About Us - the Center For Inclusive Child Care

About Us

Mission Statement of The Center For Inclusive Child Care

The Center for Inclusive Child Care mission is to create promote and support pathways to successful inclusive care for all children. The program is a comprehensive resource network for inclusive early childhood, school age programs, and providers.

We provide leadership, administrative support, training, and consultation to the following who support providers and parents of children with special needs:

  • early care and education providers
  • school age care providers
  • parents
  • professionals in the field

The Center for Inclusive Child Care envisions weaving the common threads of knowledge, respect, and sensitivity. The purpose is to create and sustain opportunities for high quality, culturally responsive inclusive care in which children and their families are supported and nurtured.

What is Project EXCEPTIONAL MN?

Project EXCEPTIONAL MN is the training and consultation branch of the Center for Inclusive Child Care.

What does Project EXCEPTIONAL training provide?

Project EXCEPTIONAL training provides activities and materials in workshops that are designed for individuals who are interested in expanding their knowledge about inclusion in early childhood and school age settings. The training is based on a set of core belief statements with a primary philosophy that all children have a right to grow up, play, and live in their own communities. Workshops are designed with activities to be experiential and strength-based. For more information about them click one of the following topic area:

Children and Challenging Behavior: Making Inclusion Work. Volumes 1 and 2 are now available for sale through the CICC Market Place.

Project EXCEPTIONAL Training is also provided in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali languages.

Who is the training for?

The training is for early childhood and school age care professionals interested in increasing their knowledge and awareness about the special needs of children and how to include all children in their settings. The training is available statewide in all regions of Minnesota for early childhood and school age programs including, but not limited to, family child care, child care centers, pre-schools, school districts, foster care providers, families, Head Start programs, Early Childhood Special Education, and Early Childhood Family Education. Training is offered for credit as well as in-service hours. Training can be customized to fit a group's needs.

What does CICC consultation provide?

The Center for Inclusive Child Care"s Inclusion Consultation and Support Services provide support to child care and school age care providers, enabling them to successfully include and retain children with special needs and those with challenging behaviors into their community child care programs. Services include consultation, technical assistance, resources, research and referral support, observation, and staff development.



ask CICC