Minnesota Resources

Would you like to know more about child care licensing in your state or resources for children with special needs? Do you need to contact someone about child support, health care for your family, or help paying for food or heat? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Click a tab below to find those resources and more in Minnesota.

Child Care Resource & Referral Search

Looking for child care? Your local CCR&R agency can help you find options near your home or work.

Find out more about child care in your area. Click on the links below, or contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for one-on-one help.

Child Care Licensing

Your local child care regulatory office

Phone: (651) 431-6500 (Centers), Call your local office (Homes)

Provider Complaint Line: (651) 431-6500 (Centers), Call your local office (Homes)

Website

Inspection Reports

Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

Website

State Child Care Landscape

Basic facts about child care in your area

State Child Care Landscape

Minnesota Child Care Information

Information and resources for parents looking for child care in Minnesota

Website

Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

Website

Criminal Background Checks

Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

Website

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) – Parent Aware

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. These ratings can help families choose quality care and can assist child care providers to improve and communicate their quality.

Website

Child Care Wayfinder

A one-stop navigation network for starting and growing child care programs

Website

Center for Inclusive Child Care

Free relationship-based professional development services including support, training, modeling, and resources to child care providers

Website

Discover resources that will provide more information regarding local services such as health care and child well-being.

Child Protective Services

To report suspected abuse, maltreatment, or neglect of a child

Find Your Local Office

*If county is not known, call ChildHelp at 1(800) 422-4453*

Website

Child Support

Child support application and procedures for your state

Website

Medicaid Eligibility – Health Care Programs

Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

Website

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Federal-State health insurance program for children – available to qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. In some states, parents and pregnant women may also be covered.

Website

Minnesota Department of Health

State government programs to promote the health of Minnesota citizens

Website

Minnesota Department of Human Services

State government programs and services for children and families

Website

Mental Health Services for Children

Provides a range of children’s mental health services, from prevention to crisis response, school programs to treatment

Website

Mental Health Services for Adults

State government mental health resources that may offer community mental health services (may include individual, family, and marital counseling), behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs

Website

Car Seat Basics

Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

Website

Are you looking for help paying for child care? Buying groceries or diapers? Find out what assistance programs are offered locally.

Child Care Assistance – CCAP

Child care financial assistance programs

Find Your Local Office

Website

Minnesota Head Start Association

A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families 

Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

Website

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

A program offering supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information to low-income women who are pregnant or have children aged birth to five

Find Your Local WIC Clinic

Website

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)

Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

Website

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)

Federal nutrition program

Website

Energy Assistance Program

Helps low-income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

Website

Learn about valuable resources for parents of children with special needs.

Goodwill – Easter Seals Minnesota  

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

The Arc Minnesota

Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

Website

Early Intervention – Help Me Grow

Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

Website

Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN)

Programs and Information for children with special needs

Website

Housing and Rental Assistance

Information on rent and housing assistance

Website

Find out more about child care in your area. Click on the links below, or contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for one-on-one help.

Child Care Licensing

Your local child care regulatory office

Phone: (651) 431-6500 (Centers), Call your local office (Homes)

Website Find Your Local Office

Provider Complaint Line: (651) 431-6500 (Centers), Call your local office (Homes)

Inspection Reports

Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

Website

State Child Care Landscape

Basic facts about child care in your area

State Child Care Landscape

Minnesota Child Care Information

Information and resources for parents looking for child care in Minnesota

Website

Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

Website

Criminal Background Checks

Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

Website

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) – Parent Aware

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. These ratings can help families choose quality care and can assist child care providers to improve and communicate their quality.

Website

Child Care Wayfinder

A one-stop navigation network for starting and growing child care programs

Website

Center for Inclusive Child Care

Free relationship-based professional development services including support, training, modeling, and resources to child care providers

Website

Discover resources that will provide more information regarding local services such as health care and child well-being.

Child Protective Services

To report suspected abuse, maltreatment, or neglect of a child

Find Your Local Office

*If county is not known, call ChildHelp at 1(800) 422-4453*

Website

Child Support

Child support application and procedures for your state

Website

Medicaid Eligibility – Health Care Programs

Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

Website

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Federal-State health insurance program for children – available to qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. In some states, parents and pregnant women may also be covered.

Website

Minnesota Department of Health

State government programs to promote the health of Minnesota citizens

Website

Minnesota Department of Human Services

State government programs and services for children and families

Website

Mental Health Services for Children

Provides a range of children’s mental health services, from prevention to crisis response, school programs to treatment

Website

Mental Health Services for Adults

State government mental health resources that may offer community mental health services (may include individual, family, and marital counseling), behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs

Website

Car Seat Basics

Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

Website

Are you looking for help paying for child care? Buying groceries or diapers? Find out what assistance programs are offered locally.

Child Care Assistance – CCAP

Child care financial assistance programs

Find Your Local Office

Website

Minnesota Head Start Association

A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families 

Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

Website

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

A program offering supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information to low-income women who are pregnant or have children aged birth to five

Find Your Local WIC Clinic

Website

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)

Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

Website

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)

Federal nutrition program

Website

Energy Assistance Program

Helps low-income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

Website

Learn about valuable resources for parents of children with special needs.

Goodwill – Easter Seals Minnesota  

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

The Arc Minnesota

Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

Website

Early Intervention – Help Me Grow

Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

Website

Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN)

Programs and Information for children with special needs

Website

Housing and Rental Assistance

Information on rent and housing assistance

Website

If you find that any of the information above is incorrect, please contact us at info@childcareaware.org.

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