Information and Resources for Families

• Family Support
• Financial Resources
• Early Childhood Resources
• Birth Defects Opt-Out Form

Family Support

The Arc of Minnesota promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a statewide, non-profit organization, the Arc of Minnesota provides information and connection to resources for people with developmental disabilities and their families and also acts as an advocate when needed.

Autism Society of Minnesota (AUSM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of those affected by autism from birth through retirement. Members include families, educators, caregivers, and professionals who support individuals with autism spectrum disorders and are dedicated to education, advocacy, and support.

Family Voices of Minnesota is a grassroots family organization that aims to achieve family-centered care for all children, youth, and young adults with special health care needs. Through state and national networks of families and providers, Family Voices of Minnesota provides tools that build partnerships among professionals, patients, and families, and serves as a trusted resource for information to improve health system policies. The CONNECTED Program matches families of children or youth with special health care needs or disabilities with an experienced Volunteer Support Parent who has received specialized training.

Medical Home is a family-centered approach where primary care providers and families work together to improve the health and quality of life for children and youth with special health needs and their families.

Minnesota Hands & Voices provides information, support, and referral to families learning of their child's hearing loss. Parent Guides discuss your concerns with you and will send you information related to hearing loss and other topics of interest. They will also refer you to organizations and information sources, including other families of children with hearing loss, which you may find helpful.

PACER Center is a parent training and information center for families of children and youth with all disabilities from birth through 21 years old. At PACER Center, parents will find publications, workshops, and other resources to help make decisions about education, vocational training, employment, and other services for children with disabilities. The Family to Family Health Information Center at PACER provides assistance with accessing and navigating private and public insurance (MA, TEFRA) programs, parent support from multicultural advocates in multiple languages, and information on working effectively with doctors and school professionals.

Financial and Insurance Resources

Bridge to Benefits Minnesota links families and individuals to public Work Support Programs and tax credits. You will find information about: Eligibility Screening Tool for Health Insurance Programs, Energy Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (food stamps), School Meals, Child Care Assistance, Earned Income Tax Credit, or Working Family Credit.

MNSure is Minnesota's marketplace where individuals, families and small businesses can shop, compare and choose health insurance coverage that meets their needs. MNsure is the only place you can qualify for financial help that can lower the cost of your monthly insurance premium.

Disability Hub MN™ is a free statewide resource network that helps you solve problems, navigate the system and plan for your future. We can help you create your best life, your way. Check out the For Families section including Charting the Life Course™ for Families which is a framework to help families explore and plan for the life they want.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Fact Sheets for Families Four fact sheets to explain specific parts of the ACA that benefit children and youth with special health needs.

Local Public Health (LPH) Departments can help answer your questions and assist you with finding community services that could benefit your child, available financial resources, and well child exams and immunizations.

Minnesota Department of Human Services provides information about programs including Medical Assistance (MA) and MN Health Care Programs, Financial Resources, and TEFRA. The department also has a Provider Help Line for billing and related questions.

Early Childhood Resources

Follow Along Program is a statewide, child find activity that supports young children who are at-risk for experiencing developmental delays. FAP will help you know if your child is playing, talking, growing, moving, and acting like other children the same age.

Help Me Grow is an interagency initiative of the State of Minnesota (Departments of Education, Health and Human Services) partnering with local service agencies to provide resources about the development of young children for parents and professionals. These resources include information on developmental milestones, YouTube videos, caregiver strategies to support development, screening, and evaluation, and how to talk about developmental concerns.

Help Me Connect is an interagency initiative of the State of Minnesota (Departments of Education, Health and Human Services) that serves as a navigator connecting pregnant and parenting families with young children (birth to 8 years) with services in their local communities that empower families to be healthy and safe.

Birth Defects Opt-Out Form

Opt-Out form for the Birth Defects Information System (PDF)