Child Care Funding Options

You've found the perfect child care center.

Now... how do you pay for it?

The Minnesota Post-Secondary Child Care Grant offers child care assistance to students who are:

• Minnesota residents
• U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Not on the MFIP program
• Income eligible
• Not in default on student loan
• Making academic progress

Other guidelines apply. To receive an application for this grant, contact the Riverland Financial Aid Office at 507-433-0603 (Austin) of 507-379-3323 (Albert Lea) or print an application * and return it to the Financial Aid office on your campus.

* To Print & View the Grant Application you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Mower County Department of Human Services offers assistance to clients participating in the MFIP Program. For more information, call 507-437-9700

The Parenting Resource Center in Austin offers assistance to students who qualify. To qualify for this program, a student must work or attend school a minimum of 20 hours/week and cannot be participating in the MFIP program. A student's eligibility will also be determined by:

• Family Size
• Family Income
• Co-pay

Child care assistance is awarded on an individual, case-by-case basis. For additional information, call 507-437-8330.

Albert Lea Community Child Care offers a sliding fee scale to families who qualify. For more information, call 507-373-7979.

Freeborn County Department of Human Services offers assistance to clients participating in the MFIP program according to their MFIP plan. They also offer assistance to students not on the MFIP program if they meet program requirements. These requirements include:

• Working at least 20 hours per week, earning at least minimum wage
• Using a legal person as a child care provider
• Cooperating with child support collection

For more information on either of the Freeborn County Programs, call 507-377-5487.

Parent Provider Connection
Scholarship Program

• Offers emergency assistance in helping children maintain consistent quality care during a time of crisis
• Allows families in need to choose licensed childcare that best meets their families needs
• Allows families to maintain quality childcare during a time of education, reemployment or family transition