Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Minnesota

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Minnesota | InmateAid

Minnesota calls its TANF program the MFIP -- Minnesota Family Investment Program. The MFIP Child Only Grant is available to grandparents and relative caregivers for children who are closely related to the caregiver, or for whom the caregiver has custody or guardianship. The income test is on the child, not the grandparent. If the grandchild has little to no income of their own, apply regardless of what you earn.

Minnesota also has a free kinship warmline through Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS): **651-917-4640** or toll-free **877-917-4640** (Monday-Friday, 7am-5pm). It provides information and referrals, financial support guidance, individual consultation, legal services navigation, educational workshops, and connections to support groups. This is the first call for grandparents who do not know where to start in Minnesota.

Minnesota also has Northstar Kinship Assistance -- the state's Title IV-E Guardian Assistance Program for children who have come through the formal child welfare system into a relative guardianship. And it has four Kinship Navigator programs operating across the state, updated as of May 2025.

One additional benefit worth knowing: children who receive the MFIP Child Only grant become automatically eligible for Early Learning Scholarships -- support for childcare costs for children up to age 5. In Minnesota, that scholarship access flows directly from MFIP enrollment.

You did not plan for this. You raised your children. You got to the other side of it. And then your child was incarcerated and the grandchildren needed somewhere to go. You said yes.

This article covers what Minnesota offers you and what to do first.

The Decision You Already Made

You already made the hardest decision. The grandchildren are with you. Everything else in this article is about making that workable.

A few things to understand about your position in Minnesota right now:

If you are caring for grandchildren without county social services involvement, your first moves are: call the LSS Warmline (877-917-4640), apply for MFIP Child Only at your county or Tribal Nations office, and apply for Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and SNAP at the same time.

If county social services or a Tribal social service agency placed the grandchildren with you, ask your worker about Northstar Kinship Assistance, the foster care licensing pathway, and the Benefits Information Portal (BIP) for ongoing benefits management.

Minnesota benefits are administered through county and Tribal Nations offices. Apply at your local county human services office or online through the Combined Application Form.

Legal Authority: What It Is and How to Get It in Minnesota

**Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody (TPLPC)**

Minnesota's specific term for relative custody that functions similarly to guardianship in other states is "Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody" (TPLPC). This is ordered by a court and gives the relative caregiver full legal authority for the child.

For a TPLPC to be ordered, a court must find that termination of parental rights (or consent to adopt) is either not possible or not in the child's best interests. This is the legal pathway that, if eligible, connects to Northstar Kinship Assistance.

**Guardianship (Probate Court)**

Grandparents not in the county child welfare system can pursue guardianship through Minnesota probate court. With guardianship, you have authority to enroll children in school, authorize medical care, apply for benefits, and make day-to-day decisions.

The LSS Warmline (877-917-4640) connects you to legal services for kinship families. Kinship Navigator programs also provide connections to legal assistance.

**Power of Attorney**

A notarized parental Power of Attorney from the incarcerated parent gives you immediate authority for school enrollment and medical care while you pursue formal legal arrangements. MDOC (Minnesota Department of Corrections) facilities have notary services -- contact the facility case manager.

**Northstar Kinship Assistance (Formal Child Welfare Cases)**

Northstar Kinship Assistance (previously called Guardianship Assistance) is Minnesota's Title IV-E Guardian Assistance Program. It provides:

- Non-recurring expense reimbursement for costs incurred during the kinship process

- SSI benefits coordination

- Access through the Benefits Information Portal (BIP)

Eligibility requires: the child must have been removed pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement or court order; the child must reside with the prospective relative guardian; the caregiver must be licensed for foster care (required in almost all cases).

If you are in the formal child welfare system, ask your county or tribal worker about Northstar Kinship Assistance eligibility. Contact DCYF at dcyf.mn.gov or call your county social services office.

**Adoption**

Adoption permanently terminates the biological parent's parental rights. Consider carefully when the incarcerated parent has a realistic path to release and reunification.

Money: What Minnesota Offers Kinship Caregivers

**MFIP Child Only Grant (Minnesota Family Investment Program)**

The MFIP Child Only grant is Minnesota's primary financial resource for relative caregivers not in the formal child welfare system.

- Available for children closely related to the caregiver, OR for children whose caregiver has custody or guardianship

- Based on the child's income -- grandparent's income not counted

- Provides monthly cash support AND SNAP food benefits together

- If the child has little to no income, apply at your county financial assistance office

Apply via the Combined Application Form online or at your county office. County and Tribal Nations Offices process MFIP.

**Early Learning Scholarships (Automatic with MFIP)**

Children who receive the MFIP Child Only grant are eligible for Early Learning Scholarships (ELS) -- support for childcare costs for children up to age 5 or kindergarten. This eligibility flows automatically from having an MFIP Child Only grant. Contact Minnesota DCYF (dcyf.mn.gov) or your county office for more information on ELS.

**Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)**

CCAP provides childcare assistance for income-eligible families with children through age 12 (or through age 14 for children with special needs). Contact your county or tribal office to apply.

**Medical Assistance (MA -- Minnesota Medicaid)**

Minnesota Medical Assistance is available based on income for children in kinship care. If the grandchild has little to no income, apply for MA at your county office. MA covers doctor visits, dental, prescriptions, mental health services, emergency care, and vision.

**SNAP (Food Assistance)**

SNAP is provided alongside the MFIP Child Only grant. If you receive MFIP, SNAP benefits come with it. Apply through your county office.

**Northstar Kinship Assistance (Formal Placements)**

For children who have been in formal foster care and transition to relative guardianship through a TPLPC: non-recurring expense reimbursement and SSI coordination through the Benefits Information Portal (BIP). Ask your county or tribal social worker.

**Social Security**

If the incarcerated parent was working before arrest, the grandchildren may be eligible for Social Security dependent benefits. Call 1-800-772-1213. SSI may be available for grandchildren with disabilities.

Lutheran Social Service Warmline: Your First Call

LSS Minnesota's kinship warmline is the primary navigation resource for grandparents and relative caregivers in Minnesota.

**Contact:**

- Phone: **651-917-4640** (St. Paul) | **877-917-4640** (toll-free)

- Email: warmline@lssmn.org

- Hours: Monday-Friday, 7am-5pm

- Website: lssmn.org

What the warmline provides:

- Information and referrals for financial support

- Individual consultation

- Navigation to legal services

- Educational workshops

- Connection to support and education groups

- Family circle conference

**LSS Support Groups:**

- Kinship Support and Education Group: First Saturday of the month at Peace Lutheran Church, Robbinsdale (Minneapolis suburb). Child care available with registration.

- Parenting Across Generations: First and third Fridays online. Contact Janet Salo at 612-879-5379.

Minnesota Kinship Navigator Programs

Minnesota operates Kinship Navigator programs through multiple grantees (updated May 2025). The four current program grantees are:

- **Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota** -- 2485 Como Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108; warmline@lssmn.org; 651-917-4640 / 877-917-4640

- **Nexus Kindred Family Healing** -- 412 Great Oak Drive, Waite Park, MN 56387; 320-200-2442 / 833-402-2442 (toll-free)

- **Family Service Rochester** -- 4600 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901

- **A Community Caring for its Children -- Kinship Navigator Program** -- 2100 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411 (serving North Minneapolis and surrounding area)

These programs implement the evidence-based Foster Kinship Navigator model. They help relatives and kin access legal, financial, and peer support programs. The FAQ for the Minnesota Kinship Navigator program was updated May 2025 at dhs.state.mn.us (search "Kinship Navigator FAQ").

Minnesota's Tribal Nation Context

Minnesota is home to 11 federally recognized tribes -- seven Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) nations and four Dakota communities. Tribal Nations Offices participate in MFIP, and Tribal social service agencies are specifically named under Minnesota's Northstar Care for Children program.

If you are a member of a Tribal Nation, or if the grandchildren are enrolled tribal members, ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) applies when child welfare proceedings are opened. ICWA provides specific placement preferences for tribal children and requires tribal notification. Your tribal social service agency is an important partner.

The Minnesota Kinship Navigator grantees, particularly "A Community Caring for its Children" in North Minneapolis, have specific experience serving Indigenous kinship families. The LSS Warmline also has experience navigating tribal and ICWA contexts.

If the grandchildren are American Indian children in a county child welfare case, ask the county worker whether ICWA applies and whether the tribal social service agency has been notified.

The School Question

With a POA, guardianship, or TPLPC, school enrollment is straightforward.

Without legal authority, use the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Schools must immediately enroll children who lack stable housing documentation, including children living with relatives due to a parent's incarceration. Ask the school district's McKinney-Vento liaison.

For children with disabilities, Minnesota provides early intervention services under age 3 and special education under IDEA for children 3 and older.

For children with IEPs, you will need legal authority or signed parental authorization from the incarcerated parent to participate in planning meetings. MDOC facilities have notary services -- contact the facility case manager.

Medical Authorization Before Court Paperwork Is Done

Get a notarized parental Power of Attorney from the incarcerated parent through MDOC notary services. Contact the facility case manager.

Apply for Medical Assistance for the grandchildren at your county financial assistance office. MA enrollment does not require legal authority -- it requires proof of the child's identity and Minnesota residency.

If the MFIP Child Only grant is approved, MA enrollment follows automatically.

What She Is Carrying That He Cannot See

You did not plan for this stage of your life. The grandchildren arrived and with them came school forms, doctor appointments, someone to be home, someone to sit with a child who wakes up afraid.

You are also carrying your feelings about your child who is incarcerated. Those feelings do not have to resolve. You can love your child and be angry. You can hope for the release and fear it at the same time.

Minnesota's opioid and fentanyl epidemic has reached both the Twin Cities and rural communities. The drug crisis in North Minneapolis, in the Iron Range communities, in the rural Ojibwe reservation territories -- it has put grandparents in exactly this situation at a scale the system was not built for.

The LSS Warmline (877-917-4640) and the LSS support groups are staffed by people who have done this work for years and have heard your specific situation. The Kinship Support and Education Group on the first Saturday of the month in Robbinsdale has child care available.

You do not have to hold this alone through a Minnesota winter.

Talking to the Grandchildren About Where Their Parent Is

The children know something is wrong. Silence does not protect them.

Use honest, age-appropriate language. For a young child: "Your dad made a mistake and he has to stay somewhere else while he learns from it. You are safe and I am here." For an older child: "Your mom is in prison. She did something against the law and a judge decided she needs to be there for a while. She loves you. She is not in danger."

Do not make promises about when the parent will be home that you cannot keep. Let the children have their feelings. Keep the parent present in appropriate ways: photos, letters, phone calls.

Minnesota DOC phone calls go through ICS Corrections / GTL. You control which numbers are approved.

Medical Assistance covers mental health services for children. The LSS Warmline can connect you to mental health and counseling resources. If the grandchildren are struggling, ask the school counselor for a referral.

Your Relationship With Your Incarcerated Child

Your feelings about your child are complicated. You are raising their children because they cannot. Both things are true.

What the grandchildren need: to see that you are not punishing their parent through them.

What you need: a place to hold the complicated feelings that is not in front of the grandchildren. The LSS support groups, the Parenting Across Generations online group, a therapist, a trusted person -- any of these is better than carrying it alone.

What to Do First: A Practical Checklist

Call the LSS Warmline: 877-917-4640 (toll-free) or 651-917-4640. Monday-Friday 7am-5pm. This is the first call.

Get a notarized Power of Attorney from the incarcerated parent through MDOC notary services. Contact the facility case manager.

Apply for MFIP Child Only grant at your county financial assistance office or online via the Combined Application Form. The grandparent's income is not counted. SNAP benefits come with the MFIP Child Only grant.

Apply for Medical Assistance for the grandchildren at the same county office.

Ask about Early Learning Scholarships (ELS) for any grandchild under age 5 -- these flow automatically from the MFIP Child Only grant.

Ask about the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for ongoing childcare support through age 12.

Start the guardianship or TPLPC process. Contact the LSS Warmline for legal service referrals or find your nearest Kinship Navigator program.

If county social services is involved: ask your worker about Northstar Kinship Assistance eligibility and the Benefits Information Portal (BIP). If ICWA may apply (American Indian children), ask whether the tribal social service agency has been notified.

Enroll the grandchildren in school. Use McKinney-Vento if needed.

Find a support group. LSS Kinship Support and Education Group meets the first Saturday of each month in Robbinsdale (child care available). Parenting Across Generations meets online on the first and third Fridays.

Take care of yourself. The warmline is there. Call them.

FAQ

**What is the MFIP Child Only grant and do I need guardianship to apply?** MFIP is Minnesota's Family Investment Program (TANF). The Child Only grant is available for children closely related to the caregiver OR for children whose caregiver has custody or guardianship. The income test is on the child, not the grandparent. Apply at your county financial assistance office or online via the Combined Application Form. SNAP food benefits come with the MFIP Child Only grant.

**What are Early Learning Scholarships and how do I access them?** Children who receive the MFIP Child Only grant are automatically eligible for Early Learning Scholarships (ELS) -- support for childcare costs for children up to age 5 or kindergarten. Contact Minnesota DCYF (dcyf.mn.gov) or your county office for information on using ELS.

**What is the LSS Warmline?** Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota's kinship warmline is the primary navigation resource for grandparents and relative caregivers in Minnesota. It provides information and referrals, individual consultation, legal services navigation, educational workshops, and support group connections. Phone: 877-917-4640 (toll-free) or 651-917-4640. Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm. Email: warmline@lssmn.org.

**What is Northstar Kinship Assistance?** Minnesota's Title IV-E Guardian Assistance Program for children who have been in formal foster care and transition to a relative guardianship through a Transfer of Permanent Legal and Physical Custody (TPLPC). Provides non-recurring expense reimbursement and SSI coordination. Requires foster care licensing in almost all cases. If in the county child welfare system, ask your worker about this option.

**What is ICWA and when does it apply?** ICWA is the Indian Child Welfare Act -- federal law that applies when American Indian or Alaska Native children are involved in state child welfare proceedings. It provides specific placement preferences for tribal children and requires tribal notification. Minnesota has 11 federally recognized tribes. If the grandchildren are enrolled tribal members and a county child welfare case is open, ask whether ICWA applies and whether the tribal social service agency has been notified. Contact "A Community Caring for its Children" (North Minneapolis) or the LSS Warmline for guidance.

**Can I enroll my grandchildren in school without legal authority?** Yes. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, schools must immediately enroll children living with relatives due to a parent's incarceration. Ask the school district for its McKinney-Vento liaison. With a POA from the incarcerated parent, standard enrollment applies.

**How do I talk to the grandchildren about their parent being in prison?** Use honest, age-appropriate language without promises about when the parent will be home. Let the children have feelings. Keep the parent present appropriately -- photos, letters, MDOC phone calls through ICS Corrections/GTL. Medical Assistance covers mental health services; the LSS Warmline can connect you to counseling resources.