Podcast

Inclusion Matters welcomes Lanay Jacobs, Provider Support Specialist for the Child Care Assistance Rate at the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.  Our conversation highlights the process that early childhood educators and families can follow to submit a request for a higher child care assistance payment for their child care setting. 

 🌟Additional Resources:
🔗CCAP Special Needs Rate Variance Request - Parent and Provider Request (DHS-4194)
🔗Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): https://www.ada.gov/

Federal and State Requirements
🔗Minn. Rule 3400.0130 Subp.3
🔗Minn. Stat. 142E.17, Subd. 3

CICC Tip Sheets:
📝What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
📝What Does the ADA Mean to Child Care?

Questions? Contact The Childcare Assistance Provider Support Team
📧 Contact us at CCAP.Providers.DCYF@state.mn.us or 651-431-4848  

Inclusion Matters welcomes Melissa Hendrickx, Business and Operations Director for AmazeWorks.  Through professional development and educational curricula, AmazeWorks engages people in creating the conditions for belonging by initiating important conversations with each other about identity, differences, and bias.  Tune in to the conversation to learn more about what they offer.

🌟Additional Resources:
🔗https://amazeworks.org/

Jamesetta Ross Diggs joins Inclusion Matters to share about the NEW CICC self-study course that she authored for us.  As an immigrant herself, and an early childhood expert, Jamesetta shares her personal stories as well as an overview of the course.  The course equips early childhood professionals with strategies to partner with families in co-creating culturally affirming learning environments for young children. It also offers support to advocate for strength-based approaches that uplift immigrant families, ensuring that young children can thrive in environments beyond home. 

🌟Be sure to check out our NEW Self-Study on this important topic: 

• Culturally Responsive Partnerships with Immigrant Children And Families

Our CICC Podcast, Inclusion Matters is celebrating!  The 300th episode of this podcast is now available.  

The first origins of Inclusion Matters started back in the early 2000’s with some rudimentary equipment and an idea to spread the word about creating successful inclusive environments for young children.  

Today, in 2025 we are on the brink of our 30th anniversary and still sharing content that highlights and supports quality early childhood care for all children.  Tune in to listen to some highlights from our many years of broadcasting Inclusion Matters.

Inclusion Matters welcomes back Michele Fallon, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant.  We discuss the important stage of toddlerhood, ages 1-3 years, and how we as professionals and parents of toddlers can support their growth and learning. 

Cory Woosley from Minneapolis College joins us again to highlight key information about inclusion.  Our focus during this conversation is on the ways we as those caring for and teaching young children can help them build positive friendships.  We discuss the importance of friendships and the ways we can set up the environment to support quality play connections for children with special needs. 

Be sure to check out our NEW Self-Study on this important topic: 

• Positive Friendship Connections For Children With Special Needs