Early Childhood Grant Program

Early Childhood Grant Program

Geographic Scope: Minnesota

Focus Areas: High-quality, culturally appropriate early childhood programs that support children's social, emotional, physical, and academic development with strong family engagement strategies.

Vision of Success: All Minnesota children with the least access to resources are socially and emotionally, as well as physically and cognitively ready for kindergarten.

Eligible Program Types

• Innovative early care and education
• Targeted home visiting and parent education
• Early childhood mental health programs

High-Quality Early Care and Education Program Elements

• 3 or 4 star Parent Aware rating or pathway to attain it
• Research-based high-quality curriculum
• Family engagement opportunities in programming
• Quality assessment tools where data informs program improvement
• Professional development access for staff in areas such as: program design, evaluation and assessment, inter-cultural skills, and child development

High-Quality Parent Education and Targeted Home Visiting Program Elements

• Focus on strength-based whole child and family development (cognitive, physical, social, emotional)
• Research-based high-quality curriculum and evidenced-based model
• Parent-child interaction component
• Active involvement of parents/caregivers in child's learning
• Intensity and duration of contact appropriate for program goals
• Quality assessment tools where data informs program improvement
• Professional development access for staff

High-Quality Early Childhood Mental Health Program Elements

• Priority given to mental health programs aligned with high-quality early care education and targeted home visiting programs
• Primary focus on relationships
• Culturally appropriate interventions
• Research-based high-quality methodology
• Family engagement opportunities
• Initial assessment of each child including for trauma and chronic stress
• Intensity and duration of client services appropriate to intervention goals
• Quality assessment tools where data informs program improvement
• Professional development access for staff

Background: The Foundation invests in innovative direct service programs to support vulnerable children in Minnesota.

Contact: Ph: 612-871-9210, Email: info[@]sheltering-arms.org, PO Box 386027, Minneapolis, MN 55438