Everything You Need to Know About How Minnesota Helps Families

The mission of Minnesota’s public schools is to cultivate lifelong learning. Teachers at every level advance this goal with creativity and passion.

Students are typically engaged as a result. Minnesota boasts an unusually low drop-out rate, landing in recent years at just 4 percent. Time magazine once noted Minnesota’s “near-worship for education.” This is evident across the board, including teacher compensation, which ranks well above average.

When it comes to key predictors of future success, Minnesota’s public school teachers shine. One example is their proven ability to foster a love of reading. Teachers here are bolstered by partnerships with libraries and independent bookstores who are plugged into the incredible children’s literature community. Literary legends like Kate DiCamillo, Eliza Wheeler, Nancy Carlson and David LaRochelle teach writing classes, read to students, and support early forms of literacy. Minnesota schools also stand out for their commitment to STEM, which is deeply integrated across the curriculum.

In addition to outstanding test scores, Minnesota ranks very high on comprehensive assessments of children’s well-being. For instance, the multi-factor 2020 Kids Count profile by the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Minnesota fifth overall for the well-being of children. This reflects a state-wide effort to look out for students’ social and emotional health, to create a positive school climate and to check in often with parents.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes actually claims considerably more (11,842), earning it the top spot in the contiguous United States. This helps enable universal access to nature, a well-researched link to overall happiness.

In addition to lakes, rivers and creeks, the state is designed to provide families with maximum green spaces, no matter where they live. In the latest national ParkScore index, St. Paul ranked second and Minneapolis came in third, trailing only Washington D.C. This recognizes factors such as walkability, amenities and investment per capita.

Embracing the outdoors is a major part of Minnesota’s identity throughout the year. While fishing, boating, and water sports reign in the summer, the state offers a range of family-friendly activities for colder months, from the award-winning ice sculptures at St. Paul’s famed Winter Carnival to free snowshoeing classes and the ever-popular maple syrup tree-tapping at Dodge Nature Center.

Every age and skill level will find an abundance of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors here. This is spurred by programs like the DNR’s “I Can!” initiative, which introduces outdoor skills – camping, paddling, fishing, mountain biking and archery – to kids.

A crucial matter for any family is healthcare, another area where Minnesota excels. The state’s healthcare system consistently ranks high nationally. This leads to higher longevity levels overall; in 2022, Minnesota ranked third in the country for longest life expectancy, according to a study of government data.

The state is home to cutting-edge medical research, offering residents promising new treatments for life-threatening diseases. From impressive offerings in the metro area such as M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center to world-class treatments at Rochester’s Mayo Clinic, Minnesota families are cared for by top surgeons and acclaimed doctors.

This is on full display when it comes to serving kids with disabilities. Resources include the Arc of Minnesota, a non-profit that advocates for kids with disabilities; the Autism Society of Minnesota, a non-profit that enhances the lives of Minnesotans affected by autism; Family Voices of Minnesota, a grassroots organization that taps into well-developed networks to serve children with special health-care needs; and the PACER Center, which guides families dealing with any disability.

PACER’s Family to Family Health Information Center is a lifeline, helping families navigate private and public insurance programs, collaborate with doctors and schools, and benefit from multicultural advocates.

No parent wants their child hospitalized, but Minnesota families can find comfort knowing they are in the best hands at Children’s Minnesota, a nationally ranked acute-care hospital system in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Birth centers across the state are also among the best. Regions Hospital Family Birth Center in St. Paul, for instance, offers in-room NICU services. Mother Baby Center at Mercy in Coon Rapids, meanwhile, has earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report as well as local parents in online forums.

Minnesota’s healthcare system is designed to support the whole person, including mental health services that are covered by many insurance plans. The Minnesota Specialty Health System aims to fill gaps, providing adults with additional healthcare between inpatient services. Meanwhile, the world-renowned Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has helped generations of Minnesotans overcome addiction and mental illness.

Government programs available to Minnesota families offer practical support at crucial junctures of family life, beginning with the purchase of a house. The state offers multiple homebuyer programs, with assistance on down payments and closing costs as well as loans, including the Start Up Program and the Step Up program.

Universal paid family leave begins in 2026, granting mothers and fathers 18 weeks to focus on providing the best possible care for their entire family. Once children are old enough to attend school, their parents save again, thanks to the state’s free lunch program. It provides a free breakfast and lunch to every student at public and private schools. These well-rounded meals help students focus in the classroom and ease the stress of rushed mornings. Minnesota is one of only eight states in the U.S. offering free school lunches.

The list of additional programs available to Minnesota families is long, including the Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership for homemakers needing to reenter the workforce; the Women’s Economic Security Act Competitive Grant to boost the number of women in high-wage, high-demand occupations; the Minnesota Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Program; and the North Star Promise Scholarship Program, which allows eligible Minnesota students to pursue higher education free of tuitions and fees.

Minnesota has developed a reputation for world-class eldercare to help aging residents live as comfortably and independently as possible. This includes top-rated senior housing and expertly run assisted living, plus outstanding hospice care and at-home care.

The continuum of care marks a huge innovation compared with nursing homes of the old days. The Senior LinkAge Line is a free service of the Minnesota Board on Aging that helps seniors navigate all these options. Specialists help seniors compare Medicare plans, relieve their caregivers and optimize their homes. They connect seniors with programs like Alternative Care and Elderly Waiver, which serve people who need nursing-home level care but choose to live in their community.

Services for seniors range from transportation and continuing education to cooking, cleaning and caregiving. The state’s Department of Human Services offers financial assistance for housing and other resources online, helping families receive ample support for their aging relatives in Minnesota.

Opportunities for family fun abound in Minnesota, from dog sledding in Ely to the Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee. It’s the only Midwestern state that has sports teams in the four major leagues, not to mention other exciting franchises in the MLS (Minnesota United FC), Women’s Professional Basketball League (Minnesota Lynx), and the new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL Minnesota).

The state boasts outstanding zoos, skate parks, walking trails, and playgrounds. An increasing number are accessible for kids with physical disabilities and sensory sensitivities. Minnesota Parent described one of the newest, Shoreview Commons Destination Playground, as “straight out of [Dr. Seuss’] the Lorax.”

Kids experience how fun learning can be at the state-of-the-art Science Museum of Minnesota and Minnesota Children’s Museum, which rotates interactive exhibits in an inclusive, accessible fashion. And the state’s investment in the arts ensures year-round, family-friendly offerings, including the Tony-winning Children’s Theatre Company.

No matter the season or age, Minnesota offers incredible support to families.