11.06 - Budget Requests for 2009

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MINNESOTA EARN CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE t i rl V Initiative ,omf.ii,t for otl.)(I qC5r!/1adreo FACT SHEET NVV%inter 2008 by Invest In Early Childhood? All young children need a healthy start in life to grow into strong, productive adults. 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. Reports such as the Economic Policy Institute's Exceptional Returns, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis' Early Childhood Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return, and Dr. James J. Heckman's Invest in the Very Young confirm the huge long-term payoffs from investments in early childhood development programs. hat Is the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative? In 2003, the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs) 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. The overarching goal of the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative...A Campaign for Our Youngest Children is to ensure that every young child has the best possible start toward a healthy life of learning, achieving, and succeeding. 3% b%,-\ 5% hat Is Happening? 2%% ., 22% Since 2003, the MIFs have established 66 early childhood coalitions. A Statewide Early Childhood Coalition Network has been created to link all the 5% coalitions. This network serves as a vehicle to advance public policy, ex- change ideas, share promising practices, and create a statewide ground- swell of support for young children. 3% 9% hat Has Been Accomplished to Date? 2% 14% • 66 Early Childhood Coalitions Launched To date, 66 Early Childhood Coalitions have been developed in Greater 2 0% Minnesota. Within these communities, there are over 2,500 coalition members ,6usenetss representing diverse sectors, including the business community. These ❑Community/Economic Dev ❑Early Childhood Care&Education coalitions encompass over 170 communities and 52 of the 80 Greater •Elected official OK-12 Education Minnesota counties. ®Faith DHealth Care/Public Hea!h ■Higher Education • Community Profile Interviews Conducted Maw Enforcement More than 2,800 community members participated in face-to-face interviews °n4edia ❑Social Services from 66 coalitions to share their"perceptions" of the accessibility and availability ■other of resources and support for young children and their families. • Community-Based Forums -Speak Outs For Early Childhood Held Over 4,800 community members across 66 coalitions have participated in forums focused on the realities of early care and education in their communities. • Community Visions and Local Action Plans Developed 66 coalitions have written Vision Statements and developed local Strategic Action Plans.