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Food and Nutrition Resources

Emergency Food Resources
If you need immediate help finding food, you can call the Hunger Solutions Minnesota hotline at 888.711.1151. You can also search for food pantries online.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP helps you buy the food you need if you have a low income. Participants receive a debit card to buy food at stores and farmers markets. You can apply online or contact your county or tribe for help.

Woman, Infants & Children Program (WIC)
WIC is a nutrition and breastfeeding program to help pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children eat well, learn about nutrition, and stay healthy. Benefits include nutrition information, healthy food purchases using a WIC Card, and other health or community program referrals. Find a WIC clinic near you or call 800.942.4030.

Financial Aid Programs

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

Who
Families may be eligible to receive CCAP benefits if:

• They have a low income. This includes families currently or recently in the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and those who have never received cash assistance.
• They have children age 12 and younger or children with special needs who are ages 13 and 14 that need child care.
• They need help paying for child care to work, look for work, or attend school or training.

What
This program pays a portion of families’ child care costs to the family’s child care provider. Families must use a legal provider. There may be a waiting list for assistance in some counties for families that haven’t recently received cash assistance.

   Stearns County Human Services 320-656-6000, Benton County Human Services 320-968-5087, 800-530-6254                                        Sherburne County Health and Human Services 763-765-4000, 800-433-5239

• Child Care Assistance Programs (CCAP) help make quality childcare affordable for income-eligible families, who are employed or seeking employment. All families have a co-payment based on their gross income and family size.
• MFIP Child Care - is available to families who participate in the MFIP Program.
• Transition Year Child Care - provides child care to families whose MFIP case has closed within the last 12 months.
• Basic Sliding Fee Child Care - is for low-income families who do not qualify for MFIP Child Care or Transition Year Child Care

Applying for the Child Care Assistance Program

Before families can receive child care assistance, they must complete an application and meet eligibility requirements. The application must be signed.

There are three ways families can apply for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). The method used depends on your situation and the program(s) you are applying for:

1. The Minnesota Child Care Program Application DHS-3550. This form can be used when families are applying for CCAP only.
2. A Combined Application - Child Care Addendum DHS-5223D and a Combined Application Form DHS-5223 (CAF) can be completed if you are applying for cash or SNAP with CCAP.
3. A Child Care Application must be completed or you can complete an application online at https://www.mnbenefits.org. Minnesota's online application can be completed when applying for CCAP only or when then applying for cash and / or SNAP.

For more information about the Child Care Assistance Program, visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services 

Early Learning Scholarships

Who
For families meeting income eligibility requirements and who have a child between the ages of 0-5  – who choose a program with a 3 or 4 Star Parent Aware Rating or one that will earn a Rating within six months.

What
Available statewide, scholarships help families afford high-quality child care and early education programs. Families can receive up to $12,000 per scholarship annually when parents choose a qualifying program.

How
For more information call Parent Aware at 888.291.9811.                                                                                                                                                 In the St. Cloud and surrounding area contact Milestones (formerly Child Care Choices): 1-800-288-8549 or 320-251-5081 Region 7W: Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright  or visit the Early Learning Scholarships page on the Minnesota Department of Education website.

U.S. Army

Who
Families with a parent or guardian on active duty in the National Guard or the Army Reserve. To be eligible, families must receive Child Care Assistance and must not live on or near a military base.

What
Additional financial aid from the U.S. Army for families in the Child Care Assistance Program.

How
After families are approved for the Child Care Assistance Program, they can call Child Care Aware of America at 800.424.2246 or visit the Army Fee Assistance website for more information about this option.