Hennepin County Human Services is dedicated to supporting residents of Hennepin County, Minnesota, by providing a wide array of services designed to enhance well-being and independence. Navigating the available resources can sometimes be challenging, so this guide offers a clear overview of the key services provided by Hennepin County Human Services, ensuring you can easily find the support you need for yourself, your family, or others in the community. From assistance for families and children to programs for adults, seniors, and veterans, Hennepin County is committed to fostering a healthy and thriving community.
Services for Families and Children
Hennepin County Human Services offers numerous programs aimed at supporting families and children, ensuring a strong foundation for future generations.
Adoption Services
For those looking to expand their families through adoption, Hennepin County provides comprehensive adoption services. This includes support for children awaiting adoption and guidance for prospective adoptive families throughout the entire adoption process.
Child Care Assistance
Access to quality child care is crucial for working families. Child care assistance programs are available to income-eligible families to help subsidize the cost of child care, enabling parents to work or attend school while ensuring their children are in safe and nurturing environments.
Child Protection Services
The safety and well-being of children are paramount. Child protection services are in place to address concerns of child maltreatment. Hennepin County facilitates reporting, investigation, and intervention services to protect children and support families in creating safe homes.
Child Support Services
Ensuring financial support for children is vital. Child support services assist parents in establishing parentage, interpreting court orders related to child support, and enforcing child support obligations, ensuring children receive the financial resources they need.
Emergency Assistance
When families face unexpected crises, emergency assistance provides short-term aid to address immediate health or safety needs, particularly for families with minor children. This safety net helps families overcome temporary hardships and maintain stability.
Family Home Visiting
Early childhood development is critical. Family home visiting programs offer services to families with children up to age five. These programs provide support and resources within the home environment to promote healthy child development and positive parenting practices.
Foster Care
Foster care is a vital service for children who are unable to live with their biological families. Hennepin County actively recruits, licenses, trains, and supports foster parents who provide temporary, safe, and nurturing homes for children in need.
Strong Beginnings
The Strong Beginnings program focuses on early intervention and support for children and families. Offered in select child care centers, this program provides specialized services to address developmental needs and ensure children have a strong start in life.
Teen Parent Assistance
Young parents face unique challenges. Teen parent assistance programs offer resources specifically tailored to young mothers and fathers, including public assistance guidance, parenting education, and help accessing child care, empowering them to succeed as parents.
WIC – Women, Infants, and Children
Nutritional support is essential for healthy pregnancies and young children. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides nutritional assistance to pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as families with young children, ensuring access to nutritious food and health resources.
Services for Adults and Seniors
Hennepin County Human Services provides a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of adults and seniors in the community.
Adult Protection
Vulnerable adults deserve protection from maltreatment. Adult protection services investigate reports of maltreatment of vulnerable adults and provide protective services to ensure their safety and well-being.
Burial Assistance
Financial burdens during times of loss can be overwhelming. Burial assistance offers financial support to eligible individuals and families to help cover burial, funeral, and cremation expenses, easing the financial strain during difficult times.
Cash Assistance
To supplement income and support basic needs, cash assistance programs are available for eligible families and individuals. These programs provide crucial financial support to help individuals and families maintain stability and work towards self-sufficiency.
Disability Services
Promoting independence and community living for people with disabilities is a priority. Disability services offer a range of supports to help individuals with disabilities live as independently as possible within their communities, including assistance with housing, employment, and daily living skills.
Employment Services
Gaining and maintaining employment is key to self-sufficiency. Employment services offer career counseling, job training, job placement assistance, and valuable information about the current job market, empowering individuals to find meaningful employment.
Food Assistance (SNAP)
Addressing food insecurity is crucial for community health. Food assistance, also known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), helps low-income individuals and families afford the food they need for nutritious meals, improving overall health and well-being.
Health Care Assistance
Navigating the health care system can be complex. Health care assistance programs guide residents in applying for health care coverage, choosing appropriate health plans, and arranging transportation to medical appointments, ensuring access to necessary medical care.
Mental Health Services
Mental health is as important as physical health. Mental health services provide consultations and referrals for adults experiencing mental health conditions or substance use issues. Hennepin County is committed to connecting residents with the mental health support they need.
Senior Services
Supporting seniors to age well in their communities is essential. Senior services offer access, consultation, assessment, and service planning for seniors, addressing a wide range of needs from in-home support to community resources, promoting healthy aging and independence.
Veteran Services
Honoring the service of veterans, veteran services assist veterans and their families in accessing the benefits and services they are entitled to, including healthcare, housing, and financial assistance, recognizing their contributions and sacrifices.
Work Supports
For employment service providers working with specific programs, work supports offer resources and guidance to assist individuals participating in the MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) and diversionary work programs, enhancing their employment prospects.
Health and Well-being Services
Beyond general assistance, Hennepin County Human Services provides specialized health and well-being programs.
Chemical Addiction Treatment
Addressing substance use disorders is critical for individual and community health. Chemical addiction treatment services are available for eligible adults and adolescents, including specialized programs like Project Child, offering pathways to recovery and well-being.
Child and Teen Checkups
Preventative health care is essential for children and teens. Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) services are available for young people from newborn through age 20 who receive healthcare benefits through Medical Assistance, ensuring regular health screenings and early intervention when needed.
Health Care for People with Disabilities
Recognizing the unique health needs of individuals with disabilities, health care for people with disabilities includes specialized plans like the Special Needs Basic Care plan, tailored to Hennepin County residents with disabilities, providing comprehensive and coordinated care.
Immunization Services
Protecting community health through vaccination is a priority. Immunization services offer low-cost vaccinations for adults and children who are uninsured or underinsured, ensuring access to preventative care and reducing the spread of preventable diseases.
Mental Health Clinics
Accessible mental health care is vital. Mental health clinics offer outpatient mental health services for residents of all ages, with services available free or on a sliding fee scale, making mental health care affordable and accessible to all.
Mental Health Crisis Team – Adults
In mental health emergencies, immediate support is crucial. The mental health crisis team for adults provides mobile support and intervention services for adults experiencing a mental health crisis, offering timely assistance and de-escalation in urgent situations.
Mental Health Crisis Team – Children
Children and adolescents experiencing mental health crises require specialized support. The mental health crisis team for children is a mobile team available to families when children or adolescents are experiencing a mental health or behavioral crisis, providing child-focused crisis intervention.
Multi-cultural Services
Hennepin County’s diverse population benefits from multi-cultural services. These services connect immigrants and refugees with county and community resources, offering assistance in over 30 languages, ensuring access to services regardless of language barriers.
Other Important Services
Hennepin County Human Services also provides crucial services that address specific needs within the community.
Civil Commitment
In situations where individuals may pose a risk due to mental illness, chemical dependency, or developmental disabilities, civil commitment screenings assess the risk and determine the need for commitment, balancing individual rights with community safety.
Domestic Abuse Service Center
Supporting victims of domestic violence is essential. The Domestic Abuse Service Center provides a range of services for individuals who have experienced domestic violence, offering safety, support, and resources to help them rebuild their lives.
Human Services Navigator Line
Navigating the vast array of human services can be overwhelming. The Human Services Navigator Line, reachable at 612-543-5500, provides a central point of contact for residents to get information, guidance, and connection to the appropriate services, simplifying access to help.
Hennepin County Human Services is committed to providing comprehensive and accessible services to support the well-being of all residents. By understanding the range of programs available, you can better access the help you need or guide others in your community to the right resources. For more detailed information on any of these services, please visit the Hennepin County website or contact the Human Services Navigator Line.
