FAQs: COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care - Mn.gov

March 29, 2021

FAQs: COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care
Minnesota is providing direct payments to eligible child care providers to cover costs associated with
implementing state and federal public health guidance public health guidance related to COVID-19. These costs
continue to put an additional financial strain on child care providers, who are part of an already struggling
industry critical to our economy reopening.

Minnesota will receive $135 million in child care funding from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief
Supplemental Appropriations Act passed in December 2020, and will dedicate approximately $45 million to
continue the Public Health Support Funds for Child Care for March through May 2021. The monthly payments,
which have been helping eligible child care providers since July 2020, will continue to be administered by the
Minnesota Department of Human Services.

The application process for providers to receive COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care funding for
March through May 2021 is moving to a monthly application process. All eligible providers who were operating
and serving children as of the last day of the month prior to the funding period and are in good standing with
the Minnesota Department of Human Services will be invited to fill out an application and attestation form to
receive the funds. Applicants will be asked to attest that they complied with funding requirements during the
month before. Application periods will open on the last day of each month and remain open for 10 days.
Providers who do not submit a monthly application by the deadline will not be eligible for that month’s funding.
Payments will be distributed to eligible providers on a monthly basis.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the funding.

1. Who will administer these funds?
The Minnesota Department of Human Services will administer the COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for
Child Care with support from the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet.

Child Care Aware of Minnesota is contracted to raise awareness of the funding and help providers navigate the
application and payment process. Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a nonprofit that, for more than 25 years, has
helped families find child care, supported the professional growth of child care providers, and informed local
communities on the importance of quality early education for every child. Child Care Aware of Minnesota works
with agencies across the state that support the quality and professional growth of child care providers and
programs. The Child Care Aware system has experience providing grants to Minnesota child care providers,
including the recent Peacetime Emergency Child Care Grants.

2. What types of child care programs are eligible for COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds
   for Child Care?
Child care program types eligible for funds include:

    •   Family and group family licensed under Minnesota Rules, Chapter 9502

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    •   Child care centers licensed under Minnesota Rules, Chapter 9503
    •   Certified license-exempt child care centers under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245H; see question 11 for
        more information about certified centers
    •   Tribally licensed child care programs.

In addition, the above eligible programs must be licensed or certified and in good standing throughout the
funding period with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (under Minnesota Rules, Chapter 9502 or
9503) or their tribe. This means the program must have not been:

    •   The subject of a finding of fraud
    •   Prohibited from receiving public funds under Minnesota Statutes, Section 245.095
    •   Under revocation or under temporary immediate suspension.

To receive these funds, an eligible program, as described above, must have been operating and serving children
on the first day of the funding period and must attest in writing that the program continued to operate and
serve children during the full month’s funding period (see questions 7 and 8 for exceptions).

Certified center programs that are required to provide care to ”Eligible Children” to meet school district and
charter school requirements under Executive Order 20-94 and School-Age Care Guidance and Frequently Asked
Questions for the 2020-21 School Year must also:

•   Have provided care outside of regular school hours

        -OR-

•   Have provided care to children that are not defined as “Eligible Children” in Executive Order 20-94 and
    School-Age Care Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions for the 2020-21 School Year.

3. How do I apply for the March through May 2021 Public Health Support Funds for Child
   Care?

There will be a monthly application process for the funds for March through May 2021. Eligible providers who
are operating and serving children as of the last day of the month prior to the funding period, remain open and
operating during the monthly funding period, and remain in good standing with Minnesota Department of
Human Services will be eligible to apply. You will be asked to attest in the application that your program
complied with funding requirements during the month before.

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Emails with application information and a link to a personalized application will be sent to eligible providers on
the following schedule:

 Funding period             Email sent to providers          Application opens          Application closes at 4
                            with application link                                       p.m.

 March 1-31, 2021           March 31, 2021                   March 31, 2021             April 9, 2021

 April 1-30, 2021           April 30, 2021                   April 30, 2021             May 10, 2021

 May 1-31, 2021             May 31, 2021                     May 31, 2021               June 9, 2021

4. If a provider is not eligible for one month of funding, can they still apply the following
   month?

If a program is not eligible for one month of funding, that program may be eligible to receive funding the
following month, depending on the circumstances of the ineligibility determination and their current licensing
status. Programs must remain operating and serving children during the funding period, remain in good standing
with Minnesota Department of Human Services and meet other requirements as stated in the application and
attestation. Refer to question 2 regarding eligibility requirements.

5. What is required of eligible child care providers who accept these funds?

Eligible programs must attest in writing to prioritize use of these funds for costs incurred during the monthly
award periods. One of the significant changes for the March through May 2021 Public Health Support Funds for
Child Care is that programs must agree to use all or a portion of these funds to continue to pay for
responsibilities or tasks related to public health guidance implementation, as well as the salaries and wages of
staff. This includes incentives; overtime or additional pay for the licensed provider and/or staff working in the
program, including a self-employed family child care provider; and/or payments for staff who may be furloughed
or on reduced work hours due to reduced operating capacity or reasons related to COVID-19. Additional uses
are also allowed and listed below, but at least a portion of the funds must be used for wages, incentives or
overtime for staff.

    •   Increased costs or lost revenue resulting from employment or business interruptions due to COVID-19-
        related business closures.
    •   Costs associated with accessing a COVID-19 vaccine, including travel costs, and to cover lost wages due
        to taking time off from providing child care to get vaccinated.
    •   Increased costs associated with providing distance learning support.
    •   Implementing health and safety practices that prevent the spread of COVID-19 in a child care
        environment based on guidance created by the commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with
        the commissioner of Health. This guidance is posted on mn.gov/childcare.

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To receive these funds, licensed and certified center programs must also prioritize use of these funds for costs
incurred during the monthly award period and report or update program capacity information at a minimum
every six weeks via the child care program survey at mn.gov/childcare. For more information on this
requirement, please refer to question 17.

Child care providers must agree not to:

    •   Require Child Care Assistance Program copayments from families whose children attended prior to the
        declared peacetime emergency, but are no longer attending
    •   Use funds to pay taxes.

Child care providers may:

    •   Charge fees to families attending the program; these fees must comply with the Governor’s Emergency
        Executive Order 20-10 prohibiting price gouging
    •   Require fees from families to reserve space in the program.

For more detailed examples of how the funds can be used, refer to question 6.

6. What can funds be used for?
All or a portion of these funds must be used to continue to pay for responsibilities or tasks related to public
health guidance implementation, as well as the salaries and wages of staff. This includes incentives; overtime or
additional pay for the licensed provider and/or staff working in the program, including a self-employed family
child care provider; and/or payments for staff twho may be furloughed or on reduced work hours due to
reduced operating capacity or reasons related to COVID-19.

In addition, a portion of the funds may be used for costs associated with implementing public health guidance,
including:

    •   Cleaning supplies
    •   Costs related to public health exclusion guidance
    •   Costs for implementing symptom screening
    •   Costs related to implementing consistent cohort groups of children
    •   Increased costs associated with supporting distance learning including internet service, technology costs
        and increased staffing
    •   Costs associated with accessing a COVID-19 vaccination, including:
            o Lost wages due to time off related to accessing a vaccine
            o Mileage or other travel costs
            o Cost of additional staff or hiring a substitute(s).

During temporary closures due to implementing public health guidance, programs may use funds to:

    •   Cover lost revenue and increased costs incurred during an allowable temporary program closure related
        to public health guidance (refer to questions 7 and 8 for allowable temporary closures)
    •   Pay staff while on a COVID-19 associated leave
    •   Cover additional staffing costs, and other increased costs associated with a temporary closure.

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Funds cannot be used to pay property taxes or other taxes.

7. When do providers have to be open in order to be eligible to receive these funds?

To be eligible to receive these funds, providers must attest that they have been operating and serving children
during the full funding period for which they are applying. There are two exceptions.

    •   Service disruptions that were necessary due to public health guidance to protect the safety and health
        of children and child care providers issued by the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota
        Department of Human Services and/or your local public health agency. For more information on
        allowable temporary closures, refer to question 8.
    •   Planned temporary closures for a provider vacation and holidays for up to five business days (i.e. days
        you typically care for children) over the duration of the funding month.

All eligible programs must maintain their license or certification in good standing with the Minnesota
Department of Human Services throughout the funding period to remain eligible. Refer to question 2 regarding
eligibility requirements.

8. Can providers temporarily close and go on vacation during the funding period and still be
   eligible for these funds?
Providers must remain open for the duration of the funding period to be eligible to receive these funds. The
department recognizes that providers might need to make difficult decisions to decrease capacity, close
temporarily, and/or make other changes to protect the health and safety of themselves, their staff, and the
families served. There is an exception for service disruptions that were necessary due to public health guidance
issued by the Minnesota Department of Human Services or Minnesota Department of Health to protect the
safety and health of children and child care providers, and for temporary closures for a provider vacation and
holidays up to five business days (i.e. days you typically care for children) during the funding period.

Providers would remain eligible to apply for the funds if the program temporarily closes under any of the
following circumstances.

    •   There was a temporary closure due to public health guidance issued by the Minnesota Department of
        Health, Minnesota Department of Human Services and/or the provider’s local public health agency.
    •   The program temporarily closed days due to the license holder and/or primary care provider having a
        positive COVID-19 test result or “close contact” exposure.
    •   The program temporarily ceased operations due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in their program, or
        because staff or families are increasingly unable to attend due to COVID-19 symptoms.

At any time during the funding period (the previous calendar month), programs may temporarily cease
operating for up to two weeks due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in their program, or because staff or
families are increasingly unable to attend due to COVID-19 symptoms. These closures do not have to be planned
and can be used to allow time for providers, staff and families served by the program to access COVID-19
testing, or for deep cleaning of the facility. If at any point during this type of temporary closure, the program
was recommended to temporarily close by the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of

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Human Services and/or its local public health agency, the program would still be eligible to receive funds for the
duration of the closure time recommended by public health guidance.

Considerations for temporary closures
    •   Allowable usage of funds: For information on allowable uses of COVID-19 Public Health support funds,
        see question 5 and 6.
    •   Critical worker families: To the extent possible and within the public health guidance, providers should
        consider the impact of temporary closures on the families of critical workers in their care. Instead of a
        complete program closure, providers should consider adapting operations to only serve these families
        when possible within public health guidance. This type of operating adjustment does not need to be
        reported to the Minnesota Department of Human Service. A list of critical worker definitions can be
        found in Appendix A (page 6) of the School-Age Care Guidance and FAQ for 2020-2021 School Year.
    •   Fees from families: When considering temporary closures, providers should refer to the requirements
        regarding charging fees to families outlined in question 33.
    •   Temporary licensing modifications available: As a reminder, the Minnesota Department of Human
        Services temporarily modified certain requirements for licensed family child care, child care centers and
        certified child care centers. These modifications relate to guidance from the Minnesota Department of
        Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as certain state licensing and
        certification requirements. Contact your licensor for more information.
    •   Staffing costs and considerations: Refer to question 6 for how these funds can be used to support staff
        and staffing costs. As a reminder, the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act required certain
        employers to provide employees with emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave
        for specified reasons related to COVID-19, including for up to 12 weeks in certain circumstances when
        an employee is unable to work because their child's child care or school is closed, or they have to care
        for a child or qualifying family member for reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions were effective
        through Dec. 31, 2020, and starting Jan. 1, 2021, are no longer required of public or private employers.
        However, the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law on March 11, 2021, amended and extended the
        refundable tax credit for paid sick and family leave for eligible private-sector employers and self-
        employed individuals that voluntarily provide qualifying leave through Sept. 30, 2021.
    •   Updating COVID-19 Preparedness Plans: Licensed and certified child care programs are required to
        develop and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that incorporates guidance from the Minnesota
        Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Providers need to review,
        monitor and update their plan as the guidance, requirements and circumstances evolve. Guidance and
        an optional template are available on the Licensing COVID-19 webpage.

Relevant guidance and links are also updated on mn.gov/childcare/providers.

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9. What is the timeframe for awarding these funds?
Payments will be mailed to all eligible providers on the following schedule:

 Funding period                 Application submission date             Estimated check receipt date

 March 1-31, 2021               March 31 – April 4, 2021                April 20, 2021

 March 1-31, 2021               April 5-9, 2021, 2021                   April 27, 2021

 April 1-30, 2021               April 30 – May 4, 2021                  May 18, 2021

 April 1-30, 2021               May 5-10, 2021                          May 25, 2021

 May 1-31, 2021                 May 31 – June 2, 2021                   June 18, 2021

 May 1-31, 2021                 June 3 – June 9, 2021                   June 25, 2021

Providers should expect to receive their funds within two weeks of the date they were mailed.

10. Will there be additional funds available to providers after May?

On March 11, President Biden signed into law an additional federal stimulus package that included $24 billion in
child care stabilization funds and $15 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant. Minnesota will
continue to analyze these investments and engage with providers and other stakeholders to develop plans for
how to best support child care providers going forward.

11. What types of certified centers are eligible to receive these funds?
Certified centers must meet the eligiblity criteria described in question 2, including having been operating and
serving children on the last day of the month prior to the funding period, maintaining certification in good
standing with Minnesota Department of Human Services, and having been operating and serving children for the
full funding period.

Additionally, Executive Order 20-94 requires that during periods of distance or hybrid learning, school districts
and charter schools must provide free care during regular school hours to “Eligible Children” (defined as school-
aged children of workers in Tier 1 industries), provided that all of the parents or legal guardians in the child’s
household are workers in Tier 1 industries as set forth in School-Age Care Guidance and Frequently Asked
Questions for the 2020-21 School Year. For certified centers providing this type of care to be eligible, the
program must have been providing care beyond regular school hours or to more children than “Eligible
Children.” These programs will be required to attest to this in writing through the application process.

This funding criteria for certified centers exists because requirements to provide free care during regular school
hours to “Eligible Children” can be supported by other federal funds including the federal Elementary and
Secondary Emergency Relief Funds and federal Coronavirus Relief Funds for Safe Learning Plan implementation

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allocated to school districts and charter schools. If districts have questions about using these federal funds to
cover costs associated with the provision of this care, they should contact mde.esea@state.mn.us.

12. Why do I need to provide my Social Security number or Federal Employer Identification
   Number as a part of the application and attestation form?

The Internal Revenue Service requires the Minnesota Department of Human Services to obtain your Social
Security number or Federal Employer Identification Number to report what is paid to you to issue a tax Form
1099-G. The name and number you give must match your name with the IRS. If your name and tax identification
number are determined to not be valid due to a fraudulent act, you will not receive COVID-19 Public Health
Support Funds for Child Care, you will have to pay back any of those funds you have been paid, and you may be
subject to an IRS fine.

13. Where should I go regarding questions about the 1099 form for COVID-19 Public Health
   Support Funds I received in 2020?
Providers who received COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds in 2020 were mailed a 1099-G form by Jan. 31,
2021, showing how much was paid to the provider in 2020. Providers are encouraged to consult with an
accountant or tax expert to fully understand the tax implications of this funding. If you haven’t received your
1099-G tax form for 2020 yet, you can contact the Minnesota Management and Budget’s 1099 help line at 651-
201-8201 or email W9-1099.MMB@state.mn.us to request a copy. Minnesota Management and Budget will
provide a copy of the 1099 tax form through secure email, ZIXmail.

It should be noted that the 1099 form for COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds will be sent by Minnesota
Management and Budget, and will be a form 1099-G. If a provider received a Peacetime Emergency Child Care
grant between April and June 2020, those funds and 1099 forms were distributed by Child Care Aware and are
documented on a 1099-MISC form.

First Children’s Finance, a Minnesota-based nonprofit, may be able to provide overall budgeting and financial
planning for any tax liability, as well. For help, visit firstchildrensfinance.org, email
infoMN@firstchildrensfinance.org or call 1-866-562-6801.

14. Will the January through May funding be considered income when I file my 2021 taxes?
Yes, COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds are considered income by the IRS and Minnesota Department of
Revenue. Providers who receive these funds will be mailed a 1099 form by Jan. 31, 2022, showing how much
was paid to the provider in 2021. Providers are encouraged to consult with an accountant or tax expert to fully
understand the tax implications of this funding. By the second week of February 2022, if you haven’t received
your 1099 tax form, you can contact the Minnesota Management and Budget’s 1099 help line at 651-201-8201
or email W9-1099.MMB@state.mn.us to request a copy. Minnesota Management and Budget will provide a
copy of the 1099 tax form through secure email, ZIXmail.

If providers have questions after receiving their 1099 form, they can contact Minnesota Management and
Budget at 651-201-8201. First Children’s Finance, a Minnesota-based nonprofit, may be able to provide overall
budgeting and financial planning for any tax liability, as well. For help, visit firstchildrensfinance.org, email
infoMN@firstchildrensfinance.org or call 1-866-562-6801.

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15. Is there a Catalog of Federal domestic Assistance Number that nonprofits should use
   when documenting the Public Health Support Funds for an annual audit?

Yes. The CFDA number assigned to funds received in 2020 is 21.019. The CFDA number assigned to funds
received in 2021 is 93.575.

16. What information and documentation is needed to be eligible to receive these funds?
Providers are required to fill out a monthly application, sign an attestation form, and provide a Federal Tax
Identification/Employee Identification Number or Social Security number which will be used to issue the 1099
tax form at the end of 2021.

17. How do I report the required information in the survey that must be completed to
   receive these funds?

All programs receiving these funds must complete the child care program capacity survey as described in the
application and noted in question 5.

Updating your capacity through this survey helps those with young children working in health care and other
critical sectors be connected to your programs. Data from the capacity survey on mn.gov/childcare is being used
to address immediate needs related to the pandemic, and we are sharing this map and survey with hospitals and
critical sectors. Plan to complete this survey at a of minimum every six weeks to ensure that the data remains
current. If you have questions about your license and availability to serve additional school-age children, call 1-
888-234-1268.

18. If child care providers completed the survey informing the state they are open, does this
   mean they will receive or have already applied for these funds?
While completing the child care capacity survey is a requirement for providers receiving funds, it is not part of
the application process and does not mean providers applied for or will receive these funds. However, this
information will be used to help confirm that providers remain open.

Completing that survey allows providers to share with Child Care Aware of Minnesota, the Children’s Cabinet
and Minnesota Department of Human Services that they are operating and serving children, so those agencies
can share the information with parents and guardians seeking child care.

19. What are the funding amounts?
March award amounts will be $1,200 for family child care providers, $8,500 for child care centers and $3,000 for
certified child care centers. We currently anticipate reducing the April and May payment amounts for providers
based on the funding available and the number of eligible providers. The Minnesota Department of Human
Services is currently assessing options for April and May and will update providers on any changes to the
anticipated payment amounts.

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20. How can I ensure I receive the email communications from DHS related to these funds?

You should add DHS.child.care@state.mn.us to your email client safesender list. Adding these email addresses
ahead of time will prevent important emails from being filtered to your spam or junk folder. Follow these
instructions for adding an email address to your safe-sender list.

21. How will I receive these awards?

Payments will be mailed to the authorized agent, center operator or license holder at the address on file with
the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Licensing Division. The monthly payments will be mailed from
Minnesota Management and Budget, a state agency, as noted in question 9.

22. What if information about my program (address, ownership, authorized agent) changes
   after I submit my application?

You should contact your Minnesota Department of Human Services, county or tribal licensor to update the
information as soon as the changes occur. Additionally, if a program is contemplating operating status changes
that may affect their eligibility, they should refer to questions 7 and 8 of this document. Those with additional
questions or who are contemplating other changes that may affect their eligibility for funding should contact the
Minnesota Department of Human Services to determine impacts.

23. Will I still be eligible for payments if I move during the funding period?

Providers who move during the funding period remain eligible for the funds as long as the funding criteria
continue to be met. Moves or “planned temporary closures” are allowed for up to five business days (i.e. days
you typically care for children) over the duration of the funding month. If a move or planned temporary closure
exceeds the allowable time, the provider will not be eligible to receive that month’s funding payment. Providers
planning to move during the funding period should work closely with their Minnesota Department of Human
Services, county or tribal licensor to ensure the move does not impact funding eligibility.

24. What will the check look like?
The checks will come from Minnesota Management and Budget / State of Minnesota. The checks have
perforations at the edges and the bottom.

25. What if my check is lost, stolen or damaged?
For assistance, please contact Cindy Schneider, Minnesota Department of Human Services Child Care Services
Division, at DHS.child.care@state.mn.us (preferred) or 651-431-3864.

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26. If I don’t want to receive these funds, can I decline?
Since eligibility is based on a monthly application, providers who do not want to receive future funds, should not
complete the monthly application.

27. Are providers who receive Child Care Assistance Program payments eligible for these
   funds?
Yes, providers who receive Child Care Assistance Program payments are eligible for these funds. However,
providers must not require Child Care Assistance Program copayments from families whose children attended
prior to the peacetime emergency but are no longer attending.

28. Are providers who receive Early Learning Scholarships eligible for these funds?
Yes, providers who receive Early Learning Scholarships are eligible for these funds.

29. Do child care providers have to be participating in Parent Aware to receive these funds?
No, participation in Parent Aware is not required to receive these funds.

30. Do child care providers have to use Develop, Minnesota’s Quality Improvement &
   Registry Tool, to receive these funds?
No.

31. Is the data in child care provider applications and the information about funding awards
   public data?
Most of the data in funding applications is classified as public data, and if requested, must be made available to
the person requesting it. Examples of private data that cannot be shared with the public are an individual’s
Social Security number, and data that can potentially identify children in programs. If you have data-related
inquiries, please contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services Child Care Services Division by sending
an email to DHS.child.care@state.mn.us.

32. Do child care providers have to operate at their full licensed capacity to receive these
   funds?
No, providers who hold a license do not have to operate at their full licensed capacity to receive these funds. In
fact, implementing health and safety recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may limit the ability
to operate at full licensed capacity for some providers.

33. Can child care providers charge fees if they receive these funds?

Child care providers receiving these funds may charge fees to families attending their program. These fees must
comply with the Governor’s Emergency Executive Order 20-10 prohibiting price gouging. Providers accepting
these funds may require fees from families to reserve space in the program, but they cannot require Child Care
Assistance Program copayments from families whose children attended prior to the declared peacetime
emergency but are no longer attending.

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34. What are the consequences for a provider who applied for and accepted these funds not
   meeting the funding requirements?
If there is indication that a provider has failed to meet COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care
requirements, they will receive written notice and be provided an opportunity to clarify and/or correct any non-
compliance. Failure to make the required corrections, and/or indication that a provider provided false or
misleading information to the Minnesota Department of Human Services with regard to the funding
requirements, may result in discontinuation of future installment payments, recoupment of payments already
made, and/or referral to the Office of Inspector General for additional action.

35. What should I do if I believe a provider is not meeting the funding requirements?
If you are concerned that a child care provider is not following the funding requirements, email
DHS.child.care@state.mn.us with “COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care Complaint” in the
subject line. Include as much detail as you can, including:

    •   Child care provider or program name
    •   Name of director if it’s a child care center
    •   Address of child care provider or program
    •   If licensed, the license number (which can be found at licensinglookup.dhs.state.mn.us)
    •   The requirement you believe the child care provider may not be following
    •   A description of the way in which the child care provider is not following the requirement.

36. What if I am not sure if I am eligible to receive the funds?
Please call Child Care Aware at 651-290-9704 or email supportfunds@childcareawaremn.org.

37. Are there other financial supports available to child care providers?
Yes. The Minnesota Department of Education has made policy modifications to ensure children and programs
who receive state early learning scholarships continue to be served and funded. For more information, visit the
Minnesota Department of Education’s website for COVID-19 Guidance for Early Learning Scholarships.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services commissioner previously approved a waiver on March 20, 2020,
temporarily allowing for flexibility and expanded use of medical exemptions to pay child care providers under
the Child Care Assistance Program for more days when children are absent. Under a decision made Feb. 4, 2021,
the commissioner made the following changes:

    •   Beginning Feb. 1, 2021, the department allows up to six weeks of child care to be paid if a provider
        temporarily closes due to COVID-19. The six-week payment policy modification also applies to providers
        who were temporarily closed and were paid under prior waivers. This waiver will continue through June
        27, 2021, or for three Child Care Assistance Program biweekly billing periods after the end of the
        peacetime emergency, whichever is earlier.
    •   Beginning April 5, 2021, the department is modifying existing absent day medical exemption waivers to
        allow local agencies to close service authorizations if data indicates that a child has not attended care
        for two consecutive biweekly periods. This waiver will continue through June 27, 2021, or for three Child

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        Care Assistance Program biweekly billing periods after the end of the peacetime emergency, whichever
        is earlier.

For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services COVID-19 waivers and modifications
webpage.

Child care providers may also be eligible for business loans, including the Federal Small Business Administration
COVID-19 Disaster Loans and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The deadline for the current Payment
Protection Program is March 31, 2021. Small Business Administration Resource Partners are available to help
with no-cost, one-on-one business counseling regarding COVID-19. Refer to mn.gov/childcare for additional
information and resources on these and other supports for providers.

Child Care Aware and the Minnesota Department of Human Services are working together to acquire supplies
and personal protective equipment that providers may not be able to get or afford. Providers are encouraged to
fill out this survey to document their needs.

38. When must the funds be used by?
Funds should be used to cover costs incurred during the monthly award periods.

39. Will child care providers have to save or submit receipts to prove how funds were spent?
No.

40. Under any circumstances will I have to pay these funds back?
These funds do not constitute a loan and child care providers who comply with funding requirements will not be
required to pay them back. However, funding recipients found to have violated the terms of the application
process or attestation, or who are found to have provided false or misleading information to the Minnesota
Department of Human Services with regard to funding requirements, may have future payments discontinued,
prior payments recouped, and/or be referred to the Office of Inspector General for additional action.

41. Can providers who applied for and received financial support from another source (local
   or city government, nonprofit foundation, etc.) still be eligible for these funds?
Yes. However, this funding can only be used for additional reimbursements of business interruptions and not for
items that have already been supported by other state and/or federal funding.

42. Are child care providers who received a Paycheck Protection Program loan or an
   Economic Injury Disaster loan (or any other federal Small Business Administration loan or
   grant, including an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance) still eligible for these funds?
Yes.

43. If I receive these funds, how does that affect my Paycheck Protection Program loan?
Please refer this question to your Payment Protection Program loan servicer or financial advisor.

March 29, 2021

44. I still have questions and I am not finding answers in this FAQ. Where do I send my
   questions?
Please call Child Care Aware at 651-290-9704 or email supportfunds@childcareawaremn.org.

   •   Si necesita ayuda para comprender esta carta, comuniquese con Vanessa Carrasco Berliz
       vcarrasco@thinksmall.org, 651-641-6660
   •   Hadaad ubaahantahay caawimaad fahanka warqadan, fadlan la xiriir Abdinoor Sigat
       asigat@milestonesmn.org, 320-251-5081
   •   Yog tias koj xav tau kev pab nkag siab tsab ntawv no, thov hu rau Julie Yang jyang@thinksmall.org, 651-
       366-6792

Child Care Aware of Minnesota will use Language Line Services for languages other than Spanish, Hmong and
Somali; they can be reached by phone at 651-290-9704 or by email at supportfunds@childcareawaremn.org.