Do you know any 10-year-olds? If they grew up in rural Minnesota, these children were some of the first in our state to be impacted by the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative (ECI).
ECI just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. It is a statewide, grassroots network of volunteer coalitions that works to ensure children age birth to 5 have a healthy start to learning, achieving, and succeeding.
“At the time, it was a huge decision for our Board of Directors to dedicate funding to this new idea,” Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) Program Officer Jodi Maertens said. “But research shows that kids entering kindergarten not ready may never catch up. That impacts kids and families today, but also our future citizens, workforce and leaders.”
SWIF has started 16 coalitions, including one Thrive team focused on social and emotional health. They’re led by local coordinators and include educators, care providers, parents, major employers, law enforcement officials, medical professionals and any interested community members.
Giving out books, hosting reading and family events, and updating play spaces are popular ECI projects throughout the region. Local focus varies but all coalitions make significant impact.
After presentations from the BOLD (Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian) ECI, the BOLD School Board voted in March to implement free preschool so all 4-year-olds in their district have an opportunity to attend without a financial barrier. Preschool helps children arrive in Kindergarten on a level playing field and build skills they will use their entire lives.
The Wabasso Area ECI raised funds and installed baby changing stations throughout their community. Before that, parents who were running errands in town, attending an event at school, or visiting a park didn’t have places to easily and safely change their children’s diapers.
At first responder trainings hosted by ECI coalitions in Ortonville, Redwood Falls, Slayton and Wabasso, law enforcement learned extra steps they can take—like kneeling down so their face, not holster, is at eye-level—to make young children feel safe in a stressful situation.
To date, SWIF has invested over $1.3 million in grants plus staffing to support local coalition building, region-wide education opportunities and advocacy.
As a signature program of the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations, including SWIF, ECI was started with and continues to receive funding from The McKnight Foundation, as well as other generous donors.
