Basic Sliding Fee (BSF)
BSF can help families who do not qualify for the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or to pay for child care while they look for work, go to work or attend training or school to prepare for work.
Portability Clients – On Basic Sliding Fee program in Another County and Moving to Dakota County.
- You may be eligible for funding under Portability Priority if you were an active client under the Basic Sliding Fee program in another Minnesota county and moved to Dakota County. You must inform the county of your old residence within 10 days of your move.
- You must sign an application form within 60 days of the move or the portability priority option is lost and your name will be added to the bottom of the waiting list. If you do not submit the required verifications to complete the application process you will be denied child care help.
- Your funding may be available to continue for 6 months. If funding is not available within 6 months, you will be terminated from the child care program. Your name will stay on the waiting list with the effective date that you moved to Dakota County until funding becomes available.
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP is Minnesota's cash assistance program that helps families become self-sufficient. MFIP Child Care Assistance can help families who participate in MFIP pay for child care while they look for work, or attend training or school to prepare for work as directed in their MFIP Employment Plan.
Transition Year (TY) – TY can help families whose MFIP cases are closing pay for child care while they work or look for work. TY can pay child care costs for qualifying families up to one year after their cases close.
To qualify, a family must:
- Have participated in MFIP for three out of the past six months
- Work an average of 20 hours per week or more and earn at least minimum wage or be looking for work and
- Not have had their MFIP case closed due to Fraud.
If your family receives MFIP benefit and your case is closing, or if your MFIP case has recently closed, contact your financial worker to find out more about TY.
Transition Year Extension – If you were on MFIP and it closed, you may be able to participate in this program after MFIP Transition Year ends and until Basic Sliding Fee funding becomes available. TY Extension may be used to support employment or a job search.
Diversionary Work Program (DWP) – DWP is Minnesota’s TANF program to provide short-term diversionary benefits to eligible families. Funding for BSF child care includes a priority for families who participated in DWP, but are no longer getting or eligible for DWP.
How to Apply
What is Child Care Assistance