Resources to support your childcare needs as a student and parent.
You don’t need to navigate this alone.
Child Care at YMCA Early Childhood Learning Centers has 500 openings for children at its 10 locations in the Greater Twin Cities and Rochester area. Parents/guardians can register at the YMCA website or show up in the morning at an eligible location, where a Y staff person will help get them registered (typically takes 30 minutes). Call Lindsay Azoca for more information at 507-200-4024 or email lindsay.azoca@ymcamn.org.
Early Learning Scholarship can help your child attend high-quality childcare and early education to help your child get ready for kindergarten. Early Learning Scholarship eligibility information and application.
Phone: 888-450-2773
Email: elsinfo@familiesfirstmn.org
Families First Crisis Nursery Overwhelmed by financial issues, illness, or loss? Families First of Minnesota offers Crisis Nursery services — short-term care for children in Olmsted County while their parents deal with the problem. If you are an Olmsted County resident with children birth through age 12, call 507-287-2020 to access Crisis Nursery services. After normal business hours, call 507-535-5625.
Help Me Connect is a navigator connecting pregnant and parenting families with young children (birth – eight years old) with services in their local communities that empower families to be healthy and safe. Help Me Connect is an interagency collaboration between Minnesota’s Departments of Education, Health and Human Services.
Minnesota Postsecondary Child Care Grant The Child Care Grant program provides financial assistance to students who have children 12 and under, are not receiving assistance under the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), and who demonstrate financial need for grants, to help pay for child care while pursuing postsecondary education. Contact Melissa Pentz in Financial Aid with questions at melissa.pentz@rctc.edu.
Parent Aware offers free tools and resources to help families find quality childcare. Call 1-888-291-9811 or visit Parent Aware to search for childcare options.
Onward and Upward program was created to provide a pathway for single mothers, single fathers, and pregnant women to complete their education and achieve family financial stability and self-sufficiency. We aim to provide comprehensive social and financial support to overcome barriers to graduation. To apply fill out this online application and a Catholic Charities navigator will be in contact with you, https://www.ccsomn.org/onwardandupward/onward-and-upward-form/.
Mother and Child Assistance Fund Catholic Charities Mother and Child fund will consider applications made by women during their pregnancy or parenting a child under 12 months of age. Applicants can receive one-time funding from one of the following categories: Rent, Utilities, Medical, Child Care Assistance, Parenting education, and other categories on a case by case basis. For more information please call 507-287-2047.