Every young child deserves to thrive and have a healthy life of learning, achieving and succeeding.

We believe that nurturing young children is both a parental and community responsibility. We advance this belief by providing support for the development of community-based coalitions and assist these coalitions to develop a local vision and strategic plan that focuses on quality early childhood care and education. Communities that participate in the program are those that have completed the foundation’s Healthy Communities Partnership (HCP) program, and identified the care and education of children/youth as a key goal area in their community’s long-range plan.

Coalitions are successful only if a diverse group of key community stakeholders are involved, as shown in the Early Childhood Coalition Wheel.

There are now 80 Early Childhood Coalitions across greater MN.
>download PDF of map

• Increase father involvement.
• Activities, events and planning to improve the transition for children into kindergarten.
• Increase and improve communication to membership and community.
  
• Ensure sustainability for the coalition.

• The Ready. Set. Go. The Sequel training was provided to 95 child care providers, early childhood educators, parents and community members regarding the emotional and social needs of young children (ages 0-5).
  
• The Fatherhood Involvement team continues to promote the Fathers Read Every Day (FRED) Program, has updated and distributed copies of The Daddy Book, and providing a class to expectant fathers called Boot Camp for New Dads.
• An annual fundraiser is planned for the third Saturday in September at The Farm on St. Mathias.  It will include a corn maze and pumpkin patch.
  

• A field trip to the local newspaper and purchasing an insert with the children’s interview questions & photos.
• A website to help centralize information about early childhood issues in their community.
• Kindergarten readiness camp.

• Parent education and awareness regarding a child’s learning success and further education.
• Mental health services for families.
• Opportunities for preschool and other early childhood experiences.

• Held three Jump Start to School workshops that attracted over 100 attendees, geared to child care providers and educators and focused on Brain Gym, How to Make Referrals, FASD/RAD and Caring For You.
  
• Providing support, parenting education and family events to area families.
• Provided Early Childhood Screening take home kits for each child screened in Morrison County.
• Provided Infant Mental Health books and packets for all babies born at St. Gabriel’s Hospital
  

• Increased parent education in English and Spanish.
• Increased opportunities for families with young children to assist, interact and learn together.
• Educational and networking opportunities for childcare providers.
  

• Fathers Reading Every Day (FRED) events offered in English and Spanish
• Family-friendly activities with opportunities offered in English and Spanish.
• Childcare provider trainings.

• Updating website to provide resources to families with young children.
  
• Concert in the Parks series.
• Providing a 'read-along' and books to each family for their literacy library at home.
• Providing literacy in waiting rooms with Book Bins.
• Updating parent resources on community boards.
  

• Annual 'Ready, Set' Go' event for families and educators of early childhood. 
• Gathering community members as guest speakers at our monthly meetings.  Members can then apply relevant information to the community and the children that they work with.

• Indoor play space available for families of young children.
• Literacy and books in every home.
• Awareness of programs and services for young children and their families.

• “Six More Weeks of Winter” promotion to encourage families with young children to use the designated indoor play spaces.
• Created 18 book bags containing over 144 books for use by area child care providers. The coalition is checking with providers who may be interested in using the bags, which were sewn by local middle school students and embroidered by a local business.

• Indoor play space/resource center.
• Increase awareness of kindergarten expectations in the community.
• Creation of a child care providers association.

• Held an early childhood conference on social-emotional development for early childhood professionals and a fair for families to gain knowledge about community resources.
  

• Awareness of, accessibility to, and use of early care and education programs, facilities and resources in our area.
• Support public policy for young children and their families.
  
• Promote literacy and school readiness.

• Held 4th Annual Early Childhood Fair, with 375 kids attending (330 were age 6 or younger) along with 260 parents/caregivers.
• Currently planning a Family Literacy Series involving photography.

• Better access to parenting resources to ensure all parents are well informed and can create the best environment for their children.
• Access to quality and affordable child care so all children have equal opportunities.
• Coordinated efforts in the community to increase awareness of programs and opportunities to invest in early childhood.
• Create opportunities for young families and community members to be active in efforts that promote reading to children starting at birth.
  

• Annual Llama, Llama Read-A-Rama Program to promote literacy at a young age.
• Professional to Professional trainings for child care providers and kindergarten teachers.
• Maintain 10 Success By 6 kiosks in the community with information on resources for young parents.
• Support for winter-time events for young children and their families that focus on literacy and physical activity.

• Affordable and accessible preschool for everyone.
• Prevention and reduction of early childhood obesity.
• Literacy.

• A storytime sponsored by the coalition and Sartell friends of the library

• Run and Read with Dad- getting fathers involved in reading and being active with their children.
• A Charming Wine Event- to raise money for preschool scholarships and other coalition projects.
• Community garden support- teaching community members and their children how to choose healthy foods, and where their food comes from
  

• Increased opportunities and awareness for families with children ages 0-5.
• Reduce barriers to healthcare for children ages 0-5.
• Reduce barriers to total access to early childhood programs for children ages 0-5.