MN-ICECE Structure
Community Advisory Council
Advances community needs & interests. Decision-making body of the initiative
MINNESOTA DEPT. OF HEALTH
Sponsors work, liaison with state, federal reporting. Provides funding. Maintains grants with support team organizations. Facilitates possible avenues for collaboration.
FACILITATOR AND SUPPORT TEAM
Coordinates strategies and planning for the Council. Makes connections with community members. Provides technical assistance/​support/​orientation to Advisory Council members.
EVALUATOR
Leads the development and implementation of an evaluation of the MN-ICECI initiative, works with the Advisory Council with assistance from Support Team members.
FAMILY HEALTH AMBASSADORS
Works with the Council, MDH staff, partner organizations, and others to strengthen parents knowledge about early childhood systems and resources in Minnesota.
Major Issues Mn-Iceci Is Designed To Address
Discriminatory institutional practices (implicit and explicit) and structural racism inherent in systems that have led to African American children and families experiencing significant disparities in accessing needed services and supports that can help them achieve better developmental, emotional, and health outcomes. Examples of these challenges:
Limited services and barriers to resources
- Challenging system navigation process
- Lack of awareness of what is available
- The need for more parent networks and advocates
Better early childhood workforce development
The need for:
- greater cultural competency
- more diversity in the early childhood workforce
- Limited knowledge amongst providers of what early childhood resources are available
Need for a narrative shift in how society thinks about the early childhood workforce/professionals
Current early childhood systems are siloed. This often leaves the responsibility of navigating complex systems on the already overburdened shoulders of families.
Need for improvement in partnerships between different health providers to streamline care and minimize barriers
- Understanding that the doctor’s appointment begins way before the actual time in the clinic (scheduling, finding transportation, etc.)
Need to improve partnerships between health providers and educators