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Early Educator Benefits Program

Intro

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families is excited to offer a new program that provides selected benefits through September 2027 to individuals working in qualifying early care and education programs.

Services/Topics
Eligibility

Eligibility

Eligible individuals:  

  • Work in a qualifying early care and education program 
  • Work an average of at least 32 hours a week  
  • Work at least eight months a year 
  • Are 18 years of age or older 
Benefits

Benefits

The benefits program provides participants up to $55 per month through a third-party vendor, Optima Benefits and Payroll. This amount can be used toward selected benefits such as dental, vision, telehealth, teletherapy, life insurance and more.  

Featured Image
Early educator playing with toddler
More Information

Early educators are critical to Minnesota, ensuring children thrive and providing care so that parents and caregivers can work or attend school, yet they often don’t have essential benefits. This benefits program provides participants up to $55 per month to be used toward selected benefits such as dental, vision, telehealth, teletherapy, life insurance and more.

Individual eligibility 

Eligible individuals:  

  • Work in a licensed child care center, licensed family child care program, Tribally licensed program or certified Head Start program
  • Work an average of at least 32 hours a week 
  • Work at least eight months a year 
  • Are 18 years of age or older 

Additional requirements: 

  • If employed in a child care center or as a family child care assistant, individuals must provide two most recent pay stubs. 
    • Note: Family child care owners will not be asked to provide pay stubs.
  • Individuals can not currently be receiving benefits through Minnesota Medical Assistance or Medicare. 

Benefits 

The benefits program provides participants up to $55 per month through a third-party vendor, Optima Benefits and Payroll. This amount can be used toward selected benefits such as dental, vision, telehealth, teletherapy, life insurance and more. Some benefits may also support family members.

How to apply 

The application opens at 8 a.m. July 6, 2026, and closes at 5 p.m. on September 11, 2026. Eligible applicants should complete an online application and submit information to verify employment in a qualifying program. 

Space is limited. Eligible applicants may be invited to enroll immediately or placed on a waitlist if all available slots have been filled. 

Learn more at an upcoming webinar 

Attend an upcoming webinar about the new program to learn more about the selected benefits and qualifications. 

Tuesday, June 30
7–8 p.m. Central time 
Register for the June 30 webinar

Thursday, July 2
7–8 p.m. Central time 
Register for the July 2 webinar

What will I learn? 

During the webinar, you will learn: 

  • Why Minnesota is offering the benefits program 
  • What benefits may be available through the benefits program 
  • Who qualifies to apply and how many slots are currently available  
  • The application window and how to apply  
  • What you need to apply  
  • How the benefits enrollment process will work if accepted  
  • Where to find additional information and support 

There will also be time at the end of the webinar for questions and answers. 

This benefits program is supported by Minnesota’s Preschool Development Birth through Five grant, which helps align family and early childhood systems across the state to improve children's access to high-quality early care and education. The grant is a partnership between the Departments of Children, Youth, and Families; Education; Health; and Human Services, along with the Children's Cabinet. Learn more about the federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.