Registration is the process used to determine whether the provider chosen by a family meets the requirements to receive payment from the Child Care Assistance Program. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) CCAP Provider Support Team registers all providers. CCAP agencies can only authorize care with and make payments to registered providers.

Registration process

Providers must register when they have never registered previously or when a previous registration has closed and cannot be reinstated.

Any provider that asks to serve children receiving child care assistance, meets registration requirements, and documents their eligibility using the appropriate DCYF registration process may register with the program. Providers may register even if they are not currently caring for children receiving child care assistance.

Use the CCAP Providers Communications Form on SIR to notify DCYF when a provider has expressed interest in registering or if a family has requested a provider who is not actively registered. Refer the provider to the DCYF CCAP Provider Website or the DCYF CCAP Provider Support Team at ccap.providers.dcyf@state.mn.us or 651-431-4848 for any questions about registration.

Registration begin date

A provider’s registration begin date may be retroactive. The DCYF CCAP Provider Support Team will begin a registration the date the provider meets all registration requirements. For example, a provider’s registration can begin:

· The effective date of the provider’s license or certification.

· The date a legal nonlicensed provider meets all health, safety, and training requirements. See Chapter 11.9 (Legal Nonlicensed (LNL) Providers).

· The day after a provider:

· Finishes serving a disqualification. See Chapter 13.9 (Disqualification for Wrongfully Obtaining Child Care Assistance-Providers).

· Corrects or resolves a provider compliance condition. See Chapter 9.3 (Payments to Providers).

If the date a provider meets all registration requirements is more than six months in the past, the DCYF CCAP will set the registration begin date six months prior to the date the registration is approved to accommodate retroactive authorization policies for families in Chapter 9.1 (Child Care Authorization).

NOTE: The DCYF CCAP Provider Support Team may begin a provider’s registration prior to April 28, 2025. CCAP agencies may authorize care according to retroactive authorization policies for families in Chapter 9.1 (Child Care Authorization) if the provider has an approved DCYF registration prior to April 28, 2025, even if the provider did not have an approved registration with the CCAP agency prior to April 28, 2025.

When does a provider need to complete a new registration?

Sometimes a provider may need to complete a new registration to get a new MEC² ID. Some examples appear below.

Changes in provider type

Any time a provider changes their provider type, they are a new program. The provider must complete a new registration and get a new provider ID for the new program.

Examples a provider changing type include when:

· A legal nonlicensed (LNL) provider becomes licensed

· A licensed family child care provider allows their license to close, and they register as an LNL provider

· A certified center becomes licensed

· A licensed program becomes a certified center.

NOTE: A person who has had a child care license denial, revocation, suspension, or disqualification that has not been reversed or set aside cannot be registered and paid as a legal nonlicensed provider.

Licensed provider receives new license number or certified license exempt center receives a new certification number

When a licensed or certified center receives a new license or certification number, they must complete a new registration and get a new MEC² ID. If a licensed family child care provider receives a new license or certification number because of an ownership or tax ID change, they must complete a new registration and get a new MEC² ID.

A licensed family child care provider is not considered a new program when they receive a new license number because:

· their license closed, but the site address and license holder(s) stay the same,

OR

· the provider moves to a new county,

OR

· they are licensed by a Tribe or state that changes program license number on a regular basis but ownership, address, and tax information remain the same.

NOTE: If a CCAP agency becomes aware of information that indicates a registered provider may need to register as a different provider (i.e. they received a new license number or experienced an ownership change), use the CCAP Providers Communications Form on SIR to notify DCYF. Refer the provider to the DCYF CCAP Provider Website or the DCYF CCAP Provider Support Team at ccap.providers.dcyf@state.mn.us or 651-431-4848 for any questions about registration.

Registration renewal

Providers renew their registration every two years. Renewing a provider’s registration is how the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) reauthorizes a child care provider for CCAP payments.

Maintaining registration

CCAP providers must maintain their registration to continue to be eligible for CCAP payments.

To maintain their registration, providers must:

· Report changes to their registration information to DCYF.

· Complete the renewal process every two years with DCYF.

· Follow all program rules and requirements.

State staff are responsible for determining whether providers are maintaining their registration. If your agency has information that the provider may not be following CCAP registration requirements:

· Use the CCAP Providers Communications Form on SIR to notify the DCYF CCAP Provider Support Team

· Follow guidance in Chapter 13.3 (Fraud Referrals) for notifying the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Child Care Audits and Investigations Unit.

Legal authority

Minnesota Statutes 142E.01, subds. 22 & 24
Minnesota Statutes 142E.16, subds. 1-4
Minnesota Rules 3400.0120, subps. 1 – 2a