Minnesota Resources

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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.

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

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

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

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

Phone: Contact your local office

Website

Find Your Local Office

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

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 COVID-19 Website

General information about COVID-19 in your state 

Website

Minnesota Department of Human Services

State government programs and services for children and families

Website

Mental Health Services for Adults and Children

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

Mental Health Services for Adults

Mental Health Services for Children

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

Phone: Contact your local office

Website

Find Your Local Office

Minnesota Head Start Association

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

Website  

Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

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

Website

Find Your Local WIC Clinic

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

Low Income 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

  • Child Care

    Find out about the ins and outs of child care in your area. What is required to become a provider in your area? What requirements are there for a background check? Does your state offer any quality improvement programs?

    Child Care Licensing

    Your local child care regulatory office

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

    Website Find Your Local Office

    Phone: (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

    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

    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

  • Health and Social Services

    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

    Phone: Contact your local office

    Website

    Find Your Local Office

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

    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 COVID-19 Website

    General information about COVID-19 in your state 

    Website

    Minnesota Department of Human Services

    State government programs and services for children and families

    Website

    Mental Health Services for Adults and Children

    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

    Mental Health Services for Adults

    Mental Health Services for Children

    Car Seat Basics

    Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

    Website

  • Financial Assistance

    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

    Phone: Contact your local office

    Website

    Find Your Local Office

    Minnesota Head Start Association

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

    Website  

    Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

    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

    Website

    Find Your Local WIC Clinic

    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

    Low Income Energy Assistance Program

    Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

    Website

  • Children with Special Needs

    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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