Programs Directory

In order to better coordinate and resource the systems that service children, youth, and families, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families is taking a Whole Family Approach to our work. A Whole Family Approach is an approach to practice, program and policy decision making that recognizes and addresses the needs of children and the adults in their lives simultaneously. This approach recognizes that families come in all different shapes and sizes and that families define themselves.

Child Care Access Grantees can help families experiencing homelessness or housing instability apply for and maintain their child care assistance.

Parent Aware offers free tools and resources for families and child care programs. It can help you find child care, options for affording care, and tools and tips to find the right program for your child. Additionally, Parent Aware helps program continuously improve their quality through Star Ratings and resources.

SUN Bucks is an income-based food support program that provides families with $120 per eligible school-aged child to buy groceries when school is out for the summer.

The Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program supports the child care and early education workforce by increasing compensation and benefits for this vital workforce. This program created Legal Nonlicensed One-Time Payments, which provide one-time payments of $500 to legal nonlicensed providers registered with the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to cover registration and startup costs.

The Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program supports the child care and early education workforce by increasing compensation and benefits for this vital workforce. The program issues monthly payments to eligible child care and early educators to fund increases in compensation and benefits.

Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) can help make quality child care affordable for families with low incomes.

The STAY (Successful Transition to Adulthood for Youth) Program offers independent living services to eligible youth ages 14 up to age 23, who are currently or were formerly in foster care.