About the Child Care Resource & Referral Community in Minnesota

The Minnesota CCR&R Network provides statewide leadership in shaping collaborations that build a diverse, high quality child care system accessible to all Minnesota families through local CCR&R agencies.  Local CCR&R agencies provide services statewide to help families find child care and understand their care options, support child care providers through grants and education and inform the community on the importance of child care.  Together, we work to support family, friends and neighbors who provide child care so every child has the best chance to learn and be happy.

MINNESOTA CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL NETWORK PROGRAMS

EAGER TO LEARN: Eager-to-Learn is an innovative, community based, e-learning program of the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network. Eager-to-Learn courses are designed to provide quality, accessible, educational opportunities to people who care for children.   Eager to Learn has courses on line in Spanish that are offered year round. They are taught by Spanish speaking instructors who have expertise both in the content and in working with Spanish speaking caregivers and families.

14 caregivers graduated from the Spanish SEEDS to Early Literacy class on May 18, 2011!  Recruitment efforts are underway for the 2011 Fall cohort.

For partnership inquiries or programmatic questions, please contact Cory Woosley, Eager-to-Learn program manager at (651) 746-4024 or coryw@mnchildcare.org.

MINNESOTA CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
January—June 2010

Number of events and activities targeted to FFN providers=490
Number of FFN attendees:  4,202

Minnesota map Northwest district Northeast Metro District Southern District midwest district region1 region2 region3 leech lake region 5 region 4 region 7e washington county ramsey county anoka county hennepin county scott-carver counties dakota county region 7w region 6e region 6w region 10 region 9 region 8

NORTHWEST DISTRICT:

Region 1 CCR&R, Tri-Valley Opportunity Council: Conducted play & learn events for FFN caregivers in coordination with community programs, including ECI's, ECFE, libraries, etc.  The topics included activities and story around weather, babysitter safety and school readiness through play.

Region 2, Mahube CCR&R:  Conducted home visits and training on home safety, literacy, activities for children and the importance of play. Held play & learn and community event in partnership with White Earth Child Care Programs, Head Start and early childhood programs in Mahnomen County.

Region 4 CCR&R, Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership: Collaborated with Pelican Rapids ECFE on home visits to Hispanic FFNs, providing an introduction to CCR&R, activity ideas, and literacy, and health and safety materials.  Conducted home visits with topics including health, safety and child development.

NORTHEAST DISTRICT:

Region 3, Arrowhead CCR&R: Co-sponsored Play N Learn groups on age appropriate activities, literacy, child development, making musical instruments and circle time, and math.  Also held training events focused on wildlife explorations for young children, math curriculum, manipulatives, and story books.

Region 5 CCR&R, Otter Tail Wadena CAC: Held training events on CPR and first aid, Music: Your Powerful Partner, and Nurtured Heart Approach.  Conducted home visits with Spanish speaking FFN on school readiness.

Region 7E, Pine Tech CCR&R:  Held training events on tribal nutrition and healthy lifestyles, Positive Indian Parenting, continued learning over the summer, and What is quality care in FFN world.  Conducted six weeks of classes and discussion on discipline, getting ready for kindergarten, and Dr. Walsh’s curriculum on How to Say No.

Leech Lake Early Childhood Development Child Care Services: Held training events on health and safety and child passenger safety.  Conducted play & learn groups on health and safety, fire safety with a tour of a fire truck, music and movement, and Ojibwe language.  Provided presentations to Native Employment works, WIC clinics, and Head Start events.

MIDWEST DISTRICT:

Region 6E CCR&R, Heartland Community Action Agency: Partnered with Head Start to conduct play & learn groups on literacy activities.  Held training events in partnership with ECFE for Somali providers on literacy activities.  Held workshop on SIDS & SBS for Somali providers.  Collaborated with Growmobile/ECFE on home visits and provided literacy kits.

Region 6W, Prairie 5 CCR&R: Collaborated with Prairie Five CAC Head Start on Lac Qui Parle County Celebrating Families Parent Expo.  Collaborated with the KMS ECI to offer a summer story hour, and Provider Appreciation event focusing on early literacy skills.  Collaborated with Public Health on their Incredible Years training.  Coordinated a summer reading program with the local library, ECI members and a local business.

Region 7W CCR&R, Child Care Choices: Held Friday Family Meetings with training focused on continued learning over the summer, discipline, organization/parent involvement.  In partnership with ECFE, conducted home visits focused on development, attachment, brain development, discipline, play, safety, relationships and literacy.  Held play & learn groups on transportation and nature.

Region 8 CCR&R, Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council, Inc.: Developed customized packets to include information on health, safety, learning and child development.  Placed ads in local newspapers creating relationships with editors.  Participated in Nobles County Senior Spring Fling and Redwood County Senior Expo "Finding Your Treasure", providing safety kits, Scholastic magazines, grandparenting materials, health and safely information, and activities to do with children.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT:

Region 9 CCR&R: Participated in the New Ulm ECFE Community Baby Shower and Head Start Parent Night for Migrant Head Start families.  Conducted home visits to FFN caregivers, providing information incentive supports, and health and safety.  Collaborated with ECFE on play & learn events on math and science.  Partnered with ECFE storyteller on home visits.

Region 10, CCR&R, Inc.: .:  Participated in Family Night, Family Fun Night, Project Community Connection, Kiwanis Kids Night, Family Fun Day, and 1st Birthday Bash events.  Conducted home visits providing toys, books, first aid kits and other resource materials. 

EAST/WEST METRO DISTRICT:

Washington CCR&R, ACCAP:  Newsletters sent to all providers with follow up phone calls.  Held play & learn groups on approaches to learning—curiosity, approaches to learning—imagination and invention, cognitive—math & counting, scientific thinking and observing, creating and responding, language and literacy.  Held play & learn with Ethiopian providers on creativity and the arts. 

Anoka CCR&R, ACCAP:  Direct mailing to FFN caregivers on database promoting CCR&R technical assistance and support. Conducted Play & Learns on the topics of art, literacy and science, approaches to learning.  Conducted home visits on ECIPS and child development.  Held training events on CPR/first aid, creativity and the arts, reduce/reuse/recycle, social/emotional development.   

Scott/Carver CCR&R, Scott Carver CAP: Held Play & Learns at local area libraries with a focus on child development and incorporating topics such as colors, farms, wild animals & winter, and the solar system.  Provided training on Positive Parenting in Spanish.  Partnered with Shakopee Family Center to develop literacy bags for families to check out.  Conducted presentations at various community locations and events to provide information and resources.

Dakota CCR&R, Dakota CAC:  Provided trainings in Somali on Child Growth & Development and Dealing with Difficult Behaviors.  Held classes in Spanish on Urgent Care and a CPR Refresher.  Conducted home visits and provided information and resources, including Health & Safety kits.  Sent English and Spanish newsletters and flyers promoting CCR&R technical assistance and support.  Conducted Play & Learns at local apartment complex.  SEEDS of Early Literacy classes in Somali held at local apartment building Community Room.  13 caregivers graduated May 19, 2010 from the Eager to Learn Spanish SEEDS to Literacy online class. 

Hennepin CCR&R, Resources for Child Caring: 57 Home visits done for 24 unduplicated FFN Providers.  Co-hosted Play & Learn with MN Children’s Museum.  Held Play & Learn groups at local libraries, SE Asian Refugee Home, and schools, providing information on literacy, school readiness, learning activities and community resources.  Sends FFN newsletter and calendar of events in multiple languages. 

Ramsey CCR&R, Resources for Child Caring: 49 Home visits done for 19 FFN providers.  Collaborated with Minnesota Children’s Museum on a Play & Learn structured field trip.  Outreach at Hmong American Partnership to new American clients and program participants.  Conducted Circle of FFN on Protective Factors with Amharic and Oromo speakers and at an alternative high school.  Conducts bi-weekly Play & Learn groups and held a Play & Learn at American Indian Family Center.