Head Start Resources for Families

Community Resource Guide

Check out our Community Resource Guide for local information.

Resource Hubs

MN Benefits
Apply for benefits easily online. You can apply for food assistance, cash programs, emergency assistance, housing support, and child care assistance. 

Help Me Connect
A navigator connecting expectant families, families with young children (birth – 8 years old) and those working with families to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being.

Bridge to Benefits
Bridge to Benefits is a project by Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota to improve the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits. By answering a few simple questions, you will be able to see if you or someone else may be eligible for public work support programs. 

 

Head Start

National Head Start Association (NHSA)
Head Start is a national commitment to give every vulnerable child an opportunity to succeed.

Minnesota Head Start Association (MHSA)
Our mission is to empower ourselves as a united voice in speaking and acting on issues affecting low income children and families.

Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Head Start information clearing house. “Find a Head Start Program” look up feature available to find the closest Head Start program.

Administration for Children and Families – Department of Health & Human Services
We promote the economic and social well-being of children, families, individuals, and communities. This Federal agency monitors and supports Head Start programs across the nation.

MN Department of Human Services
State of MN department that promotes people centered services for the state, to help people meet their basic needs so they can live in dignity and achieve their highest potential. This department oversees child care centers, background checks, and other services for the families that Head Start serves.

MN Department of Education
State of MN department that oversees education throughout the state. State funding supporting Head Start services come through MDE.

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program for all Minnesota families with children between the ages of birth to kindergarten entrance. The program is offered through Minnesota public school districts. See your district for more information. 

Bagley

Clearbrook-Gonvick

Fertile-Beltrami (scroll to the bottom and click on Early Childhood Family Education to view the most updated information)

Fosston

Goodridge Please contact Goodridge Public School at 218-378-4134 for more information. 

Red Lake County Central

Red Lake Falls Please contact JA Hughes Elementary School at 218-253-2161 for more information. 

Thief River Falls

Win-E-Mac

 

Parenting

Parents Action
A non-profit organization dedicated to helping parents and caregivers ensure your youngest children get the healthiest, happiest start to life and enter school ready to learn.

Family Education
Your partner in parenting. We aim to make it easier for busy moms and dads like you to raise happy, healthy, engaged children at every age and stage.

National Center for Fathering
A nonprofit educational organization that strives to improve the lives of children and establish a positive fathering and family legacy that will impact future generations by inspiring and equipping fathers and father figures to be actively engaged in the life of every child.

Prairie Public
A trusted public service dedicated to building an exciting and productive future for the prairie and its people.

Zero to Three
Their mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. At Zero to Three, they envision a society that has the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential.

Disabilites/Special Education

Help Me Grow
Provides resources for families to understand developmental milestones and learn if there are any concerns. Parents or concerned people can refer a child for possible services.

Pacer Center
Pacer provides individual assistance, workshops, publications and more to help families make decisions about education and other services for their child with disabilities.

Special Education Cooperatives/School Districts

Special Education Cooperatives serve the special education needs of multiple area school districts. If you are concerned about your child's development, please use Help Me Grow to refer your child. Someone from the local school district or special education cooperative will reach out to you. 

Northwest Regional Interdistrict Council (NWRIC)
NWRIC serves eight school districts, including Goodridge, in the area of special education.

Area Special Education Cooperative (ASEC)
The purpose of ASEC is to assist the local school districts in meeting and serving students with special needs. ASEC serves twelve districts, including Fertile-Beltrami, Win-E-Mac, Fosston, Red Lake County Central, and Red Lake Falls. 

Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council (BRIC)
BRIC provides services in the area of special education to eleven member school districts, including Bagley and Clearbrook-Gonvick. 

Thief River Falls
The Thief River Falls school district provides a continuum of services to eligible students with disabilities.

 

 

Health/Mental Health

Minnesota Department of Health
Protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all Minnesotans. Site has a variety of resources from data & statistics to common health concerns.

Mayo Clinic
A nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education, and research, providing expert, whole-person care to everyone who needs healing.

US Department of Health and Human Services
Their mission is to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans. Site offers information on programs and services, grants, and laws and regulations.

Center for Disease Control & Prevention
Saving Lives, Protecting People. Site offers information on health concerns, tips on healthy living, emergency preparedness, and much more.

Immunization

Minnesota Department of Health: Immunizations
Some people call them immunizations, others call them vaccinations or shots. Whatever you call them; immunizations are one of the best weapons we have against a number of serious diseases.

For Children

Pacer Center’s Kids Against Bullying
This is a bullying prevention website created by PACER’s national Bullying Prevention Center. Actively leads social change, so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood rite of passage.

PBS Kids
Educational games for children and Parenting resources and tips on raising children, planning birthdays, and kids activities.

Literacy

Reading Rockets
A national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.

Reading is Fundamental (RIF)
Reading is Fundamental is committed to a literate America where all children have the opportunities that literacy provides.

Voter Info

Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State
Website to register to vote.

Budget Benefits

Help Minnesota Save
Financial literacy is having knowledge and skills to make informed judgments and effective decisions about money management.

Grandparents

AARP
Nonprofit, nonpartisan, social welfare organization with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities, and fights for the issues that matter most to families.

Generations United (GU)
Their mission is to improve the lives of children and older people through intergenerational collaboration, public policies, and programs for the enduring benefit of all.

Safety

Children’s Defense Fund
A nonprofit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for more than 40 years to ensure a level playing field for all children.

Internet Safety

NetSmartzWorkshop
An interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) that provides age appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on and offline.

Child Care

Child Care Exchange
Supporting early childhood education professionals worldwide in their efforts to craft thriving environments for children and adults

Child Care Aware of MN
Supporting families, providers, and the community to know more about child care in MN. Site allows you to look up child care providers in your area.

Parent Aware
Support for families and programs on quality child care in MN. You can search out providers to determine their quality rating score to select providers that are working to improve outcomes for young children. Check out their parent tool kit, support for low income families and health care expenses.

Nutrition

My Plate
A reminder to find your healthy eating style and build it throughout your lifetime.