Children's Hospital Association will announce and open our grant funding applications for 2027 later in the year. Director-level leadership at Children's Minnesota and all currently funded programs will be notified and invited to apply. Interested parties are welcome to view the 2026 CHA Grant Information to preview an overview of last year's application and scoring rubric.

Current partners seeking to complete and submit reports may do so through the CHA Grant Application Portal.

To ease the burden and anxiety on families needing to provide complex medical care at home, the Caregiver Simulation Program gives caregivers the opportunity to learn and practice integrative care on mannequins in a safe environment. With access to hands-on practice, the goal is to increase each caregiver’s confidence and alleviate anxiety, promoting family success as they transition back to home, work, and school.

The Patient/Caregiver Educator works collaborates with all medical team members to provide and coordinate the education needs of the families of medically complex populations. This includes developing and updating resources, medications, treatments, equipment, coping strategies, and more. The Patient/Caregiver serves as both a support and a guide as they transition from the hospital to life at home, making the adjustment go as smoothly as possible for the entire family.



For nearly 40 years, Midwest Children’s Resource Center (MCRC) has consistently worked to address the needs of children and families who have experienced abuse and/or neglect. MCRC provides comprehensive care to those who have experienced maltreatment that minimizes trauma and maximizes opportunity for healing and recovery.



The Runaway Intervention Program provides one-on-one support to youth with experiences of running from home, truancy, sexual abuse and/or exploitation. Nurse practitioners and therapists connect with youth in the home and community to address personal health and connect them to family, school, and community resources.

First Steps is a child abuse prevention program and parenting support program for teen parents. Focused on promoting a healthy family model to young parents, First Steps provides parenting education, peer-to-peer support, resources to support community integration and the baby’s development, and more throughout the first year.



Star Studio aims to ensure that every child can experience joy and normalcy, regardless of their health challenges. CHA’s funding covers necessary production costs and the creation of brand-new segments—including programming that will connect Children’s Minnesota patients with artists and authors from our local community!



For young people grappling with eating disorders, consistent, accurate information on weight is crucial to successful treatment plans. CHA is funding the purchase of Bluetooth-enabled smart scales which automatically sync weight information to a HIPAA-compliant portal shared with providers so families can access high-quality, evidence-based outpatient care while their child heals. This will increase the access to eating disorder care and recovery across greater Minnesota and beyond.



CHA is proud to fund CHADIS (Child Health and Development Interactive System), a fully HIPAA compliant online clinical process support system that will enable early detection of needs and concerns for Spina Bifida and Downs Syndrome patients. In addition to standardizing benchmarks and allowing clinicians to screen and gather information on sleep, development, mental health, independence, and social determinants of health, this software also increases families’ access to healthcare.

Children’s Minnesota’s Extremely Preterm Outcomes Project is actively collecting data that current medical follow-up alone cannot fully assess to better understand and address the challenges of transitions following a NICU discharge. CHA is funding the addition of a NICU Follow-Up Social Worker who will integrate family partnership and real-time psychosocial care to improve both the experience and effectiveness of care.



Music is a powerful healthcare tool: it can calm a struggling newborn, provide a diversion for a toddler during an uncomfortable procedure, encourage movement for a school-age rehabilitating during an extended hospital stay, help a teen to process their feelings and emotions related to a serious illness, or provide coping mechanisms for parents and siblings. Music Therapy provides a unique way to alleviate pain and anxiety and maximize expressions and coping skills in children receiving care at Children’s Minnesota. Music therapists work with medical teams to meet patient treatment goals through evidence-based musical interventions. Therapists use instruments, movement, and song to provide care using instruments, movement, and song.

The Child Life Zone is a unique state-of-the art therapeutic play area that supports patient and family needs for interaction, exploration, and relaxation. This environment provides children and teens with a place to connect with others and explore healing therapies. CHA’s funding supports staffing the Child Life Zone with trained Child Life Professionals.



Amidst the uncertainty of an unfamiliar environment and the chaos of the movement of staff and noises of medical equipment, Child Life Specialists support patients and families as essential partners in pediatric emergency care. They guide children and families through navigating, understanding, discussing, and overcoming life’s most challenging events. This compassion encircles the whole family by creating a safe, child-friendly, appropriate environment for the patient, their parents, and their siblings.  CHA is proud to continue to fund expanded staffing coverage in both the St. Paul and Minneapolis Emergency Departments.



Given the rarity of pediatric brain and spinal tumors, families of pediatric neuro-oncology patients often experience feelings of loneliness and isolation during their medical journeys. CHA is thrilled to fund Children’s Minnesota’s first Neuro-oncology Support Program. Designed for the whole family, this program will provide in-person support groups with a licensed mental health practitioner, community-style meals, sibling care, and opportunities to connect with and community resources and speakers.



To increase the accessibility of vital healthcare information, CHA is funding the development of educational materials for families and caregivers of children born with hearing loss, feeding problems, and airway concerns. This will include videos sharing information on preparing for surgeries and how to provide at-home care with both audio and sign language interpretation. 

Our country is facing an unprecedent rise in need for pediatric mental healthcare. CHA’s funding will enable the Outpatient Mental Health team to receive the necessary training to provide specialized services for kids with autism and ADHD. This will reduce wait times, increase quality of care, and more effectively meet the needs of kids and families while integrating trauma-informed practices.