Complaints against your licensed Minnesota daycare center can result in sanctions such as fines, suspension and even revocation of your child care provider license. You have the right to defend yourself against the loss of your livelihood.
Review the possible sanctions and steps to take if your daycare center is under state investigation.
What is a correction order?
When the Minnesota Department of Human Services finds a violation at your center, the agency will issue a correction order. You will have a certain amount of time to either correct the issue and reach compliance or ask for reconsideration of the correction order.
What is Negative action?
Serious issues bypass a correction order and go straight to a negative action. For example, a substantiated case of maltreatment of a child can result in fines, license suspension or license revocation. Your center may also receive a negative action after repeated correction orders. If DHS detects an immediate risk of harm to children in the care of the center, you may receive a temporary immediate suspension pending an investigation.
How can I Appeal?
After receiving a correction order or negative action, you have the right to file an appeal and ask DHS to reconsider the sanctions against your daycare center. You also have the right to legal representation throughout this process.
When you receive a sanction, it will include the appeal instructions, which vary depending on the circumstances. Generally, you must file a request for reconsideration in writing and include documents that support your claim. The agency will then respond in writing to either reaffirm or reverse the action.