KEY FACTS ABOUT
Children birth to 3 years, their families, and the child care system that serves them

2005 estimated population: 5,132,799
U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

2000 population: 4,919,479
U.S. Census 2000

• An average of 7,958 children 0–3 are served per month by the Child Care and Development Fund
  (FY 2005 ACF-801 data)

• In Federal Fiscal Year 2006 the Infant/Toddler Child Care and Development Fund Set-Aside = $1,264,191
  (FY 2006 CCDF Allocations and Earmarks, U.S. Dept. of HHS, ACF)

• 691 children served by 11 grantees are in Early Head Start
  (2006 Early Head Start Funded Enrollment)
  (EHSNRC Database-September 2006)
  
  
• 45% of all the requests for child care to the child care resource and referral programs were for infant and toddler care
  (Child Care in America: 2006 State Fact Book, NACCRRA)

• 3,209 children under 3 receive early intervention services under IDEA, Part C
  (U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Ed. Programs, Data Analysis System (DANS), 2005)

44 issued in 2005
76 issued in 2002
48 issued in 1998

In Center-Based Care the staff-to-child ratios are

1:4 for infants (under 16 months); 1:7 for toddlers (16 to 32 months); 1:10 for preschoolers (33 months until kindergarten entry)

A child may be designated as an infant up to 18 months, as a toddler up to 35 months or as a preschooler at 31 months for the purposes of staff to child ratios if the parent, teacher and center director determine that the designation is in the best interests of the child. Infants may not be grouped with children in other age categories.

(State Licensing Regulations)

In Family Child Care the staff-to-child ratios are

1:10 (with 6 under kindergarten age, with no more than 3 infants and toddlers, and of these only 2 infants)
1:5 (with 3 under kindergarten age, all 3 may be infants: applies to Specialized Infant and Toddler Family Day Care)

Different ratios exist for Group Family Day Care and Specialized Infant and Toddler Group Family Day Care.

(State Licensing Regulations)

205,091 Children under the age of 3 live in Minnesota

U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

60% of Minnesota Women with Children Under the Age of 3 Are in the Labor Force

Current Population Survey, March 2001

Average annual fee for full-time child care for
an infant in center based care....... $11,960

Cost of child care for an infant as percent of
median income for two-parent families ..... 16%

Cost of child care for an infant as percent of
median income for single parent families... 42%           

Minnesota Department of Human Services
444 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155-3834