Q1 2014 Update
New Grant Partner: Social Innovation Fund
LearnTogetherMN is pleased to welcome the Generation Next Social Innovation Fund (SIF) as a new grant partner! The partnership between Greater Twin Cities United Way and Generation Next received $2 million in federal funding over two years, which has been awarded to six sub-grantees serving children and youth in Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Those sub-grantees use the funds to grow and deepen their SIF-funded programs by establishing stronger levels evidence to support program scaling and replication. Check out an overview of the grant and stay tuned for future updates on what they are learning.
SIF Progress | SIF Learning & Sharing
Child-Parent Center
The Child-Parent Center Expansion is finishing up another successful school year, with their core group of students finishing up their kindergarten year. They recently released a discussion paper to share the lessons learned so far about their “essential elements.” The discussion paper shares learnings about the impact of full-day vs. part-day preschool, attendance, and parent involvement.
CPC Progress | CPC Learning & Sharing
Early Learning Challenge
Minnesota Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge plan includes a focus on building the quality of early care and education programs throughout Minnesota. If our state is going to be successful in improving school readiness, particularly for children with high needs, we need to dramatically increase the participation of home-based Licensed Family Child Care programs in the Parent Aware Quality Rating & Improvement System. LearnTogetherMN gathered information on a wide range of public and private efforts to engage Licensed Family Child Care providers in Minnesota’s quality system, then convened a learning session to provide an opportunity for those engaged in that work to share what is working. Download a summary of what’s working in efforts across Minnesota.
ELC Progress | ELC Learning & Sharing
Northside Achievement Zone
Throughout the state, we hear programs focused on improving academic outcomes for children and youth tell of being stymied by the housing instability of the families they serve. LearnTogetherMN partner Northside Achievement Zone’s most recent Solution Plan focuses on helping families stabilize their housing using evidence-based approaches supported by NAZ’s experience with families and solid research. If your program is struggling to address families’ housing needs, check out the Housing Solution Plan to find out more about “active ingredients” and “necessary conditions” for helping families find and maintain stable housing. The Plan also includes information on partnering with families to make their home environment conducive to children’s learning.
