Follow Along Program Community Connectors Grant

The Follow Along Program Community Connectors Grant, offered by the Minnesota Department of Health, aims to enhance enrollment and participation in the Follow Along Program by providing culturally and linguistically inclusive resources. This initiative specifically targets historically underserved populations, including Tribal Nations, African American, Somali, Hmong, Latinx, and Karen communities. Organizations are invited to collaborate in recruiting Community Connectors to facilitate outreach and support for families, ensuring they receive necessary developmental services for young children.

NOTE: Opportunity is not currently available. Funder is in the process of making requests for additional legislative funds.
The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Follow Along Program is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide culturally and linguistically inclusive supports and resources for families from our focus communities to increase enrollment and participation in the program.
The Follow Along Program identifies developmental and social-emotional areas of need in young children (birth through kindergarten entrance), connects them with services as early as possible, and continues to support them in their development throughout early childhood. Families complete periodic questionnaires (called Ages and Stages Questionnaires) focused on developmental and social-emotional skills. When needs are identified, staff from local public health departments then follow-up with families.
MDH is seeking collaboration with a group of organizations to support a Community Connectors component. Our goal is to better reach populations that have been historically underserved by the Follow Along Program. Organizations will recruit and deploy a group of Community Connectors to provide culturally and linguistically inclusive outreach and navigation support for families as they enroll and participate in the Follow Along Program. The Follow Along Program Community Connectors will specifically serve families from a focus population group(s). Focus population groups are historically oppressed groups, including (but not limited to) Tribal Nations, American Indian, African American, Somali, Hmong, Latinx, and Karen communities, as well as those from rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.