State Trends in Child Well-Being By the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Project The 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book urges policymakers not to back away from targeted investments that help U.S. children become healthier, more likely to complete high school and better positioned to contribute to the nation’s economy as adults. The Data Book also shows the child poverty rate in 2015 continued to drop, landing at 21%. In addition, children experienced gains in reading proficiency and a...

15 th Annual Minnesota Pinwheels for Prevention Tribe/Community Awards Each year, Minnesota Communities Caring for Children (MCCC) recognizes statewide tribes and communities that have consistently worked to create safe and healthy environments for children and families. We want to celebrate the crucial work of these communities that are creating spaces and opportunities for their children to thrive by enhancing prevention initiatives and family and children’s services. We are happy to...

Minnesota Communities Caring for Children (MCCC) is the only nonprofit in Minnesota to focus on the prevention of child abuse and neglect before it starts. One way we do this is by educating communities about how our early experiences shape lifelong health and well-being. A lot of our work is influenced by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, which showed that certain experiences in childhood can cause toxic stress and result in physical changes in brain development. Using a...

With Mary Weaver, Director of Prevention Initiatives in Northern MN at MN Communities Caring for Children Brain development in infancy and early childhood is the foundation for a child's future development. Experiences teach the brain what to expect and how to respond. Trauma in early childhood teaches the brain to always be responding to threats. The webinar goes over how early trauma impacts brain development, then discusses ideas, techniques, and accommodations for supporting children...

M.M. grew up in an inner-city neighborhood in Boston. While in utero, M.M. experienced fetal distress while exposed to crack cocaine. As an adolescent, his mother was repeatedly incarcerated due to drug use. Because M.M. never knew his father, he ­transitioned in and out of foster homes, and at times, found himself homeless. Growing up, he also frequently witnessed street crime. Unsurprisingly, M.M. suffered episodic ­depression throughout his youth. Even though M.M. was ultimately provided...

Thursday, June 8 th Time: Welcome at 8:30am Training from 9:00am- 4:00pm Where: LifeTrack Building 709 University Avenue West Saint Paul, MN 55104 To Register and for more Information please contact: Lisa Deputie, ldeputie@pcamn.org or 651.325.9391 All parents have stress, some more than others, and support and help make the difference. As the Minnesota chapter of Circle of Parents, MCCC partners with communities to offer peer-led, mutual self-help support groups for parents and children...

By Aaron E. Carroll "Of all the possible tragedies of childhood, losing a sister or brother to early death is almost too awful to contemplate. Yet it is startlingly common. In the United States, 5 to 8 percent of children with siblings experience such a loss. The immediate effects of a sibling’s death, and the grief that follows, are obvious to all. But the consequences are more than emotional and can last for decades. They are even associated with an increased risk of death in those who...

One upon a time, familiar fairy tales were re-imagined as delightful 40-minute musical theatre performances. Fidgety Fairy Tales - The Mental Health Musicals use gentle humor, great music, and compelling performances by talented youth to raise awareness about children's mental health. The goals are to: Provide accurate information about mental health disorders using clear, accessible language Dispel the myths and reduce the fear and misunderstanding around mental health disorders Portray the...

Minnesota Communities Caring for Children (MCCC) is a statewide nonprofit organization that empowers parents and builds the capacity of communities to create environments where all children thrive. Our mission is to empower parents and communities to build supportive relationships, nurture children, and prevent child abuse and neglect. Interested in helping MN Communities Caring for Children carry out our mission of empowering individuals and communities to stop child abuse and neglect...

T here is a scene in James Redford’s new film, Resilience , in which a paediatrician cites a parental misdeed so outmoded as to seem bizarre. “Parents used to smoke in the car with kids in the back and the windows rolled up,” she says, incredulous. How long ago those days now seem; how wise today’s parents are to the dangers of those toxins. Yet every week in her clinic in the Bayview-Hunters Point area of San Francisco, children present with symptoms of a new pollutant – one that is just as...

Neuroscience isn't on many elementary school lesson plans. But this spring, a second grade class at Fairmont Neighborhood School in the South Bronx is plunging in. Sarah Wechsler, an instructional coach with wide eyes and a marathoner's energy, asks the students to think about the development and progress that they've made already in their lives. "You probably don't remember, but there was a time when you didn't know how to speak and you were just like 'Wah wah wah blah blah blah, mama,...

Dear Sugars, I made a mistake. My daughter is 10 and has been a raging ball of hormones lately. During one of her daily “Y ou don’t understand me and how hard my life is!” tantrums, I yelled, out of sheer exhaustion: “You don’t know a hard life! When I was your age, my stepdad used to hit me and touch me inappropriately.” I regretted it immediately and left the room. I told my husband what I had said, and he thought I should talk to her about it. I didn’t. I chose to do what people always...

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, so Imagine if... all parents had the knowledge and skills to nurture their children. In just one hour, YOU can help us support and empower parents to be the best caregivers they can be. The Imagine if... Breakfast is an opportunity to be a part of MCCC's life-changing work and support Minnesota families on their paths toward resiliency. You will hear from program participants and see the impact we are having on the lives of parents and...

Tuesday July 24 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Fostering Relationships Training with Carole Shauffer, Founder of the Quality Parenting Initiative Wednesday July 25 | 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Community Breakfast: First Year Celebration & Future Opportunities Maplewood Community Center 2100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood, MN 55109 As a partner within the child welfare system, your voice and knowledge is a key to supporting the children and families. Traditional supervised visits can be stressful and...

As the nation grapples with the problems of the school-to-prison pipeline and the intersection of racial justice, the criminal justice system, law enforcement and education, the need for new priorities for children comes to light. For example, in a national public school system that is now majority children of color, students are suffering from trauma. And while there is a shortage of support staff to service public school children — including counselors, psychologists and social workers —...

Great to see this in Minnesota! So much good stuff going on there. Congrats, Barb!

Please join us for the FREE VIRTUAL Growing Resilient Communities: 3 rd Annual Gathering of Collaboratives Addressing ACEs on June 24 th & June 25 th , 9:00 a.m. – noon each day. Check out the Gathering flyer for more information about the schedule, sessions, & speakers we have lined up for this event. We invite you to share this information widely with your partners and networks! Register Here Event Agenda: Wednesday, June 24th: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (noon) 9:00 am – 9:30 am: Gathering...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota shines a spotlight on innovation around the state with its Trailblazer Tour– sharing stories of people and companies making a healthy difference in the communities where we live, work, and play. We are excited to announce that Blue Cross and Blue Shield is recognizing Minnesota Communities Caring for Children and the Understanding NEAR Science: Building Self-Healing Communities work so many of you are doing across the state, with a Trailblazer...

Join us NEXT WEEK for our free, virtual Annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering! This event develops and implements community-wide approaches to Building Self-Healing Communities. Participants are encouraged to attend who are involved, or want to be involved in, addressing the root causes of childhood adversity: this can include Collaborative, tribal, and other community partners, such as health, law enforcement, education, social services, parents, businesses, and nonprofit service...

Indigenous community members and Children’s Mental Health and Family Services Collaboratives' partners are encouraged to attend! This film highlights the untold history of America’s Indian Adoption Era, when nearly one-third of children were removed from tribal communities nationwide. As political scrutiny over Indian child welfare intensifies, an adoption survivor helps others find their way home through song and ceremony. In-Person and Virtual options are available!

The 6 th annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering of Collaboratives and Tribal Nations will be held in 1 week, on Tuesday, June 27 th from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. This free, virtual event will focus on highlighting community-based approaches that support the development of self-healing communities – communities that intentionally develop more inclusive and equitable practices, cultural norms, and concrete supports so all children, families, and adults can thrive. This year, the theme is...

Join us on Tuesday, June 18th for the 7th Annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering of Collaboratives and Tribal Nations Addressing ACEs! The 7th Annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering is a free, virtual event that supports tribal community members and partners and Children’s Mental Health and Family Services Collaboratives as they work to reduce ACEs, strengthen core protective systems, and create self-healing communities across Minnesota. The primary audience for this event...

You are invited to register for the upcoming 7 th Annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering of Collaboratives and Tribal Nations Addressing ACEs that will be held virtually on Tuesday, June 18 th , from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This free , virtual event supports tribal community members and partners and Children’s Mental Health and Family Services Collaboratives as they work to reduce ACEs, strengthen core protective systems, and create Self-Healing Communities across Minnesota.  This...

The 7th Annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering of Collaboratives and Tribal Nations will be held next month, on Tuesday, June 18th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

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The 7th Annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering of Collaboratives and Tribal Nations will be held in two weeks, on Tuesday, June 18th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.