June 2007 - The Minnesota Thrive Initiative has formed an Action Team in the Bemidji-Blackduck-Kelliher areas to help build a strong local environment that supports the healthy social and emotional development of young children and their families. This project, directed by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation as part of a statewide effort with Bush Foundation funding, has engaged a diverse cross-section of community stakeholders to begin creating networks of local services and resources that help to ensure all young children receive the nurturing care they need to support their mental health.

During April and May, person-to-person interviews were conducted with 75 citizens willing to share their perceptions about the current status of early childhood social and emotional health in their communities. Interviews were conducted by Northwest Minnesota Foundation staff members and Thrive Initiative Action Team Manager Carol Heimsoth.

Common themes emerged from the interview results that will become the foundation for action planning. Needs and recommendations are:

• Increase community awareness; include mental health in the realm of regular health screening and find new funding
• Support and educate parents in understanding their child's behavior and development; expand and improve access to appropriate services
• Focus on prevention, early intervention, and educating parents and early care and education providers about supporting the healthy social and emotional development of children in their care
• Design, develop and implement a community plan to train and recruit mental health professionals and for service delivery, both specific to early childhood.

According to Heimsoth, steps can be taken right away to promote the healthy social and emotional development of young children and their families. "The survey respondents said that the community can work toward building awareness that young children have mental health needs," she said, "and that their social and emotional development affects all of their learning. They stated a desire to create a community that is child- and family-friendly, safe and supportive with activities, resources and services."

Finally, the survey suggested that increased collaboration among existing programs and services will allow each provider to know what the others are doing and when, avoiding unnecessary duplication, but adding services when needed. Thrive is already partnering locally with the Children's Mental Health and Beltrami Area Service Collaborative to advance its mission.

The Thrive Action Team will now design a strategic plan of action, specific to the Bemidji-Blackduck-Kelliher area, to begin to fill in gaps in a continuum of service for young children and their families, from the promotion of emotional health and prevention of long-term problems all the way to intensive therapeutic interventions for families and children in need

For more information, please contact Carol Heimsoth at 333-8484 or Lin Backstrom at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation at 759-2057.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.