdivision 6, paragraph (a). Fine: $200 Billing and Payment of the Fine DCYF will send you an invoice for the $400 fine. Payment must be made as directed on the invoice. If you request a contested case hearing, as described below, do not pay the fine at this time. Following the contested case hearing, the Commissioner of DCYF will issue a final order on this matter. Please note, you may not avoid payment of this fine by closing, selling, or otherwise transferring the license to a third party. If this occurs, each controlling individual is personally responsible for payment. If you do not pay the fine on or before the date specified on the invoice and you did not request a contested case hearing, as described below, the Commissioner may issue a second fine, may not issue or reissue a license, or may suspend the license until the license holder pays the fine. YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL You have the right to appeal the fine. Your request must be in writing and clearly state that you are requesting a contested case hearing for this matter. Your request must be made before the deadlines provided below. If you do not meet this deadline, you lose your right to an administrative appeal. The timeline to appeal began when you received this order. If you are mailing your request, it must be sent by certified mail and postmarked within 10 calendar days from when you receive this order. Please send it to: Commissioner, Department of Children, Youth, and Families Office of Inspector General Legal Counsel’s Office Attention: Licensing Legal Unit PO Box 64953 St. Paul, MN 55164-0953 If your request is being personally delivered, it must be received by DCYF within 10 calendar days from when you receive this order. Please bring it to: Commissioner, Department of Children, Youth, and Families Office of Inspector General Legal Counsel’s Office Attention: Licensing Legal Unit 444 Lafayette Road North St. Paul, MN 55155 Upon DCYF’s receipt of your timely appeal, your case would be scheduled for a contested case hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. Following this hearing, the Commissioner of DCYF will issue a final order. Legal representation at the contested case hearing You do not need a lawyer to appeal. However, a lawyer can help you with your appeal. The state or county will not get you a lawyer and will not pay for a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may be able to get free legal advice or help with your appeal. To find out if free help is available, contact: Volunteer Lawyers Network at 612-752-6677; Central Minnesota Legal Services at 612-332-8151; Southern Minnesota Legal Services at 651-222-4731; or go to www.lawhelpmn.org to find a local legal services program that may be able to help you. You can also find information on contested cases from the Office of Administrative Hearings website at https://mn.gov/oah/self-help. Click on Administrative Law Overview, then click on Administrative Law Contested Case Hearing Guide for a list of frequently asked questions. Prohibition against providing legally unlicensed child care On September 7, 2023, DHS issued an Order to Pay a Fine to your family child care program, which disqualified you from providing legally unlicensed child care. You remain prohibited from providing legally unlicensed child care even if you appeal this order. Posting of this licensing action You are required to place this Order to Pay a Fine in a place that is clearly noticeable to the people receiving services and all visitors to the facility for two years, even if you appeal. Legal authority for this licensing action · This action is taken under Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), which describes under which conditions DCYF may impose a fine against a license. · DCYF may impose a $200 fine for each health, safety, or supervision licensing violation under Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), subparagraph (4)(iv). · Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), subparagraph (5), states that license holders may not avoid payment of a fine by closing, selling, or transferring a license. · Minnesota Statutes, 142B.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), subparagraph (5), state that DCYF shall not issue or reissue a license if the applicant, license holder, or controlling individual has an outstanding debt related to a license fee, licensing fine, or settlement agreement for which payment is delinquent. · Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), subparagraph (2), states that that the license holder shall pay the fine assessed on or before the payment date specified, and if the license holder does not do so the commissioner may issue a second fine or suspend the license until the license holder complies. · Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.05, subdivision 4, paragraph (1), states that a child care provider who has received a Fine Order that has not been reversed on appeal may not provide unlicensed child care to non-relatives. Operating a prohibited unlicensed family child care is a misdemeanor under Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.05, subdivision 5. · License holders have a right to appeal licensing actions and request a contested case hearing, under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. · The requirement to post this order in a clearly visible location is required under Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 6. Questions If you have any further questions regarding this matter, you may contact me at 651-431-6565. Sincerely,
Beth Donahue, Supervisor Licensing Division Office of Inspector General cc: Becky Domjahn, Wright County Health and Human Services
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