The Child Care Assistance Program has maximum rates for care based on 3 factors:

· The age of the child.

· The type of child care provider.

· The county where care is provided.

For details about standard maximum rates for child care providers, see:

Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program Standard Maximum Rates – No Quality Differential DHS-6441B-ENG (PDF).

Child care providers who meet certain quality standards can be reimbursed at higher rates. See:

Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program 15 Percent Quality Differential Maximum Rates (DHS-6442B-ENG) (PDF).
Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program 20 Percent Quality Differential Maximum Rates (DHS-6824-ENG) (PDF).

Child care assistance can pay for 2 child care registration fees per year for each child.

For the maximum amount that can be paid, see Minnesota Child Care Assistance Program Maximum Child Care Registration Fees (DHS-6433) (PDF).

Child care assistance pays the provider directly, unless the provider is providing the care in the child’s own home.

· To request in-home child care, the participant must complete the Parent Request for In-Home Child Care (DHS-6475) (PDF) and submit the form with the appropriate documentation to the child care assistance worker.

· If approved, the participant receives the payments directly and the participant must pay the provider.

What costs participants are responsible to pay:

· A copay based on the family size and income.

· Activity fees charged by the child care provider.

· The difference if the child care provider’s charges are higher than the maximum rate the child care assistance program will pay.