EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT

The purpose of our Caring for Kids (CfK) program is to ensure that 0– to 5-year-olds have what they need to grow, develop, and successfully transition to kindergarten.  

CfK provides early childhood education scholarships that allow parents to choose high-quality child care and education programs, along with case management, parent education and support, mental health support, and basic needs assistance.

When you’re a participant in CfK, an IOCP staff person is available from your child’s birth to age 5 to help your family access resources and provide on-going support for parents and young learners. Some areas where we can help include:  

• Full and part-time scholarships to quality childcare providers 
• Parent education, coaching and support. 
• Emotional support and mental health services for kids, parents and families 
• General problem-solving assistance in partnership with an IOCP case manager 
• Access to basic need services, IOCP and community resources 

Looking for job search and money tips? Read what’s new from our Employment Services team here.

Want to see what’s happening in CfK? Read the current CfK enews for more updates or contact us for more information.

If you do not have an IOCP staff contact already, please call 763-489-7500 or send an email to get started.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

• ParentChild+
  The Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis Parent Child+ program is a free home visiting program for families that promotes creative ways to learn through play, enhances parenting skills and helps children prepare for school.
• Wayzata Public Schools Early Learning Outreach Team
  • Do you have concerns about how your child is growing and learning?
  • Did you just move into the district and need school district information?
  • Do you have questions or need help registering your child for preschool?
  • Are you looking for one-to-one parent support?
  • Would you like to connect with other families and children?

  If so, the Wayzata Early Learning School’s (WELS) Outreach Team would like to connect with you! WELS offers a variety of early learning opportunities for children ages birth to five including preschool, parent and child classes, early childhood screening, intervention programs, and much more.

  For more information, visit the Wayzata Schools Early Learning website, call 763-745-5290, or email ConnectAt3@wayzataschools.org

  Navigating Hennepin Child Care Assistance 

  If you are in need of childcare, you can call Hennepin County Child Care Assistance (CCAP) at 612-348-5937 to check your eligibility and begin the application process. Please let Caring for Kids staff know if you have any questions regarding this application process or any other childcare related questions at cfkteam@iocp.org.

  Parenting Resources

  Caring for Kids is proud to be a part of Little Moments Count, a statewide community awareness campaign focused on supporting parents and communities to understand the importance of talking, playing, reading and singing early and often with children. Research shows that these types of positive interactions and experiences in early childhood greatly impact health and well-being outcomes later in life. Learn more about the science of brain-building. 

• Help Me Grow Minnesota  offers videos and articles on child development
• Think Small: Parent Resources
• Check out this insightful video from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, which discusses the importance of play, and how such “serve and return interactions” like play are easy to do, especially through practice.

DID YOU KNOW?

“90% of brain development happens before the age of 5. The experiences that kids have in the first years of their lives can set them up for success throughout their lives.”