Contact Info
Additional Support for Families
On this page:
A Resource Navigator | Education/Child Care | Financial Resources | Food and Nutrition | Health and Safety | Immigrant Resources | Pregnancy and Postpartum | Substance Use | Vaccine Resources
A Resource Navigator
Help Me Connect
Minnesota Help Me Connect helps expectant families, families with young children birth to 8 years of age, and those working with families find and connect to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being.
Education/Child Care
Child Care and Early Learning Information
Child care and early learning information for families, programs and providers, and communities. This resource includes information on paying for child care, finding child care, and information on how the state is supporting child care providers.
Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Resources
- Website for Families: Early Childhood Screening
- Information about Kindergarten: Website for families that includes a one-page FAQ handout for parents with answers to commonly asked questions about enrolling in kindergarten.
- Website for Districts/Programs: Early Childhood Screening
- The Successful Learning Equation is used to recognize and uplift the individuals, programs, and systems that contribute to the success of each learner.
Help Me Grow Minnesota
Help Me Grow Minnesota connects families to resources that help young children develop, learn, and grow.
Pacer Early Childhood Family Information and Resources
PACER Center enhances the quality of life and expands opportunities for children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities and their families so each person can reach his or her highest potential.
Parent Aware
Offering free tools and resources to help families find the quality child care and early education programs their children need to succeed in school and life.
Financial Resources
Minnesota Cloth Diaper Bank
MCDB loans cloth diapers to Minnesota families looking to utilize cloth, without having to make the initial investment in their own stash.
Minnesota Department of Revenue Child Tax Credit
You may qualify for a Child Tax Credit of $1,750 per qualifying child, with no limit on the number of children claimed. This is a refundable credit, meaning you can receive a refund even if you do not owe tax.
Minnesota Energy Assistance Program
The Energy Assistance Program pays towards heat, electricity, and past due water costs. Energy Assistance is free for all eligible households.
Minnesota | Free Vitamin Program
A community-focused program allowing families to receive free vitamins monthly from participating pharmacies.
Food and Nutrition
Hunger Impact Partners Meals for Kids App
The Free Meals for Kids mobile app will help families and kids find free meals at schools and other sites across Minnesota.
Real Life, Good Food
This is a part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) at the University of Minnesota Extension. It offers recipes, cooking tips, and physical activity ideas for a healthier life. SNAP-Ed is the educational component of the USDA’s SNAP, a program that offers nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families.
Second Harvest Heartland
Second Harvest Heartland now has a Care Center, which is a new hub where neighbors can call and reach a live person for SNAP application assistance, Commodity Supplemental Food Program enrollment, food resources, or to just ask questions. They have navigators that speak several languages.
SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)
SUN Bucks is a new grocery benefit available across most of the U.S. Families with eligible school-aged children can get $120 per child to buy groceries during the summer.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, helps Minnesotans with low incomes get the food they need for nutritious and well-balanced meals. This free program provides support to help stretch your household food budget. Learn more at MN Food Helper.
Health and Safety
FastTrackerMN.org
FastTrackerMN.org is a dynamic behavioral health search tool that gives Minnesotans access to real time information and availability. It improves connections for Individuals and collaboration for systems. Whether you're searching for yourself, a loved one, a patient, or looking for general information, this is your place to start!
MN Poison Control System
The Minnesota Poison Control System provides exposure management, education, prevention, and other services to Minnesotans.
Minnesota Department of Health Lead Information
Blood Lead Level Guidelines
Lead Information for Families
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota has created a collection of multilingual/multicultural mental health information videos in multiple languages meant to combat negative public attitudes about mental illnesses and shed light on personalized, culturally sensitive, and responsive mental health services. The Breaking Barriers: NAMI Minnesota’s Multilingual Mental Health Resources videos are available in English, Hmong, Spanish, and Somali.
Portico Healthnet
Portico Healthnet helps uninsured individuals and families access affordable coverage and care.
Toxic Free Kids Program
The Toxic Free Kids Program works to identify priority chemicals and chemicals of high concern that could be found in consumer products and are potentially harmful and hazardous if exposed. This program focuses on pregnant people and children, who are more vulnerable and may be at higher risk for potential negative health effects from chemical exposures.
Educational materials can be found on the program webpage Toxic Free Kids Program Education Materials
Immigrant Resources
Minnesota Refugee and Immigrant Resources (PDF)
This resource offers information and tools to support new refugees and immigrants.
Public Charge information
- Fact Sheet on WIC and Public Charge-English (PDF)
- Fact Sheet on WIC and Public Charge-Spanish (PDF)
- Fact Sheet on WIC and Public Charge-Arabic (PDF)
Pregnancy and Postpartum
40-Day Project
This University of Minnesota Extension (and community partners) project supports Somali birthing parents and the people who serve them during the 40-day postpartum period. The 40-Day Project aims to promote mental wellbeing and self-care to new parents during the first five weeks after birth.
Minnesota Center for Stillbirth and Infant Death
This is a statewide program that provides a framework for early referral and intervention when a baby dies in Minnesota.
Perinatal Mental Health Support - Contacts and Resources
A listing of supportive mental health services specifically for all pregnant and postpartum individuals. Resources include emergency and non-emergency hotlines, community resources, and mental health promotional materials.
Substance Use
Minnesota Drug Addiction and Substance Abuse Hotlines
The National Rehab Hotline is free and available 24/7 by calling (866) 210-1303. An accredited specialist will answer after a few short rings and be there to help you through any substance abuse or mental health crisis. The MN state number to call is 1-651-431-2460 or you may look through the Adult mental health crisis response phone numbers list for a county specific agency.
Minnesota Free Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers
Offers a list of alcohol and drug rehab facilities throughout the state.
Minnesota Quit Partner
Quit Partner is Minnesota’s free way to quit nicotine, including smoking, vaping and chewing. We can support your quit with one-on-one coaching and other helpful tools. Whenever you need us, we’re here to help 24/7.
Proof Alliance
For 25 years, Proof Alliance has been delivering awareness and education to pregnant people and their partners, and hands-on help and hope to those living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). To access resources and support on FASD, or to get involved, call (651) 917-2370 or visit Proof Alliance.
Vaccine Resources
One of the best things families can do to safeguard themselves and children is to keep up to date with recommended vaccines. Use these links to find vaccine recommendations and free or low-cost shots.
- Immunization: Me and My Family
- Pregnancy and Vaccination
- Vaccines for Infants, Children, and Adolescents
- Vaccines for Adults
- Free or Low-Cost Shots for Children