Early Childhood Educators

Shared Services Alliance

Shared Services Alliance is here to assist family child care providers in sustaining quality care and preventing professional burnout by providing a substitute program and telehealth services.

The substitute program allows the provider to stay open and still be able to attend appointments, a child’s event, or catch up on paperwork. They can book a substitute or second adult caregiver at a subsidized rate ($5/hour) for a half or full day. All the required substitute training and the first
orientation are free of charge. If you are interested in signing up for this program, please complete this intake form.

The telehealth service provides telemedicine and teletherapy to your immediate family at a reduced monthly rate. Whether it be with a general physician, a therapist, or a nutritionist, this service allows you to have an appointment with a physician or medical professional from wherever you are. For more information, check out the HealthiestYou flyer.

CAPLP MN Early Child Care Educators

Wayfinder, a program funded through a grant from MN Department of Human Services, focuses on increasing access to child for families by maintaining and increasing the number of spaces for children by supporting individuals and organizations to establish, sustain, and expand licensed child care programs. The Wayfinder program assists individuals interested in becoming child care professionals with establishing and sustaining a licensed family child care program or child care center. For more information, please go to www.childcarewayfinder.org.

Child Care Service Grants

Child Care Service Grants are available to improve child care quality, support start-up of new programs, and expand existing programs. There are 3 types of Child Care Services Grants: Start-Up, Emergency and Regional.

  • Start Up Grants are intended to provide support to child care educators just getting started. Educators can request funding for items required for child care startup costs. Applications may be submitted after having the first visit with the child care licensor or up to 6 months after the effective date of the child care license. Click here for more information and the Start-Up Grant application 
  • Emergency Grants are intended to assist existing programs that have been affected by an emergency that directly affects their ability to provide care. Click here for more information and the Emergency Grant application
  • Regional Grants are intended to provide funds to help cover the cost of supplies, equipment, technology, and training. Grant funds are offered annually and are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified child care programs. The application for this program is available through Develop September 1st – 25th each year. Click here for the Regional Grant Guide and Information.
MN Early Child Care Educators
CAPLP Child Care Connections

New American Child Care Project

New American Child Care Project, a collaboration with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, provides support to New Americans in understanding and navigating the child care system, assist with the legally non-licensed and licensing process, connect to services and resources, supports in their early childhood learning journey, and develops and strengthens relationships within the New American communities in West Central Minnesota. For more information, please call 218-443-4851.

CAPLP Child Care Connections

Family, Friend & Neighbor (FFN)
Child Care Program

Family, Friend, & Neighbor (FFN) Child Care Program, a program of the MN Department of Human Services, provides support for Spanish-speaking FFN caregivers in building trusting relationships, supporting their early childhood learning journey, connecting to services and resources, and advocating for the inclusion of FFN caregivers with Minnesota’s network of early care and learning. For more information, please call 218-593-0686 or visit our website.

Professional Development
and Training

The Child Care Aware of Minnesota system offers a variety of high-quality training options for early educators to help you meet licensing requirements and your professional development needs. Online and face-to-face training opportunities are offered.

  • To search for In-Person Training Events start on Develop – MN Training Registry, use the “Sponsor Name” and search “Northwest” to see what we have coming up.
        • Click here to start your search.
  • For training related questions including registration support, professional planning, becoming a trainer, or for career advising please call (218) 512-1579 or email  
  • Policies and Practices include information on registration, attendance, cancellation, refunds, and course credit for our events.
        • Click here to view policies and procedures for in-person training events. 
         • Click here to view best practices for instructor-led online training events.  
  • Let us know if you need assistance to make our training events accessible to you. 
        • ADA Accommodation Request Form 
  • Instructions on how to set up an online account and utilize features on Develop.
        • Click here to view the guides.
  • For trainings tailored for your specific group please fill out our training request form.    
        • Tailored Training for Groups (TTG)
  • Fill out this survey to tell us about your interests for future trainings.
        • Survey
MN Early Child Care Educators
CAPLP MN Early Child Care Educators

Empower to Educate

Empower to Educate is a workforce development program available through Child Care Aware of Minnesota. Get connected with a Workforce Advisor to achieve career goals in Early Childhood- as a current or aspiring educator. Receive individualized support, free training options, job search assistance and qualify for financial incentives. Click here to get connected to an advisor. 

CAPLP MN Early Child Care Educators Parent Aware

Parent Aware

Parent Aware is the statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for Minnesota. Every state in the country now has a QRIS. Minnesota’s is called Parent Aware. Get the recognition you deserve for demonstrating best practices in early education! The Parent Aware Rating Program is focused on getting children ready to succeed in kindergarten and in life! CAPLP provides free coaching and grant funding to support providers in the Parent Aware rating process. For more information about the Parent Aware Program, call (218) 979-0783 or visit www.parentaware.org

 Program Benefits
• Have your quality recognized
• FREE coaching and assistance
• Increased access to scholarships for families
• Ongoing marketing support
• Higher reimbursement rates
• Join the community of Rated programs  

    Parent Aware Recruiter
  • The Parent Aware Recruiter is there to help you understand the basics of Parent Aware, help you make an educated choice on which pathway to begin with and assist you with filling out and submitting your application and participation agreement. 
  • Your recruiter is there to get you enrolled for Parent Aware, before passing you along to your Quality Coach and Professional Development Advisor. 

    Am I eligible?
  • You must have a DHS license number 
  • Must be actively serving at least one child birth to age 5
  • Your license must be in good standing

    How do I apply?
  • Connect with your Parent Aware Recruiter, by calling 218-979-0783. 
  • Or, Complete the application and participation agreement, and mail to:
    CAPLP - Parent Aware 891 Belsly Boulevard, Moorhead, MN 56560
  • Apply online through Develop
  • Email you application and participation agreement or text pictures of your completed forms to 218-979-0783.

    Parent Aware Quality Coach
  • Your Parent Aware Quality Coach is your partner. Coaches help you prepare for a Rating by answering questions and giving you support.
  • You are the expert of your program. With years of child care experience and education, your Quality Coach is a Parent Aware expert who will help you make informed choices, complete tasks, and explore quality improvement.

“For free help in other languages, please call 888.291.9811.”

Services offered through Child Care Aware of Minnesota Northwest are made possible in part with grants from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth & Families

Contact Us:
  • Phone (218) 512-1500
  • Fax: (844) 215-7287
  • Email
Walk-in Services:
  • 715 11th St. N. Suite 101
  • Moorhead, MN 56560
Mailing Address:
  • 891 Belsly Boulevard
    Moorhead, MN  56560
Wilkin County Office:

311 5th Street S.
Breckenridge, MN 56520
(218) 512-1500

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       This institution is an equal opportunity provider.