Learn about the Community of
White Earth Coalition.

Read about the lessons learned in the Minnesota ECI's first three years.

Read the results of a Wilder study on the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative.

PowerPoint Presentation presented by Louise Stoney: Smarter Reform: Moving Beyond Single Program Solutions to an Early Care and Education System

Read our ECI communities' school readiness workplans.

The Early Childhood Dental Network
Oral Health is a Part of Overall Health

The Minnesota
Thrive Initiative
Promoting the Healthy Social and Emotional Development of Our Youngest Children

Early Childhood Links

Early Childhood Facts

LINKS  •  FACTS  •  STORIES  •  RESEARCH • EVENTS 

OUR MISSION

The Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative's overarching goal is to ensure that every young child has the best possible start toward a healthy life of learning, achieving, and succeeding. In 2001, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations began to collaborate on a joint public policy initiative focused on early childhood. Recognizing that strengthening early care and education for young children and their families is the most important investment communities can make for the future, the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative was developed. Accumulating evidence indicates that our country is under investing in early childhood development, which is diminishing our nation's ability to compete in the global marketplace. Research confirms the huge long-term economic payoffs from investments in quality early childhood development programs.

Community organization is key to reaching the overall goal. WCI is supporting coalition building in 10 community demonstration sites. The Early Childhood Initiative seeks the involvement of parents, senior citizens, educators, business and community leaders, the faith community, and policy makers. This Initiative is not about specific programs or grant awards, it’s about joining together in a long-term effort to make young children a real priority. This Initiative is about working with others to assess current early childhood efforts, figuring out what more your community can do and than doing it!

For more information on WCI's Early Childhood Program, email Nancy Jost, Early Childhood Initiative Coordinator.