Strengthening Families Feature

Minnesota Partnerships Reach Families Across Systems

By Deb Campbell, Director
Sauk Rapids—Rice Early Childhood Programs
Strengthening Families Minnesota

As a Strengthening Families exemplary site, Sauk Rapids—Rice Early Childhood Programs have continued and expanded our strategies to strengthen families at risk of child abuse and neglect. Our programs are based in the public school system and are part of our state-funded Early Childhood Family Education program. Three years ago, we developed more partnerships to strengthen families across systems with county human services, local social service programs, a battered women’s shelter, Early Head Start and a local crisis nursery.

While the partnerships include in-center parent-child and parent education classes, home visiting is the central strategy. A series of prevention-oriented home visits for parents of infants and toddlers focuses on healthy attachment and relationships, while more intervention-oriented home visits are offered for families who have been reported for abuse and neglect or have risk factors. These visits support families in finding their strengths and nurturing their relationships with their children.

Each year we hold four Family Fun Nights where families enjoy a meal sponsored by Early Head Start, play in the gym and take part in other fun and educational activities, and form social connections. These events are always well attended.

Additionally, the services of an on-site therapist are offered for families each week, sponsored by the local mental health center. We offer this service as a Thrive pilot site, one of six in Minnesota that focus on early childhood mental health with a emphasis on birth to three. The partnership is bringing together professionals in the community who recognize that mental health issues in children and parents are key to the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

These partnerships were supported by the Children’s Trust Fund through the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and although that grant was not refunded after the initial three-year period, the partners share a strong commitment to continue.

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