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.

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

Maine –

• County Resource Connections – Providers can find contact information on resources specific to their county that supports their work and their families. Also includes State and National agencies contact information.
• Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS) – 
  • Inclusion Practices Checklist
  • Tip sheets & Resources for Growing Early Childhood Practices
• CDS – information on Child Development Services in Maine
• (ECCP) Maine Early Childhood Consultation Partnership Consultation – FREE early childhood mental health consultation program that addresses the social-emotional needs of children birth to age eight (0-8) by offering support, education, and consultation to the adults who provide care for them.
  • Kennebec County Monthly Mental Health Consultation Group
• Go NAPSACC – supports providers in improving their practices, policies and environments to help develop healthy habits for the children in their care.
• Subsidy (CCSP)
  • 2021 Market Rate

National –

• (EIN) Employer Identification Number – This number works in place of your social security number for business related items (ie. set up a bank account, apply for loans, and paying taxes). It is FREE to register your business with the federal government.
• IRS Tax Information

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
  • Registry
  • Maine Credentials
  • MRTQ Technical Assistance (TA)
• 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. 

• Find information on current opportunities HERE.
• ARPA Grant Allowable Expenses
• Expansion Grant Opportunity under CEI (started 7/2022 available until funds used up)

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

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