Minnesota's Child Care Centers: What Really Happened?

A recent video sparked controversy in Minnesota, alleging that several publicly funded child care centers were not providing services, leading to fraud accusations.

State Investigators' Findings

• Nine centers visited: State investigators inspected nine centers mentioned in the video.
• Eight centers operational: Children were present in eight of the nine locations.
• One center not opened yet: The ninth center had no children as it hadn't opened.

Funding Details

• Funding range: Centers received between $471,787 and $3.68 million from Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program last year.
• Program impact: Supports 23,000 children and 12,000 families monthly, with significant federal support.

Ongoing Investigations

• Four centers under scrutiny: The state agency is investigating four of the nine facilities but hasn't disclosed which ones or the reasons.
• Mako Child Care: Closed since 2022.

State Agency's Commitment

The state agency emphasizes its commitment to:

• Stopping fraud.
• Protecting children.
• Supporting families.
• Ensuring essential services run smoothly.

CBS News Investigation

• Active licenses: Most centers mentioned in the video have active licenses.
• Violations found: Some violations related to safety, cleanliness, and staff training, but no evidence of fraud.

Broader Context

• Historical fraud scandals: Minnesota has seen several fraud scandals over the years.
• Recent charges: Federal prosecutors have charged dozens with defrauding state programs for children and seniors.
• Large-scale investigation: On December 29th, Department of Homeland Security agents inspected over 30 sites in Minneapolis.