Community Resource Centers

A community resource center is a local hub that provides culturally responsive, relationship-based support and service navigation for expecting and parenting families and youth. 

Centers focus on ensuring families have equitable access to programs and services that promote protective factors, conditions and strengths that reduce risks and support the healthy development of children and families. 

The goals for community resource centers and kinship navigation programs are to:

• Make it easier for families to get what they need.
• Increase community connections for families.
• Build the capacity of organizations in communities experiencing inequities to create access to programs and services that support economic stability and family well-being.
• Promote practice, policy, and systems change at the local and state level to better support family well-being.

Staff at these centers use two helpful tools — Help Me Connect and Minnesota’s Bridge to Benefits — to identify services families may be eligible for in their area.

The state of Minnesota is committed to partnering with communities to address the root causes of adverse outcomes and promote child and family well-being through policy, system and environmental changes. 

Community Resource Center Advisory Council

The advisory council helps guide the commissioner in creating, managing and evaluating community resource centers in Minnesota. It includes members from diverse backgrounds and regions, representing the following groups:

• Parents and family members
• Community-based organizations serving families
• Tribal and urban American Indian representatives
• County government representatives
• School and school district representatives
• State partner representatives.