Children & Young People
Strong Systems. Strong Starts.
Stronger Futures.
Children and young people deserve the best possible start toward healthy lives of learning, achievement, and success, supported by strong community organizations.
We partner with communities to strengthen the systems that support children and young people, focusing on the connections between health, well-being, and learning. By aligning efforts across sectors, we help communities identify gaps, build on what’s working, and implement strategies that lead to measurable, lasting progress.
Improving access to high-quality child care and education is central to this work, as early learning environments play a critical role in children’s development and long-term success. Our regional networks focused on early childhood oral health and mental well-being integrate care into the everyday settings families rely on—expanding access and promoting early intervention to help children thrive.
Connect with Us
Marsha Erickson
Early Childhood Specialist
Networks & Resources
Early Childhood Dental Network
The Early Childhood Dental Network works to educate caregivers about the importance of oral health and expand access to dental care for children ages 0–5 who are uninsured or enrolled in Minnesota Health Care Programs. In partnership with regional organizations, the network supports oral health advocacy, mobile outreach clinics, and expanded community- and school-based dental services through providers such as Apple Tree Dental, Caring Hands Dentistry, and Children’s Dental Services. The network also partners with schools and colleges to encourage students to enter the dental field and works with medical clinics to incorporate oral health screenings into well-child exams.
For more information about this network, including information about upcoming dental clinics, contact Coordinator Jane Neubauer.
Resources
Early Childhood Mental Health Network
The Early Childhood Mental Health Network brings partners together to support young children in developing the ability to express emotions, build close relationships, and explore the world around them. The network works collaboratively to create programs that help parents and caregivers better understand typical child development and recognize when to seek additional support, strengthen local systems of prevention, early intervention, and treatment, and share information that reduces stigma and encourages families to seek mental health support when needed.
For more information, contact Coordinator Leah Krauth.
West Central Minnesota Child Care Center Wage and Rate Survey
For more than 20 years, West Central Initiative has hosted the West Central Minnesota Child Care Center Directors group, made up of directors who operate child care facilities across the region. In 2016, we conducted a Child Care Center Wage and Rates Report to better understand the local labor market, helping directors and boards adjust rates, wages, and establish a market baseline. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing staffing and financial challenges, we conducted the survey again. Results showed an industry nearing its breaking point.
Cavity Free Kids
Cavity Free Kids is oral health education for young children—from birth through age 5—and their families. It is designed for use in Head Start and Early Head Start, child care, preschool, home visiting, and other programs. Cavity Free Kids includes a rich collection of lessons, activities, stories, songs and other resources that actively engage young children in fun-filled, play-based learning and help parents practice good oral health habits at home.
Resources
Connect with Us
Marsha Erickson
Early Childhood Specialist