Day Care:

• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): Helps families with low incomes pay for child care while working, going to school, or participating in an employment plan; applicants may need to contact their county human services office to apply. 
• Early Learning Scholarships: Financial support to help cover the cost of high-quality child care and early education programs for children birth to age 4 who meet income and priority criteria.
• Help Me Grow Minnesota: Connects families with early childhood supports and referrals to local service providers and resources for young children (birth-5). 
• Parent Aware (Find Child Care + Funding Help): A statewide tool to help families search for quality child care options and learn about programs like CCAP; also has free support in multiple languages. 
• FamilyWise: Childcare and parent education opportunities. As a multi-service, multi-cultural agency, FamilyWise focuses on nurturing children, families, and communities through culturally competent services.

Legal Resources and Education: 

• Child Custody and Parenting Rights:
  • This site provides an overview of child custody and parenting time rights and aids available within the Minnesota District Court. Read through the Definitions tab for commonly used words in custody and parenting time cases, and read through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) tab for more information. 
• Documentation and Identification of Custody: The state of Minnesota outlines guidance and requirements for documenting custody and how to get required identification for children for air travel out of the country. 
• Way to Grow: For over 35 years, Way to Grow has partnered with families across the Twin Cities to provide free, year-round education, health, and parenting support from pregnancy through third grade. Virtual and in-person home visits available to meet with family educators. 

SNAP/WIC: 

• Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (SNAP Assistance): This site contains information regarding the programs available to parents or those who are pregnant to qualify for financial assistance with basic nutritional needs. Options are available for assistance with applying for these programs. 

Education Support/GED: 

• Postsecondary Child Care Grant: Offers up to $6,500 per eligible child per academic year in childcare support for Minnesota students attending college and meeting income requirements. 
• Beyond New Beginnings: Supports and nurtures young parents and their children as they gain independence in safe, stable homes while being actively involved in the New Beginnings High School Program or post-secondary education.  
• Student Parent Support Initiative: Provides much-needed support to entities and institutions to assist college-age pregnant and parenting students in successfully completing secondary education.

• Minnesota Department of Public Safety: From birth to later childhood, it is essential that children have a car seat in order to be safe in a vehicle on the road. There are tips and guidelines for installing a car seat properly, choosing a car seat, and how to determine when your child no longer needs a car seat. 

In Minnesota, adults and youth have a fundamental right to a variety of options in pregnancy. These are: 

• You have a LEGAL RIGHT to access abortion care WITHOUT the permission of a parent or guardian.
  • Medicated abortion is available up to 12 weeks and in-clinic abortion available up to 23 weeks in the state of Minnesota.
• Right to carry a pregnancy to term, where you can pursue being a parent and access the support systems within Minnesota to aid you in that journey.
  • Adoption is another option after carrying a pregnancy to term if parenthood is not your desired path. 
    • Reputable agencies in Minnesota are New Life Adoption, Children’s Home Society, and others available through Hennepin County.
• Employee and Worker's Rights: Paid Leave may overlap with federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections. If you do not qualify for Paid Leave or FMLA, Minnesota law still provides 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid parental leave. This leave is available regardless of your immigration status, how long you’ve worked for your employer or the size of your employer.
• Applying for Medical Leave, Work Accomodations, etc.: With appropriate notice, employers and educational institutions are required to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant and/or parenting adults and youth.

Help Me Connect: Resource portal for expecting and parenting families with young children, and those working with them.

• Search Tool

Hennepin County Resource Search:

• Children and Families

YSN (Youth Services Network): Helping youth find shelter & services.

• Pregnant and Parenting Youth