In early 2017, the three-way partnership with Better Way Foundation, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and the Center for Indian Country Development of the Federal Reserve Band of Minneapolis launched the Healthy Children, Healthy Nations Initiative: Charting Pathways on Early Childhood Development and Nutrition for Minnesota’s Native Children. Our goal is to conduct research and convene gatherings with Minnesota and regional early childhood development (ECD) stakeholders, Native practitioners, Native language educators, researchers, nutrition and health advocates, tribal leaders, state agencies, and funders in order to devise a specific action plan to improve and strengthen ECD, nutrition and health for Native American children in Minnesota. Three convenings were held: Practitioners on May 10-11, 2017; Funders on July 11, 2017; Tribal Leaders on August 14, 2017.
The goals of the Healthy Children, Healthy Nations Initiative:
- Map and better understand the context, needs, challenges, strengths and opportunities for improving ECD, nutrition and health for Minnesota’s Native children;
- Map key stakeholders;
- Map emerging/established best practices and models in ECD, early Native nutrition and health;
- Map existing funding and investment in ECD, Native nutrition and health in Minnesota;
- Create opportunities for peer learning, best practice sharing, collaboration, network building, and multi-sectorial partnership development; and
- Solicit feedback on priorities and goals and build consensus on what is needed to inform a statewide action to support Native ECD, nutrition and health for Minnesota Native children.
We are happy to share the Charting Pathways on Early Childhood Development and Nutrition for Minnesota’s Native Children Report, released on March 27, 2018, about creating better opportunities for Native children in Minnesota. The Report outlines an integrated strategy to improve early childhood development and nutrition for Minnesota’s Native children, including advocacy around proven programs and a collaboration fund to support promising models.
This report is based on the research and recommendations from the Healthy Children, Healthy Nations initiative, a collaboration between the Center for Indian Country Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and Better Way Foundation.
Learn more about the Report and ways to improve early childhood development and nutrition for Minnesota’s Native children by checking out our webpage and joining our Webinar on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 11 a.m. CST.
Resources
End of Year Message by CICD Director, Patrice Kunesh
CICD Blog | December 13, 2017
Patrice Kunesh, Assistant Vice President and Director of the Center for Indian Country Development
The Promise of Early Childhood in Indian Country
Community Dividend | November 17, 2017
Rob Grunewald, Economist
Healthy Children, Healthy Nations
Speech | July 12, 2017
Mark L. J. Wright, Senior Vice President and Director of Research
Native Early Childhood Development and Nutrition Stakeholder Convening Agenda [PDF]
Early Childhood Development: A Current Snapshot of Minnesota’s American Indian Communities [PPT]