Looking Back and Looking Ahead: Highlights from 2024 and Our Vision for 2025

Each January, we like to take time to reflect on the successes of the past year and to look ahead at the exciting endeavors we have in store for the year to come. Here are a few of our highlights from 2024: 

  • Finalizing our strategic plan, which builds a roadmap for achieving our long-term vision for our programs and our communities. Read more about our strategic priorities. 
  • Adapting our NEAR Science training for early childhood education (ECE) professionals and strengthening understanding of Neurobiology, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience research within the ECE field. 
  • Expanding our Parent Support Outreach Program to Hennepin County, giving more families access to support and resource navigation services to gain stability. 
  • Building our capacity to credential facilitators and coaches in Wraparound in other jurisdictions, creating access to Wraparound in greater Minnesota and beyond.  Learn more about Wraparound Training Opportunities. 

 

As we move into 2025, we have begun to chart the course for this year. A few things we are excited for: 

  • Offering our first Parent Leadership Conference in February, centered on Co-Creating Systems that Support Families. Learn more about our approach to parent leadership and about the event on our website.  
  • Expanding our young parent program through our new Bright Beginnings Program Manager position and exploring new partnerships with drop-in programs, homeless shelters, and schools to meet young parent where they are. 
  • Bringing the Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention, which includes other child abuse prevention agencies and coalitions from across the state, to the Minnesota legislature to advocate for child abuse prevention funding.  
  • Expanding Wraparound services for youth and their families in Hennepin and Sherburne counties and in Minnesota Tribal Nations. 
  • Developing ways to share our Natural Supports Toolkit so that more service providers can support families holistically and creatively by strengthening natural support networks.   

 

By growing and deepening our partnerships with parents, community-based organizations, and local and state agencies this year, we are advancing holistic, strengths-based policies and practices that ensure the health and wellbeing of all children and families.  

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