Minnesota Student Parent Alliance (MNSPA)
The Minnesota Student Parent Alliance (MNSPA) is a group of organizations working together to make college more accessible for student parents in Minnesota. By using a cross-sector collaboration approach that looks at issues for both student parents and their children, MNSPA works to break down the systemic barriers that affect people’s lives—like education, healthcare, and social services. By coordinating efforts and improving communication between these systems, MNSPA helps create a more supportive environment so student parents can succeed in school and in life.
MNSPA was created in 2020 through a partnership between Raise The Barr and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, with initial funding from Ascend at the Aspen Institute. The group includes a wide range of partners, such as the Minnesota Department of Health, nonprofits serving families, colleges and universities, and the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet. Over time, even more organizations have joined the Alliance, all working together to help student parents build a better future for themselves and their families.
Our staff have compiled a list of resources for both student parents and people working to support student parents. This list is not all inclusive of what is available. If you are a student parent at a Minnesota college, please reach out to the Student Parent Support Navigator at your college for local and on campus resources.
- Parent Aware offers free tools and resources to help families find quality childcare and early education programs.
- Help Me Connect is a free and confidential website connecting expectant families, families with young children (birth to 8 years old) and those working with families to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being.
- Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition is a group of lactation support professionals and advocates working to support natural infant feeding equity in all Minnesota communities.
- The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families offers a list of family services information that brings together programs and resources across the state that are available to support student parents.
- The Minnesota Department of Education has a list of resources and examples of where to look for after school programs for school-aged children.
- OHE offers many resources on this website, including:
- Parent Aware offers free tools and resources to help families find quality childcare and early education programs.
- Help Me Connect is a free and confidential website connecting expectant families, families with young children (birth to 8 years old) and those working with families to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being.
- United Way 211 provides free and confidential health and human services information for people in Minnesota.
- Bridge to Benefits is a project designed to improve the well-being of families by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits. Users can determine if families are eligible for public support programs.