When Minnesotans concerned about early childhood education and health issues get together, big things begin to happen. The Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative is encouraging action in the area of Early Childhood mental health; many are now taking note and joining in with Greater Minnesota coalitions.

The Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Foundation for Education, Public Health and Social Justice has added its support for the Minnesota Thrive Initiative with a grant of $100,000.

The overarching goal of the Thrive Initiative is to create seamless systems or networks of local services that support the healthy social and emotional development of Minnesota’s youngest children ages 0-5, with a special emphasis on the 0-3 population.

The Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Foundation grant will advance the implementation of the strategic action plans of the six pilot communities. Resources from the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Foundation will be used for local activities focused on the social and emotional development of young children and their families. The Minnesota Thrive Initiative is a project of the Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs).

"We are pleased to be able to offer support to the Minnesota Thrive Initiative. The Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Foundation for Education, Public Health and Social Justice places a strong emphasis on education and health issues and we recognize that we need to do what we can to make a difference. These children are our future," states Michael V. Ciresi, board president and chairman of the Foundation and chairman of the executive board for the law firm.

An urgent and compelling need has emerged through data collected over the past four years by coalitions in the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative, also funded in part by Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. Communities across Greater Minnesota voiced a need for stronger resources in support of early childhood mental health, which is synonymous with the social and emotional well-being of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. Communities all over the state made it known that young children and their families need more and better resources for the prevention of behavioral and emotional problems and appropriate therapeutic intervention when problems occur.

The Minnesota Thrive Initiative - a statewide effort promoting the healthy social and emotional development of our youngest children, was designed to address this need. One pilot site in each of the six MIF regions has initiated an Action Team made up of local individuals caring for and caring about young children and their families. Each team's work is to develop local networks of services that support the healthy social and emotional development of young children. The planning and development stage has been funded by a generous grant from the Bush Foundation.

According to Lin Backstrom, the early childhood development specialist with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. has been a powerful partner in the MIFs Early Childhood Initiative.

Backstrom said, "Now, we welcome their presence in our work with the Minnesota Thrive Initiative. Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. funds are directed to the strategic action plans of each unique pilot site." She added, "As communities develop a particular continuum of care for their young children, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. will be there with them."

In addition to the local teams, a statewide network made up of representatives from the six pilot site teams, the MIF Central Coordination Team and a group of statewide early childhood mental health agency partners are being developed. This Statewide Learning Community will share best practices, provide training and contribute to early childhood mental health system-building efforts in Minnesota.

Through the Thrive Initiative, communities across Greater Minnesota will become better equipped to nurture the social and emotional well-being of their youngest citizens. This effort will involve a broad array of local citizens, representing organizations that serve young children and their families, in creating a local network of community support and services focused on social and emotional well-being of young children.

For more information, visit www.nwmf.org or contact Lin Backstrom, Early Childhood Development Specialist, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 800-659-7859, or e-mail linb@nwmf.org.

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