Provider Resources

FCC Licensing Rule requires providers to provide information about community resources supporting children and families.

Here are the 2 primary resource hubs available in Maine:

Help Me Grow (HMG) Maine is a free service available to children up to eight years of age and their families.  Help Me Grow Maine connects individuals and families to information and services about child development and community resources. Any parent, caregiver, or provider can call for support and the HMG team will listen, link a person/family to services, and supply ongoing support when needed.

AccessMaine is an online resource guide with information to connect people living in Maine to public programs, services, and other resources that are available to provide support they need to be safe, happy, healthy, and successful. To search for support programs on the AccessMaine, click on a category or type in the search feature.


Here are specific Organizations/Agencies  that cover specific topics/services for providers-

Maine –

National –

Licensing –

*FCCAM’s Sample Care Agreement and Licensing compliance materials can be found on this website menu under “Business Toolkit

  • Child Care Licensing Monthly Messages – DHHS is sending these Monthly Message emails to all licensed programs to keep them informed of general updates, reminders, and bite size interpretive guidelines.
  • Background Checks
    • Email confirmation of eligibility is available for the fingerprint background check results of newly hired employees. Five business days following an individual’s fingerprint appointment a licensed provider may email the individual’s full name and date of birth to: Childcarecheck.dhhs@maine.gov to receive the individual’s eligibility status. This email may be used as verification until the official Letter of Eligibility is received in the mail. 
  • Child Care Choices ME
  • ITMELDS – Infant Toddler Maine’s Early Learning Development Standards (birth through 36 months)
  • MELDS – Maine’s Early Learning Development Standards (Preschool standards for 3 – 5 years)
  • MRTQ PDN
  • OCFS – Office of Child and Family Services
  • QRIS (Rising Stars for ME) Maine’s quality rating and improvement system is often referred to by “QRIS”. All Licensed programs are required to participate. QRIS is about the program, not provider or individual staff. To join or log in to Rising Stars for ME CLICK HERE
  • Water Labs – links to labs certified by the state to provide the required water tests: first draw (one time test for all providers) and annual water safety test for providers on private wells.

Business Grants:

There has been a variety of financial supports available to providers since COVID-19 impacted our small businesses. 

COVID:

Quick Look at COVID recommendation if exposed

More information from CDC on operating guidance

Isolation and Precautions for Individuals with Covid includes easy to use linked resource for individual situation guidance with dates: Insolation and Exposure Calculator