Minnesota Newsletter   |   July 2014
Child Care in the News
 
A recent ruling from the US Supreme Court may have implications on Minnesota's effort to unionize family child care providers. The federal ruling in Harris v. Quinn said that mandating personal care workers in the state of Illinois to pay union dues (fair share) violates their First Amendment rights. 

Parrish v. Dayton is before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which put the case on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling. Jennifer Parrish, a family child care provider from Rochester, is suing the state to block unionization of child care workers. A spokesman from the office of Governor Mark Dayton said the state will not drop its challenge to the lawsuit.

 

2015 Early Learning Scholarships

Attention 4-Star Parent Aware rated sites: The application deadline for 2015 Pathway II Early Learning Scholarships is Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 4:00 pm. 

Click here for the Minnesota Department of Education's Early Learning Scholarship Program website to find out if your region is included and who to contact for more information. 
Growth Fund & Loan Fund Center Makes the News
Photo from Lillie News
Carol Matheys Center for Children and Families was recently featured in the local paper for their innovative rain garden that prevents flooding and promotes learning.

Carol Matheys and its Executive Director Stacie Penn were in FCF's first Growth Fund class and also have received financing through FCF's Loan Fund to re-do their parking lot which was prone to flooding.

ADOPT A CHILD CARE
Sunrise Banks' Tammy Klinkhammer and children from La Creche
Summer is kicking off in a very big way for our Adopt a Child Care Program partners, La Creche Early Childhood Center and Sunrise Banks! Last week, the children of La Creche joined Sunrise Banks' community picnic. Next month, Sunrise will be sponsoring La Creche's annual carnival for the third year in a row. This year's preschool graduation at La Creche will also feature a very special guest. Stay tuned to find out more!
 
Building stronger child care businesses

 

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Updates from Greater Minnesota
Greater Than MN - July 2014
Now that we've launched the Greater Than MN project in all 6 Minnesota Initiative Foundation regions, we've been busy criss-crossing the state throughout the spring and summer. Watch our latest video to get a glimpse of the work we've been doing and where we're doing it! 
 
We recently completed two more Community Solution Action Plans - one for Stevens County and the other for the Central MN region which includes Cass, Crow Wing, and Wadena Counties. 
 
Thank you to all of our regional MIF, United Way, Child Care Aware, and University partners for giving First Children's Finance on-the-ground resources and a warm Minnesota welcome wherever we go. And of course, thank you to all of the early care and education professionals, concerned community members, legislators, and local business leaders who are committed to creating a greater future for Greater Minnesota.   
 
For more information, visit greaterthanmn.org and follow us on Twitter: @greaterthanmn. 
BREAKTHROUGH FRIDAYS: 
A New Opportunity for Metro Area Child Care Centers!


 

Attention Twin Cities Metro Area center directors! Do you know how many children have to be enrolled in each classroom for your center to be profitable? We've sat down with dozens of directors this summer to answer that question and more. 

 

You probably didn't get into child care because you wanted to be a CEO. But you are one. As an educator and an entrepreneur, you have to know your way around a sandbox and a spreadsheet. A break-even analysis is used to determine when your business will be able to cover all its expenses and begin to make a profit. In the child care industry where profit margins are slim, possessing this information can be a breakthrough in how you run your business. What is your center's optimal enrollment structure? Which rooms are making money and which ones must be subsidized? Would adding another classroom make a difference? In this FREE, hands-on workshop, we'll walk you through a customized break-even analysis that will answer these questions and give you the tools, knowledge and power to transform your center into a lean, mean, school-readiness machine! Click here or see below for more details.

 

July & August Workshop Dates

All workshops run from 11 am - 3 pm 

Each workshop covers the same material, so you only need to attend one

 

Friday, July 25

Friday, August 1

Friday, August 8
Friday, August 15
Friday, August 22
 

All workshops are located at

First Children's Finance

212 3rd Avenue North, Suite 310, Minneapolis

 

Space for each workshop is limited,
register today!  
 

To register, email [email protected] 

or call 612-279-6526

*Pre-requisite requirements for this workshop:

Your center must be Parent Aware rated OR have a signed participation agreement

AND

 You must be on the Registry: www.developtoolmn.org