Resources for family, friend and neighbor caregivers

Born Learning
Born Learning is a public engagement campaign from the United Way that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities.

Bridge to Benefits
Bridge to Benefits is a multi-state project by Children’s Defense Fund to improve the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits. You can use it to see if you or someone else may be eligible for public work support programs.

Bright Futures
Information about early childhood social and emotional development, what to expect and when to seek help.

Center for Inclusive Child Care
Training, and consultation to child care providers and parents of children with special needs.

Child Care Research
The Minnesota Department of Human Services links to several surveys and reports about family friend and neighbor caregivers. (Scroll down to "Statewide studies identify complex child care arrangements.")

Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care Best Practices- A report to Ready 4 K
A report on how culturally diverse families teach their children to succeed and how early education systems can learn from them. Best practices are identified and how they relate to the Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress.

Getting School Ready in Minnesota (PDF)
Booklet outlines the basic skills necessary for children to start school ready to learn and tips for helping children to build these skills. (Made possible by The Northland Foundation).

A Guide to Caring for Infants and Toddlers (PDF)
The years from birth to 3 are the period of greatest change and growth in life. This guide is for all adults who care for infants and toddlers.The guide is intended to emphasize areas of knowledge and skill so that adults know what to do during this unique and critical stage.

Our Health & Safety Support Network includes information on:

Healthy Living Toolkit
The US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants' (USCRI) Web site offers 23 health communication brochures translated into 14 languages.

Helping All Children Get Ready for School (PDF, 164 KB)
How community organizations can include family, friend and neighbor caregivers in programs and services.

Home Hazards, from Mortgage Loan Directory and Information Inc. offers an overview of the kinds of things that you need to know to make your house safe.

Keeping Kids Safe: This booklet will help you be ready to respond to emergencies while you’re caring for other people’s children AND to keep your own family safe–since your child care home is also your family’s living space. By planning ahead with this 10-step process, you can feel better prepared to keep yourself and the children safe. (PDF)

English: http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-5299-ENG
Arabic: http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-5299-ARA
Hmong: http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-5299-HMN
Somali: http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-5299-SOM
Spanish: http://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Legacy/DHS-5299-SPA

Language Tips
Help your 4-year-old get a head start on language skills.  Provided by Ready 4 K and the Minnesota Department of Education. In six languages!

Making the Most of Playtime (PDF)
The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning offers tips and strategies for families to consider when playing with their infant or toddler.

Math Tips
Help your 5-year-olds learn mathematics before they arrive in kindergarten. Ready 4 K and the Minnesota Department of Education provide this in six languages!

Minnesota Parents Know
Information, resources and activities to help children grow, develop and learn from birth through high school.

Motor Skills Tips
Getting children physically ready for kindergarten is just as important as getting them mentally prepared. These tips will help young children learn how to use their bodies through fun and engaging activities and exercises.

Reading Tip Sheets
One-page tip sheets for caregivers of children in Preschool through Third Grade are available in eleven languages.

ParentFurther
More than just a website, ParentFurther represents a larger family outreach campaign; join our effort to help parents learn the simple, everyday steps to raising successful kids.

Parenting Counts
A series of one-minute video spots create a lasting impression by showing, not telling how parenting principles play out in every day examples. These award-winning spots are engaging, humorous and true-to-life.

Taking Care of Our Children (PDF, 344 KB)
This booklet provides a variety of information including home safety, first aid, play & activities, school readiness, child development and health & nutrition.

Ten Simple Ways to Encourage Learning
A free information guide to help support families and their children during the earliest years of learning. This booklet is designed to support the learning experienced by children from birth through age five and is available for download in in both English and Spanish.