The Family Support Grant Program provides cash grants to families of children, under 21 years of age with a certified disability, residing at home. The goal of the program is to prevent or delay the out-of-home placement of children and promote family health and social well-being by enabling access to family-centered services and supports.
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Eligibility requirements Families of children with a disability under age 21, living in the family home, must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- A screening team from the County must determine the child is at risk of out-of-home placement.
- Families must have an annual adjusted gross income that is less than $93,611 per year. (The income ceiling is adjusted annually per State bulletins.) Currently, people receiving any Medical Assistance waiver or Consumer Support Grant are not eligible for the Family Support Grant Program.
Applying for the grant
Families can contact their County social worker to request an application. Once returned, the application will be reviewed and scored based upon need. Then, the applicant is placed on the Family Support Grant Waiting List based on their rating and needs.
Grant amounts Recipients may receive a maximum of $2,700 in 2012.
Grant options
There are three options to receive your grant funding.
- Ongoing monthly: This type of grant is for families who have ongoing needs and expenses that occur on a regular basis, such as respite care.
- One-time lump sum: This type of grant is for families who want to apply part or all of an ongoing grant towards the cost of one or more specific high-cost items, such as adaptive devices, special equipment and home modifications. One-time lump sum grants are limited to $2,700 per year.
- As needed: This type of grant is for families who have sporadic needs.
What grants can be used for The grant must be spent on services and items that are directly related to caring for the child with a disability. Only expenses that are beyond typical cost of caring for a child of similar age may be covered. Allowable expense categories include:
- Computers
- Day care
- Educational services
- Medical services
- Medications
- Respite care
- Specialized clothing
- Specialized dietary needs
- Specialized equipment or modifications
- Transportation
* Family Support Grants may not be used for purchases covered by other funding sources, such as private insurance and Medical Assistance/TEFRA.
Once your family receives the grant
- Families must keep receipts for all expenses for five years.
- Ongoing grants are typically available to a family on an ongoing basis each fiscal year through the annual renewal process, as long as their child remains eligible for the program.
For questions regarding this funding, contact Janeen Coyan by phone at 651-554-6015 or email at janeen.coyan@co.dakota.mn.us. For more detailed information about the grant, go to the Minnesota Department of Human Services website.
Forms & guides
General Information
Application Forms
Budget & Expenditure Forms