Site last updated on:
  September 28, 2011

Resource Links

Children's Mental Health

• • National Technical Assistance Center for Children's M (11-01-07) -- A division of Georgetown University's Department of Pediatrics, the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development brings to bear its unique capacity on critical social issues of our time that affect children, families and individuals with disabilities of all ages.

• Autism Society of Minnesota (03-13-09) -- The Autism Society of Minnesota exists to enhance the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. AuSM seeks to realize its mission through education support, collaboration, and advocacy.

• Autism Speaks (03-13-09) -- Dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.

• CMHS' Child, Adolescent and Family Branch (11-01-08) -- The Child, Adolescent, and Family Branch of the Federal Center for Mental Health Services promotes and ensures that the mental health needs of children and their families are addressed by a "community-based system of care."

• Mental Illness: What a Difference a Friend Makes (12-19-07) -- This site is here for people living with mental illness—and their friends. You'll find tools to help in the recovery process, and you can also learn about the different kinds of mental illnesses, read real-life stories about support and recovery, and interact with the video to see how friends can make all the difference.

• Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (07-08-10) -- Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health new updated website! You'll find: Up to date news and resources for Professionals and Families Opportunities to serve on the MACMH Board and Volunteer A new section for Youth A new section for Infant and Early Childhood A new bookstore and event section – order and register online

• Minnesota Association of Children's Mental Health (11-01-07) -- a statewide education and advocacy organization recognized by families and professionals as the state’s primary resource for children’s mental health.

• Natl Fed of Families for Children's MH (11-01-07) -- A national family-run organization dedicated exclusively to helping children with mental health needs and their families achieve a better quality of life.

Return to Top of Page

Cultural Competency

• Relational Worldview Model from NICWA (10-30-09) -- Developed and refined by National Indian Child Welfare Association, this model is a reflection of the Native American thought process and concept of balance as the basis for health, whether of an individual, family, or organization. This model serves as NICWA's philosophy and approach to providing technical assistance.

Return to Top of Page

Disabilities

• DisabilityInfo.gov (11-18-08) -- A collaboration among 22 Federal agencies, with information on cross-cutting issue areas including employment, benefits, housing, transportation, health care, education, civil rights, and technology.

Return to Top of Page

Disaster Relief/Preparedness

• Disaster Response Resource Articles (03-27-09) -- Quick access to all of our Disaster Resource Articles (including brochures, manuals, coloring books) for families, children and professionals.

• Disaster Response Resource External Links (03-27-09) -- Quick access to all of our Disaster Resource External Links for families, children and professionals.

• Minnesota Recovers (03-30-09) -- Minnesota Recovers is the state’s clearinghouse for all information about floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters that strike Minnesota communities.

• Minnesota Road Conditions (03-23-09) -- Weather Reports, Construction, Delays, Detours, and more. (Note: You can also dial 511 on your cell phone to access road conditions.)

• Minn-Kota Red Cross (03-30-09) -- Serving the MN counties of Becker, Clay, Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Ottertail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Wilkin and the ND counties of Barnes, Benson, Cass, Cavalier, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Towner, Traill, and Walsh. EMERGENCIES 24 Hours a day 701-364-1800 or toll free 800-252-6746

• Ready America (05-30-07) -- Ready is a national public service advertising campaign produced by The Advertising Council in partnership with Homeland Security. The Ready Campaign is designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

• Red River Flood Information (04-02-09) -- Local Red River Valley flood information site for the counties of Kittson, Marshall, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk and Red Lake. If you have information to add to the site, please send an email to floodinfo@nwmhc.org.

Return to Top of Page

Drugs and Alcohol Abuse Prevention

• AboveTheInfluence.com (07-06-07) -- This web site is created for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign (a program of the Office of National Drug Control Policy). This campaign reflects what teens across the country say are going on in their lives. Their goal is to help teens stay above the influence. The more aware teens are of the influences around them, the better prepared they will be to stand up to the pressures that keep them down. This web site does not tell teens how to live their life, but gives another perspective and the latest facts.

• Minnesota Methamphetamine Offender Registry (10-13-08) -- The purpose of this site is to enhance public safety by identifying individuals who have been convicted under state law of felony level manufacture of methamphetamine.

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (02-15-05) -- Makes available free publications on all aspects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Many are available in Spanish. Call, write, or search the NIAAA Web site for a list of publications and ordering information.

• Not in My House! (06-30-08) -- The "Not in My House" campaign aims to educate parents on how to limit teen access to prescription medications that are ripe for abuse. Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the Abbott pharmaceutical firm cited studies showing that more than half of teens who reported abusing prescription medications said they got the drugs at home, from a parent or relative, or from a friend.

• ParentsLEAD.org (03-04-08) -- Parents – You are the one who educates and the one who needs to discuss with your kids underage drinking is illegal and too much alcohol can kill. Society gives kids mixed messages about alcohol. Make sure that your kids get their information from the best resource available – YOU.

• SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator (11-18-08) -- This searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs shows the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol abuse and drug abuse problems. 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

• SAMHSA's Prevention Platform (07-14-04) -- SAMHSA's Prevention Platform is an online resource for substance abuse prevention. It is provided by the SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.

• Stop Alcohol Abuse (03-26-08) -- StopAlcoholAbuse.Gov is a comprehensive portal of Federal resources for information on underage drinking and ideas for combating this issue. People interested in underage drinking prevention—including parents, educators, community-based organizations, and youth—will find a wealth of valuable information here.

• Time to Talk (02-15-08) -- Time to Talk provides parents and caregivers the tools, tips and resources they want and need for free.

Return to Top of Page

Early Childhood

• Parent Aware (11-29-07) -- The Parent Aware Rating Tool is built upon the understanding that providing high-quality child care and early learning are not easy tasks and the pressures placed on our providers are many. The rating tool is designed to recognize early educators for the quality of care they deliver and build on this quality by supporting their efforts at program improvement.

Return to Top of Page

Early Childhood - Fears

• Anxiety, Fears and Phobias (01-07-08) -- Everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest adult, experiences anxieties and fears at one time or another. Feeling anxious in a particularly uncomfortable situation never feels very good. However, with children, such feelings are not only normal, they're also necessary. Experiencing and dealing with anxieties can prepare young people to handle the unsettling experiences and challenging situations of life.

• How Families Can Help Children Cope with Fear and Anxie (01-08-08) -- Whether tragic events touch your family personally or are brought into your home via newspapers and television, you can help children cope with the anxiety that violence, death, and disasters can cause.

Return to Top of Page

Early Childhood - Tantrums

• Teaching Your Child Discipline and Self-Control (01-08-08) -- Self-control means being able to express and cope with strong emotions in appropriate ways—for a toddler, this may mean saying "I’m mad at you" instead of biting.

• Temper Tantrums (01-08-08) -- Your toddler's second temper tantrum of the day shows no signs of stopping, and supersonic, ear-shattering, teeth-jarring screams pierce the air. Your first instinct is to run away and join the circus, but of course this isn't a real option. There must be a better way.

• Temper Tantrums (01-08-08) -- From the American Academy of Pediatrics: Strong emotions are hard for a young child to hold inside. When children feel frustrated, angry, or disappointed, they often express themselves by crying, screaming, or stomping up and down. As a parent, you may feel angry, helpless, or embarrassed. Temper tantrums are a normal part of your child's development as he learns self-control.

Return to Top of Page

Education

• Minnesota Department of Education (11-01-07) -- The Minnesota Department of Education strives to be an innovative education agency serving a wide range of customers. The mission is Improve educational achievement by establishing clear standards, measuring performance, assisting educators and increasing opportunities for lifelong learning.

• U.S. Department of Education (11-01-07) -- The U.S. Department of Education is the agency of the federal government that establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education.

Return to Top of Page

Financial Assistance

• Emergency General Assistance Program (06-23-09) -- The General Assistance (GA) Program serves as Minnesota's primary safety net for single adults and childless couples. The GA program provides monthly cash grants for vulnerable persons whose income and resources are less than program limits. The grants can be used to pay for utility bills. For urgent, short term emergency needs, the Emergency General Assistance (EGA) program can provide one-time grants for basic needs including utility connection charges, repairs to home heating systems, or shut-off notices.

• Energy Assistance Program (06-23-09) -- Low income households may be eligible for the Energy Assistance Program. The Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. EAP is designed to assist with energy bills, primarily in the form of grants to the energy provider on the behalf of the household. Funding is limited for this program, so consumers are encouraged to sign up early.

• Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Loans (06-23-09) -- Minnesota Housing offers affordable home improvement programs to residents of Minnesota that can be used for energy efficiency projects. There are three opportunities for loans. The Fix-up Fund is a statewide program that offers affordable, low-interest fixed rate loans that can be used for energy efficiency improvements. The Community Fix-up Fund (CFUF) is available to help communities address their home improvement needs and objectives (including energy efficiency) under geographically targeted initiatives. The Rehabilitation Loan program assists low income homeowners in financing basic home improvements that directly affect the safety, habitability, energy efficiency or accessibility of their homes.

• HeatShare from the Salvation Army (06-23-09) -- HeatShare provides emergency assistance with heating and utility bills on a year-round basis. Funds are used for natural gas, oil, propane, wood, electricity and emergency furnace repairs. Celebrating 25 years of keeping Minnesotans warm, HeatShare is a voluntary nongovernmental program of The Salvation Army.

• The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) (06-23-09) -- The Minnesota Family Investment Program, or MFIP, is the state's welfare reform program for low-income families with children. MFIP helps families meet their basic needs while working to achieve economic self-sufficiency. MFIP assistance payments include both cash and food assistance. MFIP participants are also provided employment services and work supports. In addition, MFIP families may be eligible for crisis funds through the MFIP Consolidated Fund that can be used to pay utility bills. Families can apply for these services at their local county human services office.

• Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program (06-23-09) -- The UI Program provides temporary benefits to qualified persons out of work through no fault of their own. The purpose of the program is to help maintain the economic stability within a community. The UI fund is financed entirely by a special tax paid by employers.

• Weatherization Program (06-23-09) -- The Minnesota Department of Commerce administers this federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Energy. The program assists households by doing energy conservation audits and safety inspections, as well as assessing furnaces and air quality for low income households throughout the state. The program also works with both regulated and non-regulated utilities in expanded partnerships for additional conservation measures for eligible families.

Return to Top of Page

Health and Safety

• Emergency & Community Health Outreach (ECHO) (05-30-07) -- ECHO (Emergency and Community Health Outreach) exists to ensure that people with limited English proficiency receive life-saving health and safety information—in some of the languages they understand best.

• Stay Healthy Minnesota (12-20-07) -- Stay Healthy Minnesota is a collaborative health initiative between Park Nicollet Health Services, the Star Tribune and WCCO-TV. The purpose of the campaign is to promote community health education and awareness to allow consumers to make well informed decisions regarding their health.

Return to Top of Page

Infants, Children, Adolescent Health

• Children and Clinical Studies (10-20-08) -- This website offers parents and health care providers an insider's guide to children's medical research.

• National Children's Study (01-18-08) -- The National Children’s Study will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of more than 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21. The goal of the study is to improve the health and well-being of children.

• National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Info (11-27-07) -- The Clearinghouse connects professionals and concerned citizens to timely and well-balanced information on programs, research, legislation, and statistics regarding the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.

• Parents Know (07-17-07) -- Minnesota Parents Know is a resource filled with convenient and trusted child development, health and parenting information.

Return to Top of Page

Local, State and Federal

• Minnesota Attorney General's Office (06-24-04) -- The Attorney General is the chief legal officer for the state and is the legal advisor to the Governor and all the constitutional officers. The AG represents and advocates for consumer protection, charities oversite, antitrust enforcement and utilities regulation.

• Minnesota Constitutional Officers (06-24-04) -- Lists the name, address, telephone number(s), email address and web addresses for the Attorney General, State Auditor, Governor, and Secretary of State.

• Minnesota House of Representatives Members (06-24-04) -- The Governor is responsible for the administration of state government, the proposal of biennial budgets, appointments, proposal and review of legislation and the preparation of comprehensive long-range plans for state growth.

• Minnesota Lieutenant Governor's Office (06-24-04) -- As Minnesota's second-in-command, the lieutenant governor is prepared to assume the governor's duties any time the governor is unable to perform them. The lieutenant governor represents the governor and the State of Minnesota within the state, nationally and internationally.

• Minnesota Members of Congress (06-24-04) -- A list of the Minnesota's eight U.S. Representatives and two U.S. Senators. Included are links to their web sites and e-mail addresses.

• Minnesota Senate Members in District Number Order (06-24-04) -- List of Senate Members include District Number, Party, Name, Room, Telephone, and Email address.

• Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy (02-09-08) -- Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.

Return to Top of Page

Mental Health

• American Psychological Association (11-01-08) -- The mission of the APA is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.

• Campaign for Mental Health Recovery (12-18-07) -- SAMHSA's Campaign for Mental Health Recovery is a three-year, national, public education campaign to educate the general public about mental health problems. The CMHR has produced television, radio, and print public service announcements (PSAs) accessible via the Campaign Web site.

• Real Life Conversations (05-18-09) -- Real Life Conversations is designed to share real life stories of people living with mental illness, provide ways to help adults engage in a conversation with someone with mental illness, and educate consumers on mental illness to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

• SAMHSA’s ADS Center (12-18-07) -- SAMHSA recently launched its re-designed ADS Center Web site that features a new library with more than 600 resources to help individuals and organizations counter discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness.

• SAMHSA’s Mental Health Services Locator (11-18-08) -- This Locator provides you with comprehensive information about mental health services and resources and is useful for professionals, consumers and their families, and the public. 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Return to Top of Page

Programs and Services

• Bridge to Benefits (08-06-08) -- Bridge to Benefits is a multi-state project by Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota to improve the well-being of low-income families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits. A core component of the project is an online screening tool designed to help families and individuals understand if they are eligible for seven public work support programs and two income tax credits. Work support programs and tax credits were implemented by federal and state governments to help low-income workers meet basic needs. Yet, in Minnesota, thousands of eligible families are not participating in these programs or claiming the tax credits that could provide increased economic stability for their families.

• Deaf Blind Services Minnesota (04-14-08) -- DeafBlind Services Minnesota is dedicated to serving deafblind children, adults and their families throughout the state of Minnesota to achieve their highest level of independence.

• Exploiting a Minor Is a Major Offense (12-17-08) -- Created by INOBTR, the PSA titled “Exploiting a Minor Is a Major Offense” delivers a clear message to potential online predators—stop and think about the consequences of this serious crime. Elements of this campaign include television, radio, Web banner, print dissemination, and movie theater PSAs.

• Explotando a un Menor de edad es una Ofensa Importante (12-17-08) -- Creado por INOBTR, el PSA titulado "Explotando a un Menor de edad es una Ofensa Importante" entrega un mensaje claro a en línea potencial depredador-para y piensa en las consecuencias de este crimen serio. Los elementos de esta campaña incluyen la televisión, la radio, la bandera del Web, la difusión de la impresión, y el cine PSAs.

• Know Where They Go (12-17-08) -- The PSA titled "Know Where They Go" reminds parents that the Internet can be an unsafe place for children and that children should be supervised when online. Elements of this campaign include television, radio, Web, and print dissemination.

• Minnesota Hands & Voices (04-15-08) -- MN Hands & Voices is a private not-for-profit program funded by United Way. Our mission is to provide a variety of support services to families of children who have been recently diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing. We also provide a variety of services to families who have known of their child's hearing loss for some time.

• North Country Food Banks, Inc. (12-08-08) -- They are the sole distributor of surplus food products to over 150 charitable food programs in NW Minnesota, including our soup kitchens, food shelves and homeless shelters. Other recipients include low-income individuals in need of supplemental assistance, group homes, senior programs, youth programs, addiction treatment centers and domestic abuse programs. Find local food shelves in your area.

• Sepa Dónde Ellos Go (12-17-08) -- El PSA tituló el "Sepa Dónde Ellos Go" recuerda a padres que el Internet puede ser un lugar inseguro para los niños y que los niños deben ser supervisados cuando en línea. Los elementos de esta campaña incluyen la televisión, la radio, el Web, y la difusión de la impresión.

• Transit Systems in Minnesota (12-08-08) -- Find transit systems by county.

• What is Public Health? (01-04-06) -- Intended for a general audience, the site gives an overview of public health and emphasizes the relevance of public health to everyone's lives. It features several 30-second Flash animations about public health as well as a number of resources for learning more about public health, such as a quiz and an interactive exploration game.

Return to Top of Page

Research Tools

• Child Stats .Gov (11-01-09) -- The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics (Forum) is a collection of 22 Federal government agencies involved in research and activities related to children and families. The mission of the Forum is to foster coordination and collaboration and to enhance and improve consistency in the collection and reporting of Federal data on children and families.

• Children Trends Databank (11-01-09) -- Data bank of information on children's health, social & emotional development, education and skills and much more

• Spanish Accent Codes (01-16-08) -- Almost all applications support Spanish accents. Guidelines for typing and using accents are given.

Return to Top of Page

Search Engine

• MinnesotaHelp.info (01-15-08) -- An online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota identify resources such as human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of aid and assistance within Minnesota. It is especially rich in resource information for seniors and their caregivers; people with disabilities and their caregivers; parents and families; and low income people.

Return to Top of Page

Sexual Minority

• Outfront Minnesota (06-16-09) -- Leading Minnesota towards LGBT equality.

Return to Top of Page

Suicide Prevention

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (09-29-08) -- AFSP is dedicated to advancing theknowledge of suicide and the ability to prevent it.

• Lifeline Gallery: Stories of Hope and Recovery (09-29-08) -- The Lifeline Gallery uses speaking avatar products to enable suicide survivors, attempt survivors, and suicide prevention supporters to share their stories of hope and recovery. The compilation of stories illustrates the many ways in which suicide affects others and offers comfort to those who may be suffering alone.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (10-03-06) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the launch of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK. The national hotline is part of the National Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI)—a collaborative effort led by SAMHSA that incorporates the best practices and research findings in suicide prevention and intervention with the goal of reducing the incidence of suicide nationwide.

• National Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) (09-29-08) -- SPRC provides prevention support, training, and resources to assist organizations and individuals to develop suicide prevention programs, interventions and policies, and to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

• Suicide Prevention Action Network USA, Inc. (03-17-04) -- SPAN USA is a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to creating an effective national suicide prevention strategy. SPAN USA links the energy of those bereaved by suicide with the expertise of leaders in science, business, government and public service to achieve the goal of significantly reducing the national rate of suicide by the year 2010.

Return to Top of Page

Technology

• bNetS@vvy (02-18-09) -- Tools for adults to help kids connect safely.

• Tel.A.Vision (03-20-09) -- Tel*A*Vision is a Web tool that helps students assemble "vision statements" in short video clips, then puts them online. The videos consist of uploaded pictures, clip art and written statements; the system also provides a selection of background music to play along with the visual elements.

Return to Top of Page

Veterans and their Families

• America’s Heroes at Work (11-18-08) -- An online resource from the U.S. Department of Labor designed to help employers in their employment of veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), two increasingly common battlefield conditions.

• Army Family Readiness Group (02-03-09) -- The Virtual Family Readiness Group (vFRG) web system provides all of the functionality of a traditional FRG in an ad-hoc and on-line setting to meet the needs of geographically dispersed units and families across all components of the Army.

• Army Family Readiness Group for Kids (02-03-09) -- The ArmyFRG has something for everybody. Deployments are especially difficult for kids. Our online Kids center has several tools and activities that your little ones can use to stay connected to their Soldier abroad.

• Army Family Readiness Group for Teens (02-03-09) -- Parenting a teen through deployments can be extremely difficult. The teenage years bring anxiety and new pressures that are challenging even without deployments. ArmyFRG is sensitive to this and offers several tools for both teens and their parents.

• Army Family Readiness Group for Tweens (02-03-09) -- A Tween is a child between childhood and adolesence, around the age of 8 to 12. The online Tweens section has tools and activities for Tweens dealing with deployed family members.

• Military One (11-18-08) -- Source A 24/7 resource for military personnel and their families on a variety of topics, including health,legal, and family concerns. 1-800-342-9647

• Military OneSource (04-02-07) -- Whether its help with child care, personal finances, emotional support during deployments, relocation information, or resources needed for special circumstances, Military OneSource is there for military personnel and their families... 24/7/365! The service is available by phone, online and face-to-face through private counseling sessions in the local community. Highly qualified, master’s prepared consultants provide the service. Personalized consultations on specific issues such as education, special needs, and finances are provided. Customized research detailing community resources and appropriate military referrals are offered. Clients can even get help with simultaneous language interpretation and document translation. Our interactive Web site includes locators for education, child care, and elder care, online articles, referrals to military and community resources, financial calculators, live online workshops called Webinars, and “Email a consultant.” Additional resources include brief videos of consultants addressing common issues such as communicating as a couple, budgeting and managing anger. Face-to-face counseling sessions focus on issues such as normal reactions to abnormal situations (e.g. combat), couples concerns, work/life balance, grief and loss, adjustment to deployment, stress management, and parenting. Persons seeking counseling will receive up to six counseling sessions per issue at no cost to them. To access a counselor in their local community, individuals may call a Military OneSource consultant directly. Service is available in CONUS as well as Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Military OneSource is provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve (regardless of activation status) and their families.

• SAMHSA Veteran Resource page (11-18-08) -- Various links to resources for veterans.

• Veterans Mental Health (09-29-08) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Mental Health Services mission is to maintain and improve the health and well-being of veterans through excellence in health care, social services, education, and research.

Return to Top of Page

Violence Prevention

• Center for Effective Discipline (04-14-08) -- The Center for Effective Discipline (CED) is a non-profit organization which provides educational information to the public on the effects of corporal punishment of children and alternatives to its use. It is currently the headquarters for and coordinates both National Coalition to Abolish Corporal Punishment in Schools (NCACPS) and End Physical Punishment of Children (EPOCH-USA).

Return to Top of Page