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Minnesotans have a reputation of being tireless and effective advocates for all children. We are recognized for our willingness to speak up to insure that all children have a healthy start in life. No one needs this healthy start more than children who have been homeless. Watch Video

NEW 2009 Statewide Homeless Research This study from Wilder Research found more homelss children than ever, with half of homeless children age 5 or younger and racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately affected. Click here to read

The Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness has released Minnesota’s Roadmap for Ending Homelessness: a comprehensive set of strategies for maximizing and aligning future work on this initiative. Click here to view PDF

Homelessness and accompanying trauma can have a profound negative impact on all areas of a child's development.  Yet, children and youth continue to represent a growing population of the homeless.  To learn more, read Wilder Research 2009 Minnesota homeless fact sheet, Homeless Children in Minnesota and their Families.

 
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Connect with websites that can build your knowledge and support your work.

Minnesota Parents Know
Parenting information to parents about children newborn to adolescent.

Minnesota Parents Know/Help Me Grow
Referral program available to parents and providers who have a concern about  a child’s development.

Zero to Three
Informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.

Safe Start Center
Broaden the knowledge of and promote community investment in evidence-based strategies for reducing the impact of children's exposure to violence.

YouthLink                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Creates relationships with youth and the community, creating future opportunities of empowerment, self-sufficiency, and connectedness.

Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness
Research on family homelessness, data and ideas that will inform and enhance public policy on serving homeless families

Research
Children’s Environmental Initiative

Through the Children’s Environmental Project, the Family Housing Fund and the Twin Cities Supportive Housing Provider Group are committed to the vision of healthy community environments supporting the developmental needs of homeless and formerly homeless children. The project’s goal is to create safe physical environments in supportive housing settings for very young children and all family members. We expect that implementation of our plan will lead to the following outcomes for young children in supportive housing:

  • Reduced exposure to hazardous chemicals and cleaning products
  • Reduced exposure to toxic pesticides
  • Reduced exposure to asthma triggers, such as mold, tobacco smoke, dust mites and cockroaches, and volatile organic compounds
  • Reduced risk of injury in housing units, common areas, and playgrounds.

Three Provider Group members were selected to serve as pilot agencies: Emma’s Place, Wayside House Inc, and the YWCA of St. Paul. These three agencies represent six supportive housing sites – Emma’s Place; Incarnation House and Jersey Avenue (Wayside); and Lexington, Grotto, and Oxford (YWCA). These multi-family sites are representative of the west and east metro and urban and suburban locations.

The project sponsored comprehensive environmental surveys with staff and residents of these supportive housing sites. The surveys included interviews and inspections involving household and laundry practices and products and their usage and storage; approach to pest control; products used for cooking and eating; approach to childproofing; maintenance practices; disposal of hazardous waste; and maintenance of landscapes and outdoor areas. With the assistance of residents, we recorded actual products that were used. Radon tests were conducted in the lowest levels of livable or used spaces. Soil samples for lead analysis were taken from areas in and around children’s playgrounds.

A final report and executive summary are available for your review. In addition, check out the e-learning curricula on Children’s Safety, Bed Bugs, Plastics, and Donations. These courses provide you with valuable information on how you can protect children in your community.

Children’s Environmental Initiative: An Aggregate Report, pdf EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Children’s Environmental Initiative: An Aggregate Report, pdf FULL REPORT