Children & Families

Head Start Program

Head Start is a state and federally funded early childhood program for expectant mothers and children ages birth-5 years old. The program offers comprehensive services to enrolled children and families, giving priority to limited income families and children with special needs. Head Start programs offer a nurturing environment that supports the healthy growth and development of each child in the context of family, culture and community. Early Head Start serves pregnant moms and children up to age 3, and Head Start serves children ages 3 or 4 years of age by September 1 of the school year.

Program Eligibility: Families with income up to 100% Federal Poverty Guideline are income eligible. Automatic qualifiers include receipt of MFIP, SSI, or experiencing homelessness or foster care. Family income over 100% of FPG may be considered for enrollment after income eligible children are enrolled.

For more information about our Head Start Program please call (218) 512-1515 or click here to apply.

CAPLP Head Start Program

Supporting Quality Child Care

CAPLP administers the Child Care Aware program for the Northwest District in Minnesota. The Child Care Aware program offers multiple services that support the development of high quality child care including professional development, Parent Aware supports, startup assistance, and grants.    

CAPLP Child Care map

CAPLP provides professional development opportunities for early childhood professionals across Northwest Minnesota. 

To register for trainings, click here. 

Search for upcoming training events in your area to positively impact the experiences of children in your care. Child Care Aware of Minnesota trainings cover topics that can be applied to all child care settings and help to expand the knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs of the care providers. All of the training opportunities are listed by Knowledge and Competency Framework Areas and CDA content areas. To participate in our scheduled trainings an individual Develop account is required.

Click here for Northwest District Training Policies and Procedures.

Click here for instructions on how to set up an online account or search for courses.

Eager To Learn Online Courses
Trainings that are accessible and educational opportunities to people who care for children. Child care providers, early childhood, and school-age professionals, parents and other caregivers are invited to network and learn, all from the comfort and convenience of home. There are quick two hour Anytime Learning self-paced trainings that cover a wide variety of topics and 8, 12 or 16 hour courses that let you connect with other child care providers through message boards and chat session while you study the material on your own.

For training related questions including registration support, planning professional development opportunities, becoming a trainer, or for career advising please call (218) 512-1579

Parent Aware is Minnesota’s quality rating and improvement system for early childhood programs. Parent Aware Star Ratings help to improve, support, and celebrate child care and early education programs. CAPLP provides free coaching and grant funding to support providers in the Parent Aware rating process. For more information about the Parent Aware Program, call (218) 512-1502 or visit www.parentaware.org

CAPLP understands that high quality child care is essential to healthy economies and thriving communities. We are here to support individuals and community partners that are interested in starting a child care business in the counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin. Startup Assistance includes technical assistance, coaching and grant funds. For more information about starting a child care, call (218) 512-1590.

Regional grants provide funds to help cover the costs of supplies, equipment, technology, and training. Grant funds are offered annually and are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified child care programs. Start Up Grants are intended to provide support to providers just getting started. Providers can request funding for items required for child care startup costs.

For the application for Regional Grants click here
For the application for a Start-Up Grant click here

For additional resources that support quality child care in Minnesota visit www.childcareawaremn.org

Connecting Families to Quality Child Care

At CAPLP we believe that children do better when they have access to high-quality early childhood experiences. Parent Aware is a statewide search tool to assist families in finding the best quality care and education for their children. Looking for childcare? Click here to access Parent Aware.

CAPLP administers two programs that are designed to help parents afford high-quality child care in Minnesota. Early Learning Scholarship, and Child Care Assistance both provide financial support for low-income parents to afford child care. Early Learning Scholarships, a program of the MN Department of Education, provides financial support up to $7,500 to help pay for high-quality care and education to prepare young children for school. CAPLP administers Early Learning Scholarships for families that reside in the counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin. For the Early Learning Scholarship application click here. Completed applications can be mailed or dropped of in person at: 715 11th St N, Suite 402 Moorhead, MN  56560. If you have any questions, please call (218) 512-1500. To learn more about the program click here.

We also provide support to Child Care Providers to ensure that families can utilize their financial assistance. 
To learn more about this program, please call (218) 512-1500.

The MN Child Care Assistance Program helps families pay child care costs for children through age 12, and for children with special needs through age 14. CAPLP administers the Child Care Assistance Program for families that reside in the counties of Becker, Douglas, Marshall, Otter Tail, Wadena and Wilkin. Child care costs may be paid for qualifying families while they go to work, look for work or attend school. 
 
To begin the application process, please complete this application.

(Please note: Once your application has been processed we will be in contact via mail regarding the status of your application)

To learn more about the program click here. 

If you would like more information about financial assistance programs or if you are a child care provider interested in receiving Child Care Assistance payments, please call 877-773-5778 or email
 

Rainbow Bridge Parenting Time Center

The Mission of Rainbow Bridge Parenting Time Center is to provide a safe environment to bring about the physical transfer of/or visitation with children without contact between the parental parties. Services include Supervised Parenting Time and Safe Exchanges in a family-friendly environment. To begin using services, individuals should contact the Rainbow Bridge office in order to schedule an intake appointment. Intakes are done between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday-Friday. All parties must complete an intake in person before services can be implemented. Rainbow Bridge cannot force a person to agree to services.

Rainbow Bridge does not require a court order for use of services, but does require a copy if one is in place. Rainbow Bridge has no legal jurisdiction; we will use the court order as a guide but are under no obligation to follow what is listed. Rainbow Bridge does not have the authority to enforce court orders; therefore, if a consensus cannot be reached between both parties regarding scheduling, no activity will be scheduled.

For more information about Rainbow Bridge, please call (218) 512-1555

Towey Family
Contact Us:

Phone (218) 512-1500
(800) 452-3646
Fax: (844) 215-7287
Email

Mailing Address:

715 11th St. N. Suite 402
Moorhead, MN  56560

Wilkin County office:

421 Nebraska Avenue
Breckenridge, MN  56520

(218) 643-2888

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