Child Care Assistance Program County Data

Families can receive help paying for child care through the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or the state’s Basic Sliding Fee Program (BSF). During 2025, direct services funding for the state’s Child Care Assistance Program to Minnesota counties was $367.8 million. In general at the state level, 57% of funding for CCAP comes from the federal government, 42% from the state, and 1% from counties; these same breakdowns by county are not available in this report. 

Families who use the Child Care Assistance Program live all over Minnesota and are actively contributing to Minnesota's economy. To qualify for CCAP, a family must have low-income, have an eligible work or educational activity, and have children needing care who are 12 years old or younger, or 14 years old or younger with special needs. There were an estimated 1,059,493 children aged 14 and under in Minnesota, and 37,144 children received child care assistance through CCAP in State Fiscal Year 2025 (SFY 2025). 

Of all children aged 14 and under in Minnesota, an estimated 56% (590,634) live in the 7 County Metro Area, while 44% (468,859) live in Greater Minnesota. Of all children served by CCAP, 68% (25,212) live in the Metro Area, while 32% (11,901) live in Greater Minnesota. Overall, an estimated 4.3% of all children aged 14 and under in the Metro Area benefited from CCAP, compared with 2.5% of children in Greater Minnesota. 

Families may select any legal child care provider willing to accept CCAP, including licensed child care centers; licensed family child care providers; certified centers (typically offer care to school-aged children and/or the programs are located in a school); legal nonlicensed providers (typically family or friends who meet certain program requirements).  

Families may select any legal child care provider, including licensed child care centers, licensed family child care providers, certified centers, or legal nonlicensed providers who are willing to accept CCAP.