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Environmental Health Division
Contact Info
Site Screening Program
Choose Safe Places Minnesota
The location of child care centers is sometimes not given enough consideration. Children may be at risk from contamination — left behind from how the building or property was used in the past, or from businesses using harmful chemicals near the site. As a result, a new child care center might open in a contaminated industrial building that was never cleaned up, or next door to a dry cleaner using harmful chemicals.
This can put staff and especially children — who are more sensitive to the effects of chemicals because they’re still growing — at risk of health problems. In some cases, these health effects may be irreversible.
Screening a location for environmental concerns isn’t always easy.
MDH staff can help you!
Step 1
Submit a property survey. The information you provide will help us identify whether harmful chemicals may be present at your child care property. It is okay if you don’t know the answers.
Preview the property survey here: Property Survey (PDF)
Step 2
MDH staff will review your responses, gather additional information about your site, and provide a recommendations report.
Step 3
MDH will be available to provide guidance on follow up actions to take (if needed) to make sure the property is safe from environmental contamination.
If you have questions at any point, please contact us.
SCREENING LIMITATIONS: MDH’s goal is to identify possible environmental hazards associated with screened properties. The recommendations provided as part of the Choose Safe Places Minnesota Site Screening Program are limited based on the resources available at the time of the screen and MDH’s professional judgment. MDH cannot guarantee all possible environmental hazards associated with contaminated sites will be identified.
PARTICIPATION DISCLAIMER: MDH is not responsible for any costs associated with the recommendations it provides. Any data submitted by the participant or produced by MDH during the site screening process is considered public and will be shared with any party who requests it.
Of Interest
Review the Choosing a Child Care Center Location (PDF) guide to help ensure your child care business is located in a safe place.