Contact Us
Child Care Aware of Minnesota partner agencies support the professional growth of child care providers and programs. Many local services are delivered by an agency in each Region, and some services are coordinated across multiple regions by one agency in each District.
Find your appropriate District and contact information below. You can also call our statewide hotline at 888.291.9811.
Search by regional district or county:
Metro District
Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties
Professional Development Support Line:
651.641.3549
PDSupport@thinksmall.org
Professional Development Advisors:
Cheryl Kottke, Think Small
651.233.2260
CKottke@thinksmall.org
(Carver, Dakota, Scott, and Washington Counties)
Kristen Peters, Think Small
651.641.6613
KPeters@thinksmall.org
(Anoka and Ramsey Counties)
Janet Peterson, Think Small
651.366.6787
JPeterson@thinksmall.org
(Hennepin County)
Grant Administrator:
Charlene Nhotsavang, Think Small
651.366.6797
CNhotsavang@thinksmall.org
Parent Aware Recruiter:
Tanisha Lungelow, Think Small
651.233.2297
TLungelow@thinksmall.org
Northeast District
Aitkin, Chisago, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, St. Louis, Todd, and Wadena Counties
Training Registration Line:
320.629.5164 or 877.890.5399
ccapd@pine.edu
Professional Development Advisor:
Shelly Kunz, Pine Tech Child Care Aware
320.629.5167
Shelly.Kunz@pine.edu
Grant Administrator:
Sam Sterling, Pine Tech Child Care Aware
320.629.5142
SterlingS@pine.edu
Parent Aware Recruiter:
Balinda Bailey, Pine Tech Child Care Aware
218.729.9425
BaileyB@pine.edu
Northwest District
Becker, Beltrami, Clay, Clearwater, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Stevens, and Traverse Counties
Professional Development Advisor:
Cherida Even, Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership
218.512.1591
CheridaE@lakesandprairies.net
Grant Administrator:
Lisa Bontje, Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership
218.512.1582
LisaB@lakesandprairies.net
Parent Aware Recruitment:
Vanessa Strobel, Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership
218.512.1590
VanessaS@lakesandprairies.net
Southern District
Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, LeSueur, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, and Winona Counties
Training Registration Line:
800.462.1660 x 1006
Professional Development Advisor:
Barb Wilson, Families First of Minnesota
507.287.2020 x 1592
BarbW@familiesfirstmn.org
Grant Administrator:
Dawn Eckhoff, Families First of Minnesota
507-287-2020 x 1525
DawnE@familiesfirstmn.org
Parent Aware Recruiter:
Amber Sawyer, Families First of Minnesota
507.287.2020 x 1404
AmberS@familiesfirstmn.org
West/Central District
Benton, Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sherburne, Stearns, Swift, Wright, and Yellow Medicine Counties
Training Registration Line:
320.269.2227 or 877.311.2244
beth.dack@prairiefive.org
Professional Development Advisor:
Diane Sjelin, Prairie 5 Child Care Aware
763.684.4320
diane.sjelin@prairiefive.org
Professional Development Staff:
Kimberly Giles, Prairie 5 Child Care Aware
320.267.1541
kimberly.giles@prairiefive.org
Grant Administrator:
Tina Saue, Prairie 5 Child Care Aware
320.269.8727
Tina.Saue@prairiefive.org
Parent Aware Recruiter:
Marge Knudson, Prairie 5 Child Care Aware
320.269.1572
marge.knudson@prairiefive.org
Coordinating Office Contacts
Executive Director
Ann McCully
AnnM@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 115
Associate Director
Karen Fogolin
KarenF@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 110
Professional Development & Eager-to-Learn Director
Cory Woosley
CoryW@childcareawaremn.org
651.746.4024
Eager-to-Learn Program Specialist
Mara Ackerman
MaraA@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 105
Trainer & RBPD Support Specialist
Matt Evans
MattE@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 111
Anytime Learning Associate
Grace Kintzinger
etlsupport@childcareawaremn.org
651.746.4025
Eager-to-Learn Program Administrator
Tara Woznicki
TaraW@childcareawaremn.org
651.335.6658
Professional Development Systems Coordinator
Kateri Skunes
KateriS@childcareawaremn.org
651.200.5677
Eager-to-Learn Program Coordinator
Brian Wray
BrianW@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 109
Trainer & RBPD Outreach Coordinator
Elsa Carlson
ElsaC@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 111
Workforce Advising Coordinator
Kylie Cooper
KylieC@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 118
Financial Supports Director
Valerie Peterson
ValerieP@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 107
Grants and Scholarships Specialist
Nghia Lee Vang
NghiaV@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 106
Grants and Scholarships Coordinator
Erin Young
ErinY@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 200
T.E.A.C.H. Program Accountant
Denise Kilgore
DeniseK@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 102
Quality Improvement Manager
Katie Hoffman
KatieH@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 108
Rating Team Manager
Katherine Norton
Katherine.Norton@state.mn.us
651.431.3927
Quality Improvement Specialist
Melissa Slapnicher
MelissaS@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 103
Parent Aware Rater
Rhonda Donnay-Rice
parent.aware@state.mn.us
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Nikki Lepowsky
NikkiL@childcareawaremn.org
651.290.9704 ext. 116
Parent Services Specialist
Jen Goinz
JenG@childcareawaremn.org
651-290-9704 ext. 120
Data Programs Manager
Angie Bowman
AngieB@childcareawaremn.org
218-998-4047
Digital Programs and Web Developer
Anna Mahan-Miller
AnnaM@childcareawaremn.org
651-290-9704 ext. 121
Parent Services Specialist
AnnaMarie Schluender
AnnaMarieS@childcareawaremn.org
651-290-9704 ext. 260
Communications Director
Diane Benjamin
DianeB@childcareawaremn.org
651-290-9704 ext. 112
Accounting Associate/Professional Development Assistant
Julie Wasiluk
JulieW@childcareawaremn.org
651-290-9704 ext. 100
Parent Services Specialist
Debra Spaeth
DebraS@childcareawaremn.org
651-290-9704 ext. 266
Communications Associate
Courtney Bokovoy
CourtneyB@childcareawaremn.org
651-290-9704 ext. 119