What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4pm

Milestones

Building brighter futures, nurturing growth, and creating pathways to success for the early childhood community. Visit our website at
www.milestonesmn.org

Whether you are a child care provider, parent, or grandparent Child Care Choices is here to support you as you make decisions about the young children in your life.

03/25/2025

Nature provides the best ingredients! 🍓🌽🍎

Embrace the seasons by incorporating fresh, local produce into your meals. Not only does it support local farmers, but it also introduces children to new, nutritious flavors while meeting USDA guidelines.

A win for their health and our communities!

03/24/2025

Who are Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Caregivers?

They are a large and important group of Minnesotans who care for the children of family members, friends or neighbors on a regular basis. For many parents in Minnesota, 46%, Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers are their primary child care arrangement, aiding them in getting to work or school each day.

How can Milestones help?
If you are providing child care for a family member, friend, or neighbor, there are resources available to support your important work. Resources may include connections, training, potential grants, and other opportunities for those caring for children.

Find out more information:
https://f.mtr.cool/ntbtnhhprv

03/20/2025

Car Seat Safety Tip #9

Check for recalls and ensure the car seat is not expired or damaged. Replace the car seat if it’s been in a moderate to severe crash.

https://f.mtr.cool/tbaboackza

03/20/2025

The Shared Services Alliance is designed to work in partnership with licensed Early Child Care Programs in Region 7W (Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright Counties) to offer the services needed to help you grow your businesses, achieve financial stability, enhance your knowledge and education, all while providing time to focus on quality of care and most important... the Children.

The Shared Services Alliance aims to provide a comprehensive service approach, which includes access to a wide range of programs and resources without limitations.

Furthermore, whenever you require assistance, you can contact us, and we will take the responsibility of connecting you with suitable resources, thereby saving you the time and stress of searching for them yourself.

Reach out today!
https://f.mtr.cool/rdbvxkfolm

03/19/2025

Milestones Connections #08

Be Inspired.

Empowering caregivers, early educators, and parents in celebration, support, and nurturing of children!

03/19/2025

CACFP Week is a national education and information campaign sponsored annually the third week of March by the National CACFP Sponsors Association.

The campaign is designed to raise awareness of how the USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger. The CACFP brings healthy foods to tables across the country for children in child care centers, homes, and afterschool programs as well as adults in day care.

Join today!
www.milestonesmn.org/food-program

03/18/2025

Snack time should be both fun and nourishing! 🍌🥕✨

Choosing healthy options like yogurt, whole grains, and fresh fruit helps fuel little bodies for all their daily adventures.

Skip the sugary treats and opt for wholesome goodness instead!

03/17/2025

03/16/2025

03/14/2025

Who are Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Caregivers?

They are a large and important group of Minnesotans who care for the children of family members, friends or neighbors on a regular basis. For many parents in Minnesota, 46%, Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers are their primary child care arrangement, aiding them in getting to work or school each day.

How can Milestones help?

If you are providing child care for a family member, friend, or neighbor, there are resources available to support your important work. Resources may include connections, training, potential grants, and other opportunities for those caring for children.

Please contact us today for such supports:
Milestones, in partnership with Central Minnesota Community Empowerment Organization (CMCEO) and Promise Neighborhood, provides support services for all FFN caregivers in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties.

03/13/2025

Car Seat Safety Tip #10

Children learn by example. Always wear your seatbelt and insist that everyone in the vehicle does too.

https://f.mtr.cool/xsebbimvnr

03/13/2025

🌟 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 🌟

Are you interested in opening your own Family Child Care business? Now is the time to explore the possibilities!

Join us for an Open House event where you'll have the chance to:
🔹 Meet Child Care Wayfinder Navigators and Stearns County Licensors
🔹 Get your questions answered about the licensing process
🔹 Learn if owning your own child care business is the right fit for you!

This is an informal conversation about opening a licensed family child care.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗱.

Any questions, please contact:
Jolene Whaley, Child Care Startup & Retention Navigator
📞 320-251-5081
📧 [email protected]

Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference in your community! 💙👶

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03/12/2025

Milestones Connections #07

Be Inspired.

Empowering caregivers, early educators, and parents in celebration, support, and nurturing of children!

03/11/2025

Let’s get those little hands busy in the kitchen! 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

When kids help prepare meals, they’re more excited to try new foods and learn lifelong healthy habits. Cooking together builds confidence, curiosity, and connection.

Let’s make healthy eating an adventure!

03/10/2025

ON MISSION:
Building brighter futures, nurturing growth, and creating pathways to success for the early childhood community.

Since its inception in 1977, Milestones' mission and vision have focused on ensuring that all young children have the best supports and resources necessary for a healthy start. For more than 45 years, Milestones has connected and collaborated with parents, grandparents, child care providers, preschool teachers, Head Start, and community members to provide the Steps to Success for the Early Childhood Community.

Over the years, the vision and reach has expanded; however, the mission to provide the best for the youngest members of society remains unchanged.

03/06/2025

Milestones Connections #06

Be Inspired.

Empowering caregivers, early educators, and parents in celebration, support, and nurturing of children!

03/04/2025

👩‍👧‍👦Are you interested in becoming a 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 in 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲?

Join us for a free info session to learn about the licensing process, hear from experienced providers, and discover available support!

📅 Wednesday, March 12
⏰ 6:00 - 7:00 PM
📍 Sherburne County Government Center

Register now: https://biglake.ce.eleyo.com/course/5611/winter-spring-2025-catalog/family-childcare-101

03/04/2025

Behind every successful meal program is great record-keeping! 📝

Keeping track of menus, food purchases, and meal counts ensures compliance and helps us continue providing top-quality care.

Organization is key to building brighter futures!

Address

314 10th Avenue S, Suite 180
Waite Park, MN
56387

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4pm

Website

https://www.milestonesmn.org/contact/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Milestones posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Milestones:

Videos

📢 Every child deserves a strong start in life! At Milestones, we are dedicated to nurturing young minds and empowering early educators to create high-quality learning environments. Through training, professional development, and unwavering support, we help shape the future—one child at a time. 💡 Investing in early childhood education means investing in stronger communities and brighter futures. Join us in supporting early learning! 🔗 Learn more at www.milestonesmn.org 📩 Tag an educator or a parent who would love to see this! #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ChildCare #EducationMatters #FutureLeaders #EarlyLearning #SupportEducators #InvestInChildren #QualityEducation #Milestones #TeacherTraining #CommunityGrowth #LearningThroughPlay #StrongerTogether

🌟 Fueling Healthy Futures with CACFP! 🌟 At Milestones, we believe every child deserves access to nutritious meals that support their growth and development. That’s why we’re proud sponsors of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)—a vital initiative that helps family day care providers provide balanced, wholesome meals to the children in our care. 🥦🍎🥛 Why does CACFP matter? ✅ Ensures children receive meals that meet essential nutrition guidelines ✅ Promotes healthy eating habits that last a lifetime ✅ Supports child care providers in offering high-quality meal options ✅ Helps fight food insecurity in our communities With CACFP, we’re not just feeding children—we’re nourishing their potential and paving the way for brighter futures. 🌈✨ Want to learn more about how CACFP is making a difference? Visit: www.milestonesmn.org/food-program #CACFP #ChildNutrition #HealthyKids #MilestonesCare #StrongerTogether #BuildingBrighterFutures #Milestones #childdevelopment #milestoneswaitepark

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫'𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟏. 🎉 𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!

🎉𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐀𝐂𝐅𝐏 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 🎉 Visit https://www.milestonesmn.org/newsletters.php to log in and view it today!

🌟 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲? 🌟 Are you passionate about working with children? We are seeking enthusiastic individuals to become substitutes for Family Child Care Programs in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright Counties! 🙌✨ ✅ Work in Unique Environments ✅ Flexible Hours ✅ Competitive Pay Join us and 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲!🌈 📲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐰: https://forms.gle/sQeuJ2J47dEziQie7 OR Scan the QR code, complete the application, and connect with the Shared Services Alliance Coordinator TODAY! #SubstituteCareServices #SharedServicesAlliance #MilestonesMN

🚨 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥: 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻!🚨 The Regional Grant application period will close September 25th. Applications are available through your Organizational Profile on Develop. If you haven't already - click here for a guide to set up your organization profile:https://developtoolmn.org/dhs/assets/Creating_an_Organization_Profile_FINAL_2020_tcm1053-500294.pdf For further assistance, contact Jackie Freeman at [email protected] or 320-249-0210.

Energize

🌟 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 ~ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲! 🌟 We’re excited to see everyone there! Don't miss this incredible opportunity to gain valuable insights into child behavior and early education.🌱 📚 Featured sessions include: ✅ Keynote: Creating a Culturally Sensitive Early Learning Environment ✅ Igniting Curiosity and Deep Learning Through the Power of Purposeful Play ✅ Why Do They Do That? A Chance to Grow Get ready for an engaging and inspiring day of learning. See you there! Questions: Contact Makayla at (320) 241-0629 or [email protected] #Energize2024 #EarlyLearning #ProfessionalDevelopment

🔷🔹 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐳𝐞? 🔹🔷 Energize is ONE WEEK Away! Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity! Register now to enhance your skills and knowledge in early childhood education. For More Details and Registration Information Visit: https://www.milestonesmn.org/energize-event/ #Energize2024 #EarlyLearning #ProfessionalDevelopment

Sub Care

🌟 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 - 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿! 🌟 Join us for a 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁. 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 @ 𝟲𝗽𝗺 to discover how you can become a 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 for Family Child Care Programs in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and/or Wright Counties! 🌟 👉 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BAEA62BA4F8C07-50863783-substitute

Back to School

🎒✏️ 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞! 📚🍎 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀! Wishing every child the confidence to shine and every teacher the energy to inspire! 💡 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱! 🌈✨

Energize 2024

🔷🔹 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐳𝐞? 🔹🔷 You will find so many reasons to join us at Energize Conference for an inspiring morning of learning! ➡️ Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity! Register now to enhance your skills and knowledge in early childhood education. For More Details and Registration Information Visit: https://www.milestonesmn.org/energize-event/ #Energize2024 #EarlyLearning #ProfessionalDevelopment

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Our Story

Since 1977, Milestones (formerly Child Care Choices, Inc.) has offered early childhood support, expertise, and resources for parents, educators, child care programs, and community members throughout Minnesota. Milestones provides the Steps to Success for the Early Childhood Community. For more information visit our website at www.milestonesmn.org