Parent and Family Services

Leech Lake Subsidy Program

Kids learning animal names

Child Care Assistance

 What is it?
The purpose of the Leech Lake Subsidy Program is to help low income, Native American parents or legal guardians, who are working, enrolled in an educational program, or attending job training pay for childcare costs when they cannot receive services from any other agencies.

The program will pay for a portion of childcare costs according to a family’s income and size.

Parents are given the option to select any legal child care setting. A legal child care setting is defined as any licensed child care center, licensed family/group child care provider, in home child care or an informal caregiver providing care within our service area.

Qualifications:
The Subsidy program is an income-based program, using the family size and household income to determine a co-pay that families would pay directly to their chosen provider each month. Subsidy qualifications include:

  • Be income eligible
  • Parent OR child must be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe
  • Be employed, attending employment training, or attending school
  • Reside within the Leech Lake Reservation or within 10 miles of its boundaries

How do I Apply?

Below you will find a link to a printable PDF application. Print the application and complete. Make sure all additional documents are attached to the application. When complete, please return it to our Child Care Specialist. Applications can be dropped off at our office, scanned to her through email, or mailed in. If you need assistance completing the application please contact : Rosella Headbird
Rosella.headbird@llojibwe.net
218-335-4431(office)

Early Learning Scholarships

Kids holding hands


What is it?
An Early Learning Scholarship can help you pay for high-quality child care and early education to help your child get ready for school. A scholarship must be used at a Parent Aware-Rated program. Parent Aware is a rating tool to help parents select high-quality child care and early education programs. For more information, visit the Parent Aware website. 

Scholarship amounts are based on the Parent Aware rating level of the program you choose.

Leech Lake can serve Leech Lake children throughout the entire state of Minnesota and can serve all children within our service area.

As of January 30, 2024, the Pathway I Early Learning Scholarship application can be completed online! Starting January 30, [earlylearningscholarshipshub.mn.gov]CLICK HERE to visit the Early Learning Scholarships Hub or copy and paste the following link into a new browser window to go to the Early Learning Scholarship Hub, where you can create an account and apply for a scholarship. By creating an account, you will be able to easily complete the application and upload required documents, receive email updates and check the status of your application, apply for other children in your household, and renew when it’s time. Notices of award, renewal, and status updates will now be managed primarily via email.

EarlyLearningScholarshipsHub.mn.gov

While we encourage everyone to use the online portal, it is not a requirement to create an account. You can still receive email updates without creating an account, and you can contact your Area Administrator at any time with questions or if you prefer paper mail.

Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) is the Central Payment Administrator for the Early Learning Scholarship Administration Program. If you have not already received and sent your programs W9 and ACH forms for electronic payment, to be set-up to receive scholarship payments, please email GTCUW at the following:

ELSAPaymentSupport@gtcuw.org

Phone Number: 612-340-7402

To submit invoices for payment, for services provided July 1, 2024 and later, please submit invoices to GTCUW via email at ELSAPaymentSupport@gtcuw.org or mail to:  Greater Twin Cities United Way, Early Learning Scholarship Program, 404 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404

How do I Apply?
Families interested in applying for an Early Learning Scholarship or have questions about the Early Learning Scholarship program, should contact Tonya Morris at 218-335-8249 or Tonya.Morris@llojibwe.net

Need Help Finding Childcare? Click the link below!

Resources for Families

Child Care Aware
Child Care Aware helps children succeed in school and life by supporting the professional growth of child care providers and connecting families to quality childcare.

https://www.childcareawaremn.org/

Parent Aware
Parent Aware offers free tools and resources to help families find the quality childcare and early education programs their children need to succeed in school and life.

https://www.parentaware.org

Minnesota Department of Education
Minnesota Department of Education is another resource where you will find information on the Early Learning Scholarships, health and safety, child development.

https://education.mn.gov

Minnesota Department of Human Services
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is where you will find licensing lookup in an area near you, they also offer many support pieces like child care assistance, health care, SNAP and many more.

https://mn.gov/dhs/

Help Me Grow
Help me grow has helpful parenting information, resources and activities to help your children grow, develop and learn from birth through high school.

https://helpmegrowmn.org/