Minnesota’s Trusted Child Care Resource
Region 8 Child Care Aware serves the counties of Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Pipestone, Murray, Cottonwood, Rock, Nobles and Jackson. It is the local office for child care support, including but not limited to: quality ratings with Parent Aware, Start Up and Retention Services with Wayfinder, families finding child care, and ongoing development and support for new and existing programs. Child Care Aware is funded through a Minnesota Department of Human Services grant.
Child Care Wayfinder – Region 8
Wayfinder Program is a one-stop navigation network for starting and growing child care programs.
Visit the website www.ChildCareWayfinder.org or contact our local Region 8 Start-up and Retention Navigator for individualized support and more information on financial opportunities available.
Sandie Polfliet, Child Care Start-up and Retention
Navigator
Email: spolfliet@smoc.us
Work Cell Phone: (507) 706-1264
Parent Aware – Region 8
Parent Aware, Minnesota’s early childhood Quality Rating Improvement System, gives early childhood educators the recognition of going above and beyond by meeting standards and quality that help prepare children for kindergarten and beyond. Visit Parent Aware Website for Programs
To learn more about Parent Aware for your program or to apply, contact the Recruiter or a local Region 8 Parent Aware Quality Coach
Brooke Ossefoort, Parent Aware Quality Coach
Email: bossefoort@smoc.us
Work Cell Phone: (507)
Darian Jarmer, Parent Aware Quality Coach
Email: dgilb@smoc.us
Work Cell Phone: (507) 360-4736
Offering free tools and resources to help families find the quality child care and early education programs their children need to succeed in school and life.
Child Care Aware West/Central District
To seek out services offered by Milestones, Child Care Aware West/Central District,
please visit their website: Click Here
TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Professional Development Advising assists with professional development growth, higher education opportunities, finding training, and more.
Weekly Training Update:
To receive a weekly update on training happening near you in the near future, scan the QR Code!
Develop is your training search engine and one-stop for organizing your individual and program professionalism
GRANTS. There are multiple grant opportunities offered through Child Care Aware West/Central District. Please visit the direct Grants link for specific details, application guides, and contact information.
- Start-up and Emergency grants are available year around to those who have qualifying needs in your program.
- Regional grants are offered every year on September 1 through September 25. These are available to every licensed child care program to fund supplies, equipment, technology and professional development.
Child Care Aware of Minnesota
Helping children succeed in school and life by supporting the professional growth of early childhood educators and connecting families to quality child care.
For free help in other languages, please call 888.291.9811.