Family Support and Resources

With any safety concerns for your student, please reach out to your student's school building principal or our School Resource Officer (SRO). 

Jordan Area Resources

Jordan Area Food Shelf

• Address: 312 Water St, Jordan
• Phone: 952-292-8759
• Hours: Saturdays 9 AM–12 PM and 2nd & 4th Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM
• Notes: Serves families living in Jordan with grocery-style food assistance

Scott County Food Resource Guide

School Resources

Both the Jordan Elementary School and Jordan Middle School offer the Every Meal program. The program offers a supply of nutritious meals and snacks for children over their weekends and extended breaks, free of charge. The bags will be distributed to your child before the weekend or long break. If you'd like your student to be a part of this program, please contact your school office.

Jordan Elementary School: 952-492-2336
Jordan Middle School: 952-492-2332

CAP Agency – Scott/Carver Counties

• Phone: 952-496-2125
• Address: 738 1st Ave E, Shakopee
• Services: Thrift/discount clothing, food shelf, utility assistance, housing resources

Scott County Community Connections Guide

• Notes: Directory of local thrift stores, free clothing programs, and financial supports

Scott County Family Resource Center

• Phone: 952-818-3795
• Address: 1615 Weston Court, Shakopee; one Saturday per month at Jordan Area Food Shelf
• Services: One stop for community resources, referrals for services, or assistance completing applications and paperwork

Scott County Health & Human Services

• Phone: 952-445-7751
• Services: SNAP/food programs, emergency housing or utility help, child-care and cash assistance

Scott County Housing & Homelessness Unit

• Phone: 952-496-8600
• Notes: Rental support, homelessness prevention, and emergency shelter resources

Emergency Assistance (State of MN)

• Notes: One-time grants for families facing eviction, foreclosure, or utility shut-off

United Way / 2-1-1

• Phone: Dial 211 (toll-free); text: MNHELP to 898-211
• Notes: 24/7 referral line for food, housing, utilities, and mental health help

Scott County Public Health

• Phone: 952-496-8555
• Notes: Free/low-cost immunization clinics, health screenings and education, “Health Matters” low-cost clinics

Health Insurance Assistance (MNsure Enrollment Help)

• Phone: 855-366-7873 (MNsure Help Line)
• Notes: Apply for or renew health coverage (Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, or private plans)

Portico Healthnet (at Shakopee Family Resource Center) 

• Phone: 651-489-CARE (2273)

• Notes: MNsure resource navigators; provides MNsure enrollment assistance and health access navigation

River Valley Health Services

• Phone: 952-452-0777
• Address: 303 East 6th Street, Room #114, Chaska
• Notes: Clinic providing services free of charge

Doctor visits aren’t just for sick kids. Visiting a child’s doctor for preventive care is important to help find and treat health problems early. A Child and Teen Checkup is a comprehensive preventive check that is a benefit to children under the age of 21, enrolled in Medical Assistance. They are completely free of charge and can be completed by your child’s regular doctor.

As part of the Child and Teen Checkups program, Scott County Public Health staff send checkup reminder letters to parents, help parents locate medical and dental clinics, and answer any questions about the program.

When Should Child and Teen Checkups Be Done?

• Between birth and 1 month
• 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months
• Every year from age 3 through 20

To learn more, visit the Child and Teen Checkups page on the Scott County website .

Scott County Public Health's mobile clinic is a free medical clinic for uninsured and underinsured Scott County residents.

The Mobile Health Clinic offers:

• Walk-in appointments only
• Health screenings for chronic disease and short-term illness
• Health information and assistance with connecting to ongoing health care
• Assistance connecting with other local resources

Scott County Public Health and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Partnership
The Scott County Mobile Health Clinic is made possible by a partnership between Scott County Public Health and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC). Scott County Public Health provides all the medical and nursing services for the clinic. The SMSC provides the Mobile Health Unit. This partnership enables the clinic to be brought directly to those in need by traveling to various locations within Scott County every two to three weeks.

For more information on the mobile health clinics and the current locations and dates , please contact Scott County Public Health at (952) 496-8555.

nsteens.org Created through a partnership with Sprint and the Internet safety experts at NetSmartz Workshop, a program of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Through animated videos, short films, games, and interactive comics, NSTeens teaches tweens and teens about making safer choices online. Teaching materials are available for intermediate, middle school, and high school educators so they can bring these engaging lessons right into the classroom.

netsmartzkids.org Created by The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NetSmartzKids is an interactive and educational site designed to teach kids ages 5 to 14 how to stay safe online and off.

netsmartz.org/parents Videos, presentations, and helpful tips about technology issues for parents.

commonsensemedia.org Non-profit dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

staysafeonline.org Website from the National Cyber Security Alliance with the mission to educate and empower our global digital society to use the Internet safely and securely.

safeteens.com Internet safety for teens.

digitalcitizenship.net Helps teachers, technology leaders and parents understand what students should know to use technology appropriately.

screenagersmovie.com Netflix documentary by Dr. Delaney Ruston explores struggles over social media, video games, academics, and internet addiction. Website also includes resources.

operationparent.org/for-parents Sample parent and teen technology contracts

1. i-Minds by Mari Swingle
2. It’s Complicated by Danah Boyd
3. The App Generation by Howard Gardner and Katie Davis
4. The Big Disconnect by Catherine Steiner-Adair, EdD
5. iRules by Janell Burley Hofmann
6. What Are They Thinking by Aaron M. White, PhD and Scott Swartzwelder, PhD
7. The Parents Handbook for Talking with your Teens About Social Media by Ellen Mossman-Glaze MSEd
8. Designing Digital Experiences for Positive Youth Development by Marina Umaschi Bers
9. A Practical Guide to Parenting in the Digital Age by Winifred Lloyds Lender, PhD
10. Why do they Act that Way? by David Walsh, PhD
11. Cyber Junkie by Kevin Roberts

1. Apple Screen Time – IOS: Daily time limit on apps and/or device use, and bedtime use limits.
2. Google Family Link – Android: Best for kids under 13. Free app to set limits on phone use, schedule times for phone to be disabled, block phone access, block specific Apps, etc.
3. Qustodio – Android: Set time limits, block calls, view text and web searches, screen time limits, block phone access, Cost is $55.
4. Mobicip Safe Browser: Parental controls for phones, tablets and computers.
5. Norton Family Premier: Best rated parental control app. Also consider Eset Parental Control for Android or Qustodio

There is no magical age for parents to use as a benchmark for when it is safe to leave children home alone. Parents need to use their own good judgment and their knowledge of their children to determine when and at what age it is appropriate. The ability to feel safe, handle emergencies, and act responsibly varies greatly from child to child. Some 14- to 15-year-olds may not yet be ready for that level of independence.

With those considerations in mind, Scott County uses the following guidelines for children who are unsupervised or who supervise younger children:

1. Children age 7 and younger must always have appropriate supervision.
2. Children ages 8–10 may be left alone for only short periods of time.
3. Children age 11 may babysit for short periods of time.
4. Children ages 12–13 may be unsupervised or babysit, with the expectation that a parent, guardian, or caretaker will return within 12 hours.
5. Children ages 14–15 may babysit or be unsupervised, provided the parent, guardian, or caregiver returns within 24 hours.
6. For children ages 16–17, parental judgment should determine the need for supervision. If left alone for more than 24 hours, they should have a plan for how to respond to emergencies. Children in this age group may provide care for younger children for more than 24 hours if the parent's location and return time are known, and if adult backup supervision is available.

Scott County uses a statewide screening guide to help determine if a child is ready to be left home alone or to babysit. Parents are encouraged to consider the following questions:

1. How long will the child be left alone?
2. What is the child's maturity and intellectual level?
3. Is there another adult available if the child needs help?
4. What is the child's health or physical condition?
5. Does the child display any concerning behaviors?
6. Will the child be using a stove, iron, or other potentially dangerous appliances?
7. Have the parents discussed an escape plan, held a fire drill, and reviewed emergency safety procedures?
8. Does the home have an operational smoke detector?
9. Are there any unusual or dangerous hazards in the home?
10. How does the child feel about being left alone?
11. What are the ages and number of children in the home?
12. Has the child completed a babysitting clinic?
13. Is the chosen caregiver reliable and capable?

Never Leave Children Alone in the Car