Washington, D.C. — Empower Oversight has requested from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) records related to the oversight and administration of the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), the subject of numerous reports of waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
The request, filed pursuant to the Minnesota Data Practices Act, seeks information regarding DCYF’s monitoring of child-care providers and its response to concerns about fraud, misuse of taxpayer funds, and regulatory violations within the program.
“Given the scale of public funding involved and the importance of protecting both taxpayer dollars and vulnerable families, it is critical to understand what the agency knew about these issues and how it responded,” said Tristan Leavitt, president of Empower Oversight. “Ensuring appropriate protections for anyone who helps bring transparency to the program is essential to restoring public trust.”
Minnesota’s CCAP distributes millions of dollars annually to child-care providers to help low-income families access child-care and participate in the workforce. A significant portion of this funding is provided by the federal government. Approximately $185 million in federal funds flows to Minnesota each year through this program, totaling more than $1 billion in federal taxpayer dollars since 2019.
Recent reporting and public scrutiny have raised serious questions about widespread fraud and misuse of CCAP funds, as well as the adequacy of state oversight. Reports indicate that some providers with repeated regulatory violations have continued to receive funding and retain active licenses. Additional concerns have emerged regarding potential connections between CCAP providers and individuals or entities implicated in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.
Minnesota state lawmaker Marion Rarick also testified before the House Oversight Committee last week that whistleblowers face a “constant fear of retaliation,” especially under the current governor’s administration.
Empower Oversight’s request seeks, among other records, investigative reports documenting providers with no children present, communications related to individuals and providers connected to Feeding Our Future, and records related to fraud or misuse of CCAP funds since January 2019. The organization is also requesting copies of prior data requests submitted to DCYF concerning CCAP and the department’s responses.
For a copy of the letter, click here.
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