If you care for children from more than one unrelated family and relatives, you will need to become licensed for child care.
1. Print off and complete a Child Care Licensing Information form and submit it to our office. Print off two copies of the privacy rights form. Read and sign the privacy rights form and return one copy with your information form. Click on the attachment at the bottom of page to get a copy of the licensing information form and the privacy rights forms. Mail to:
Dakota County Social Services
Child Care Unit
14955 Galaxie Ave.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
or call 952-891-7400 to obtain the forms in the mail.
2. You will be notified of the next available orientation session in an email, or letter if no email is available, about 2 to 3 weeks before the orientation that you are scheduled into. We have 5 orientation sessions per year and take 25 people per orientation; therefore you may have a wait to get into a session. Orientations are scheduled for Jan, April, June, August, and October and are by invitation only once we get your child care licensing form and schedule you into one of the available slots. Each orientation session consists of 2 meetings and attendance at both of the meetings is required. The Minnesota State Child Care Rule will be reviewed and the appropriate paperwork will be distributed for you to apply for licensure.
3. After you attend both orientation sessions and the application, fire marshal inspection, background studies and references have been received by the county, a home visit by the licensing social worker will be scheduled. (You will receive these forms at orientation.)
4. The licensing worker will conduct a home safety inspection and interview with the applicant.
5. When the above has been completed, the county will submit the application to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and the license will be issued.
6. The process takes 60 to 90 days after the county receives the application.