Early Childhood Academy

 

About the Program

Ramsey County Early Childhood Academy offers a variety of new and expanded services to increase the number of quality child care programs in Ramsey County.

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Free Online Training

Think Small Institute offers a wide range of learning opportunities which include options for both live-virtual training and self-paced eLearning.

This is an opportunity to take training hours required for licensing, Parent Aware and the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential.

50/50 Match Financial Support Grant

The grant is available to individuals in the process of opening a Licensed Family Child Care or Child Care Center. The grant is offered by the Ramsey County Early Childhood Academy and the Ramsey County Investment and Support Efforts program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. Grants will be awarded based on program location, emphasizing areas of Ramsey County with the lowest access to child care and funding available.

50/50 Match Financial Support Application Guide     50/50 Application and Agreement

Child Care Program Start-Up and Expansion

Are you thinking about starting your own childcare business?  Think Small’s Capacity Building coaches will help you from start to finish with everything you need for a top-rated program. We offer up to 20 hours of technical assistance plus other resources at absolutely no cost.

Resource Material Kits

Only For those opening Licensed Family Child Care Programs

The Ramsey County Early Childhood Academy has recently added resource material kits. These kits were designed to support educators in opening quality programs that serve their community. The four kits contain various items that assist in successful program licensure and operation. Unique to existing grant and financial opportunities, the kits are non-competitive and not reimbursement-based, meaning there are no upfront out-of-pocket costs to receive the kit. Educators can choose two of the four available Resource Material Kits. 

Resource Material Kit Description Flyer 

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