Children and Families

Family Services

Become a Licensed Child Care Provider
If you are interested in becoming a licensed child care provider in Kittson County, MN, please contact Kittson County Social Services to receive an Initial Child Care Licensing packet today.
Agency: Kittson County Social Services
Contact: 218.843.2689

Child Care Aware
Our statewide system of agencies has served over 60,000 parents looking for child care and more than 100,000 child care professionals seeking education and professional development for their child care business.
Agency: Child Care Aware of Minnesota
Contact: 1.888.291.9811

The Umbrella Tree Children's Safety Center
The Umbrella Tree Children's Safety Center, a program of Violence Intervention Project, is designed to meet the needs of children who have witnessed or experienced violence, abuse, or trauma. We serve all children, age birth to eighteen. The Safety Center provides supervised visitation and exchange, one-on-one support and advocacy with the children and parents, support groups for parents, and support groups for children. A video is available to learn more about the Safety Center's services. The Safety Center is located in Thief River Falls and serves families from all counties in NW Minnesota. Families requesting services from North Dakota or from outside of VIP's region may also be eligible for services.
Agency: Violence Intervention Project
Contact: 218.681.5557 (anonymous calls accepted)
24-Hour Crisis Line 1.800.660.6667

Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota (FAIM)
The FAIM program helps people change spending and savings behavior, including debt reduction. Participants are required to attend 12 hours of financial education classes and an additional 10 hours of asset specific (for example, those wanting to purchase a home have to receive 12 hours of financial education as well as 10 hours of homebuyer education).
Agency: Northwest Community Action Program (NWCAP)
Contact: 1.800.568.5329 or 218.528.3258

Child & Teen Checkups
Child and Teen Check-Ups are well child visits for children ages birth through 20 eligible for Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care.
They include:

  • Vision and hearing check
  • Laboratory tests, including lead, blood and urine as needed
  • Immunizations if needed
  • A complete head to toe physical assessment
  • Health education and counseling about healthy lifestyles
  • Nutrition assessment ƒDevelopmental assessment

Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Follow Along Program
When do kids start talking and walking? The Follow Along Program is about child development. It lets you know if your child is playing, talking, growing, moving, and acting like other children the same age.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Family Home Visiting
Public Health offers home visits to families with children under the age of 4 when there is an identified need.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Prenatal Education
A public health nurse can work with you one-on-one in the community or in your home to provide education for a healthy pregnancy. Education will include physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, how to prepare for labor and birth, breastfeeding, newborn care, and growth and development.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Post-partum/Newborn Visits
A public health nurse will visit you after you return home with your baby. The nurse will assess baby’s growth and development, answer any questions you may have and will connect you to community resources available to you.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Car Seat Distribution & Education
Kittson County Public Health provides education for choosing the right child safety restraint and instructions for correct use. Free car seats are available through Public Health to eligible Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare members.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Dental Fluoride
Fluoride/Dental Varnishing prevents new cavities from forming and helps stop cavities that have already started. Fluoride/Dental varnishing is available at Kittson County Public Health.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Blood Lead Tests
Lead poisoning can cause learning, behavior and health problems in young children. Lead can cause high blood pressure and kidney damage in adults.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Breastfeeding
Provide support and resources for mothers and families.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Sexual Health
Offer condoms, lubricant at no charge to community members. Pregnancy tests offered by appointment.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Four Cornerstones of Financial Literacy
The Four Cornerstones curriculum strives to build financial empowerment through 4 core areas of financial education: Budgeting to Create Savings - Budgeting that works, finding ways to save, organizing bills; Debt Reduction & Asset Building - How to deal with each type of debt, dealing with collections, building assets; Building a Good Credit Rating - How to get one and read it, how to build good credit and improve bad credit; Consumer Protection & Financial Institutions - Resources and rights, scams to avoid, dealing with financial institutions. The curriculum employs the learning circle method, a technique that builds upon the life experiences of participants.
Agency: Northwest Community Action Program (NWCAP)
Contact: 1.800.568.5329 or 218.528.3258

Parents Forever
Children tend to experience challenges that can have long‐lasting effects based on the choices that are made in the initial legal phase of divorce. The Parents Forever program addresses multiple topics that can be beneficial when beginning the divorce process.
Agency: Tri-Valley Opportunity Council
Contact: 1.800.543.7263

Youth Employment Program (Collaboration with Inter-County Community Council)
Three separate programs encompass the Employment and Training Programs. The programs are the Youth Program, Older Youth Program, and Out of School Youth Program. The Youth Program is for students’ ages 14 to 18 years old who need assistance with employment. The Older Youth Program is for ages 19 to 21 years old who need assistance with job placement and further education. The Out of School Youth Program is for those who are 16 years old or older and no longer in school but needs assistance with job training.
Agency: Inter-County Community Council
Contact: 218.796.5144 ext. 7

Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)
The goal of the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) is to help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives by preventing the leading causes of chronic disease: tobacco and obesity. SHIP launched as part of Minnesota’s Vision for a Better State of Health, the bipartisan health reform package enacted in 2008. SHIP makes it easier for Minnesotans to choose healthier behaviors by making changes in the places where we live, learn, work, and play.
Agency: Kittson County Public Health
Contact: 218.843.3662

Sexual Assault Advocacy
24 hour crisis call toll-free line, accompaniment to sexual assault Emergency Room exam, support during legal proceedings, referral to other local agencies for legal and health issues, safety planning, and group support sessions. All services free and confidential.
Agency: Violence Intervention Project
Contact: 1.800.660.6667

Parent Time Center (Umbrella Tree)
Supervised child visitation, child exchanges, referrals to additional resources. Offers a safe, neutral, and child friendly environment.
Agency: Violence Intervention Project
Contact: 1.800.660.6667