Homelessness is a trauma for all members of a family; for children, the impacts can include serious emotional and physical health problems; a higher likelihood of separation from their families; and greater school mobility that can lead to lower academic performance. At Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 80x3: Resilient from the Start initiative, we connect families with the resources available for children and parents to thrive, no matter their situation. The services of the Early Learning Scholarships Program not only aim to restore stability but also strive to create pathways to education, healthcare, employment, and community engagement—essential components that were disrupted during periods of homelessness. 

Children without a stable home often miss key parts of social development and are not able to experience the upbringing they deserve. This is driven in part by the uncertainty of where they will sleep each night, the challenges in preparing meals that cater to their cultural and health needs, and the absence of a consistent environment for healing, learning, and play. These are not hypothetical concerns; they are real realities faced by many children today. Babies and toddlers face the highest risk of eviction in the United States, as revealed in a study published in October 2023 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This stress is endured by children who haven’t even grown to be more than five years old, an all-consuming statistic. 

In recent years, the Twin Cities metro area has witnessed a troubling trend—a 53% increase in families with children experiencing homelessness between January 2022 and January 2023. This surge is attributed to factors such as the end of eviction moratoriums, stagnant wages, and a severe shortage of affordable housing options. Driven by these factors, hundreds of young children reside in county-run shelters or move frequently from place to place in search of stability.

Healing from homelessness is possible. Every day in Minnesota, children and their families move out of homelessness into housing, where recovery from the trauma of homelessness has a chance to begin. Often this housing comes paired with long-term supportive services, customized to the unique needs of household members and creating access to education, employment, healthcare, and community that had been disrupted by homelessness. 

Beginning July 1, 2024, the scope of priority areas for Early Learning Scholarships will expand to include children who have an incarcerated parent, who are in or have a parent in a substance use treatment program, who are in or have a parent in mental health treatment, who have an Individualized Education Program or those who have experienced domestic violence. This expansion acknowledges the interconnectedness of various life challenges and underscores the importance of comprehensive support systems for vulnerable children.

Stable housing is foundational for children and their families’ well-being and future. The rise in homelessness among families in the Twin Cities metro area highlights an urgent need for initiatives like the Early Learning Scholarships Program. By promoting and helping expand access to comprehensive, trauma-sensitive support, Greater Twin Cities United Way and 80x3 not only aim to address immediate challenges faced by children but also lay a solid groundwork for their educational and social development.

Early childhood is a time of remarkable growth and development, where the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being is established. For children dealing with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), these early years can also be filled with challenges. However, with the right support, children can overcome obstacles and thrive. By understanding the intersection of trauma-informed care and executive functioning, we can create nurturing environments that foster resilience and positive outcomes for all children.

Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 80x3: Resilient from the Start is on a mission to address and minimize the impacts of childhood trauma and expand Minnesota’s capacity to deliver trauma-sensitive care. By providing comprehensive training, coaching, and technical assistance to teachers and administrators, 80x3 equips early childhood education (ECE) programs with the tools they need to create trauma-sensitive and culturally responsive environments, making it more inclusive and supportive for all children and families.

"80x3 has provided invaluable training and resources, enabling our staff to better support children and families dealing with ACEs,” said Dianne Haulcy, President and CEO of The Family Partnership in Minneapolis. “This has opened up important conversations internally and helped us navigate the challenges that come with these experiences."

Executive function skills, such as planning, focusing attention, remembering instructions, and managing multiple tasks, are crucial for success in school and life. While ACEs can pose challenges to the development of these skills, the right interventions can make a significant difference. The long-term impact of ACEs is associated with negative outcomes in physical health (stroke, heart disease and diabetes), mental health (depression, anxiety and suicide), and social health (instability in employment, education and relationships).

Children exposed to chronic stress and trauma can struggle with cognitive functioning and emotional regulation. However, with the support of trauma-informed educators and a supportive community, these children can develop strong executive function skills. "We work with children who have mild to moderate delays due to various traumas," explained Dianne. "These delays can impede learning, but with the right support, such as occupational, speech, and physical therapies, we can help these children catch up and thrive."

“A good metaphor for executive function is air traffic control in the brain. Those skills are getting wired in at the fastest pace, with the least energy input in 3 to 5-year-olds,” said John Till, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at the Family Partnership in Minneapolis. “Those early years are also a time when if children are in unpredictable environments, unsafe or dangerous environments, and they don't have the benefit of caregivers who are paying attention to them and doing really good to serve and return interactions with them, that can buffer them against ACEs and toxic stress that can affect their whole life trajectory.”

“There's a 20-year gap between discoveries in a lab setting and actual practical applications in the field that can benefit human beings. A 20-year gap. That's a generation. So when we heard about ACEs and the impact on executive function, I just said to myself, well, we've got to do something about that, you know, because not every preschool has therapists of various kinds,” said John.

By embracing trauma-informed care and fostering the development of executive function skills, we can create environments where all children, regardless of their backgrounds, have the opportunity to succeed. This holistic approach is essential for fostering resilience, promoting equitable outcomes, and building a brighter future for each child and their families. 

The Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) Early Learning Scholarships provide essential financial support to families, enabling access to high-quality child care and early education for children from birth to 4 years old. These scholarships must be used at Parent Aware-rated programs, ensuring that children receive the best early learning experiences available. This initiative aligns with the goals of Greater Twin Cities United Way and 80x3:Resilient from the Start to dismantle inequities in early childhood education by supporting families and early childhood programs. 

To be eligible for a scholarship, families must meet specific criteria, and priority is given to children of teen parents, those in foster care, those in need of child protective services, and children who have experienced homelessness in the past 24 months. Starting July 1, 2024, the priority will expand to include children with incarcerated parents, parents in substance use or mental health treatment programs, and those who have experienced domestic violence.

Families interested in applying should contact their Area Administrator for more information about eligibility and available programs. 

Below are firsthand accounts from an experienced early childhood care professional and mothers on the incredible opportunity the Early Learning Scholarships provide and the undeniable impact on Minnesota families.

Krystal Shatek — In my role as Senior Director of Children’s Programs at Perspectives Inc., I was able to witness the impact that eligibility for an early learning scholarship had on the whole family’s well-being. Combating both addiction and mental health disorders is incredibly challenging for any person, and with children involved, and no affordable childcare, it becomes impossible to successfully complete a treatment program.  Being the sole caregiver for one or more children, without any respite, is mentally and emotionally draining, and this only exacerbates the challenges parents are facing as they try to navigate their recovery, increasing the risk of relapsing back into substance use in order to cope with the stress. Thankfully, many of the mothers I served were able to receive early learning scholarships because they had been homeless in the previous 24 months. However, mothers who had been in the supportive housing program for longer than 24 months were unable to receive an early learning scholarship so they could attend treatment programs. Sadly, this often led to relapse, involvement with child protective services, foster placements for their children, and in some cases, incarceration. For their children, these prolonged traumatic experiences can have long-term negative effects on their development, especially for young children under five years old. As a voting member of the Great Start Task Force, one of my biggest priorities was recommending that children with a parent in a substance use treatment program or mental health treatment program be included in the list of priority populations for early learning scholarships. For families who are on the path to recovery and healing, access to childcare can be a pillar of hope in a seemingly impossible journey and may be just what they need to make it out of the dark and into a healthy and safe future for themselves and their children.

Laura E. — I am so thankful for the Early Learning Scholarship I received for my son while I was still in the beginning stages of recovery.  Since he was about 7 months old, he had been in daycare.  I was trying to heal from trauma, addiction and raise two young boys, on my own.  I knew I needed help and sought out childcare for my youngest son because I was exhausted and barely keeping my head above water.  I knew that he needed a place where he could play and have fun but also learn, while I also had the time to myself to go to therapy, groups and get myself grounded and healthy to be the best mother I could be.  Having the scholarship helped me so much.  Without the help, I do not know how I would have been able to be where and who I am today.  I will be 4 years sober on June 25^th and my boys are doing amazing. It was such a blessing and I thank God for how he provided for us in that way, and I would love to see other mothers and fathers be able to receive the same support I did.  It was instrumental to the progress I was able to make in staying sober and truly taking the time to be intentional about my healing, so I can give my all to my boys.

Corinne M. — I am a single mother in early recovery, and I have 3+ years of sobriety.  I work in the recovery field, and I am finally going back to college. However, before I started my recovery, I had 5 felony counts pending trial, and CPS had already taken my newborn daughter into foster care. There is so much that has happened in between those 3 years, so many decisions carefully made, and one of those decisions that helped shape where my small family is today was the decision to apply for an early learning scholarship. 

My daughter and I were at the Harriett Tubman Shelter, waiting for coordinated entry to place us in Perspectives Housing. At first, before she could run away from me, it was easy to take her with me everywhere, even without a car. Once the 6-month review period was up and we were awarded the scholarship, I did not waste any time before taking the bus to child care and enrolling my daughter in daycare. 

This was not just for me, this was before I had a car so I had to take the bus and it was an hour round trip, but I knew Oaklyn would benefit from being around children her own age, and taking some time away from mommy to develop social skills outside the house.

Getting MN Early Learning Scholarship changed our lives, it marked the start of our family’s independence from inpatient facility programming and opened up new learning opportunities for both my daughter and myself.

I was able to work on getting my license unsuspended in Florida, filing for child support, obtaining a pro bono lawyer (thanks to Harriett Tubman Family Law), filing for divorce, finding a cheap/affordable car, and then finally being able to lawfully drive my own car and maintain a job and finally go back to college. Things I could never do in my addiction, are also things I could never do if I had to worry about taking care of my daughter the entire day. People do not realize that addicts in early recovery don’t just have to worry about relapsing, we basically have to rebuild our lives from the ground up, that’s why they call it rock bottom.

On top of getting my life back together, being able to rely on having time to myself every weekday has been so valuable, and Oaklyn has been able to expand her world outside of our tiny apartment and start to become her own person as she navigates learning how to behave in new social settings.

It was through her preschool, Early Connections at Perspectives Inc., that I was introduced to the Grow with Me program, which has been instrumental in teaching my daughter healthy ways to communicate how she feels, and even how to recognize what emotions she is feeling.

It’s another layer of support for my daughter and me. We don’t have any family in Minnesota, and her father is still in active addiction, so any support we can get we will take!

Not everyone has a family available to help watch their baby, and it puts single moms in a hard situation. With the increasing costs of child care, I don’t know anyone who does not struggle with childcare. Without childcare financial assistance options like MN Early Learning Scholarships, there would be a lot more families having to rely on the county for help, but that just takes even more options away from families who already have little, to begin with.

It can sometimes feel like society is punishing me for not making things work with my ex-husband, the father of our daughter. If I’d have stayed with him, I would have had free childcare because his parents would help out, but I would be abused and my daughter would be exposed to meth use, these are the types of life-altering decisions that make having the power of choice so important. 

Giving single family homes like mine the opportunity to have a reliable provider to take my daughter to each day means freedom from having to rely on abusive family members who don’t always have my daughter’s best interests in mind.

At 80x3, we're dedicated to fostering trauma-sensitive and culturally responsive child care that empowers every child to thrive. That's why we're thrilled to partner with FamilyWise, an organization with a long-standing commitment to keeping children safe and supporting families in leading healthy, productive lives.

Since its 2020 merger with Minnesota Communities Caring for Children, a leader in child abuse prevention and parent empowerment, FamilyWise has extended its reach statewide, offering a robust array of prevention programs alongside direct intervention services. As our partner, FamilyWise aligns perfectly with our mission to support trauma-informed care and child abuse prevention, ensuring better outcomes for the youngest members of our community.

Our state's early learning resources play an important role in mitigating the effects of adverse childhood experiences. That's why we're excited to share the updates to the Minnesota Early Learning Scholarships Program, effective July 1, 2024. These updates expand the program's priority populations to include children with incarcerated parents, children with parents in substance use or mental health treatment programs, and children who have experienced domestic violence.

This expansion reflects a deepened commitment to addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and ensuring that every child has access to the support they need to thrive, regardless of their early challenges. “It’s important for people to know that ACEs are not destiny,” shares a FamilyWise staff member. “In my work, I would never go into a community and say, ‘Look at what you’re up against’—through no fault of your own, often—without sharing how protective factors can counter the impact of trauma and historical adversity. It’s about melding all those different pieces of the puzzle.” 

FamilyWise’s NEAR Communities initiative shares the latest science on trauma and resilience to support individual and community-driven efforts to foster understanding, hope, and healing. For more than ten years they’ve trained community members as ACE interface presenters, so they are empowered to raise awareness about the effects of trauma and the promise of prevention and resilience in their communities. As one NEAR Communities participant put it, “We need to remember that as community members, we can hold space for one another in our healing work and that it’s not just the role and responsibility of the mental health professional or the field…We all play a part in healing our communities.” This year, 80x3 is sponsoring 3 NEAR Science Trainings specifically for the early childhood education and care community, which will soon be listed on our website for registration.

As we continue our partnership with FamilyWise and other organizations dedicated to trauma-informed care and child abuse prevention, we remain committed to creating a brighter future for all children. By prioritizing holistic family support, embracing trauma-informed approaches, and fostering equitable outcomes, we can build a more inclusive and resilient society where every child has the opportunity to succeed.

My colleague, Leo Howard III, and I will be presenting on coalitions and efforts across the state addressing major public health issues during the upcoming 7th Annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering of Collaboratives and Tribal Nations Addressing ACEs on Tuesday, June 18th. We will speak during the second breakout session from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. I highly encourage you to join us for this virtual event! Visit this link to register.

-Jamie Bonczyk, Senior Program Officer at 80x3

The early childhood education sector is facing a crisis in Minnesota and across the nation. Amidst a shortage of staff and teachers for our youngest learners, educational programs are looking to take significant steps to bolster support for families and educators alike. "The cost of child care is ridiculous and completely unreasonable. Families aren't able to pay for child care, so they're not able to work. It really affects our entire economy and our entire well-being as a state,” says Krystal Shatek, new member of the 80x3 Advisory Committee. Krystal has been in early childhood education and administrative roles for over 20 years and also served on the Great Start for All Minnesota Children Task Force. 

Child care costs have skyrocketed to unsustainable levels for many families, putting many of those families in a position of working multiple jobs or sacrificing an income to take care of their children. Not only that, but many of the families that are served through Krystal’s program are coming from traumatic circumstances. Krystal notes, "Children that are from families that have gone through significant trauma... are coming from the highest number of adverse childhood experiences you can imagine." This trauma often manifests in disruptive behaviors in the classroom, further exacerbating the challenges faced by educators.

"Their trauma is expressed through their behavior, which affects the whole classroom," says Krystal. “However, many early childhood educators feel ill-equipped to handle these challenges without proper support and training.

On July 1, 2024, the state of Minnesota’s Early Learning Scholarships Program will be expanded to offer more comprehensive support to families. Krystal emphasizes, "The scholarships available right now don't cover the entire cost of child care." By increasing scholarship funding, more families will have the opportunity to access high-quality care for their children, supporting their academic and emotional development.

Creating a sustainable future for early childhood education requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the needs of both families and educators. Minnesota is taking significant steps toward transforming the early childhood education sector and ensuring that all children have access to high-quality care and support by expanding scholarships, prioritizing trauma-informed care, and investing in educator support and training.

Krystal says there is a need for "quality over quantity" in early childhood education initiatives. Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 80x3: Resilient from the Start initiative is focused on "making sure that these teachers, these kids, these families all have safe spaces to work and learn and bring their children." This commitment to quality programming and support reflects a broader shift towards holistic, trauma-informed approaches to child care and education.

"The research that they put into it is incredible. And they have an amazing training program that they have designed for educators to help increase trauma-responsive programming and understanding," says Krystal. This evidence-based approach ensures that initiatives like 80x3 are not only effective but also sustainable in the long term.

The success of early childhood education initiatives hinges on the ability to support both families and educators. By addressing the systemic challenges facing the sector and prioritizing trauma-informed care and support, Minnesota is paving the way for a brighter future for all children. As Krystal aptly puts it, "We need to have a child care system that can support these families, not just until they hit the bare minimum of getting out of poverty, but until they're able to feel secure and thrive in the community."

When a child has gone through adverse child experiences (ACEs) and developed stressors and trauma, family and caregivers are often the first to notice. To help children develop healthy coping mechanisms to buffer the negative effects of trauma, it falls to those families and caregivers to create a safe, trauma-sensitive environment that cultivates resilience. Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 80x3 Resilient from the Start initiative works directly with program administrators to develop those trauma-sensitive care skills and in its first year alone has helped over 440 families in Minnesota. 

From resources, guides, and training modules to funding parent rooms and providing dedicated staff support, 80x3 empowers child care providers with invaluable resources, fostering stronger connections and a supportive community environment. These resources help develop the skills of teachers, have a direct impact on families and caregivers, and create an environment for children to develop the critical skills to rebound from ACEs.

The Wilder Child Development Center is witnessing the realization of a long-awaited dream with a helping hand from the 80x3 initiative—a dedicated parent room. This innovative space is poised to revolutionize family support in child care settings, offering a sanctuary for parents to decompress, connect, and thrive.

 “We've been a long-time partner with Greater Twin Cities United Way. Our partnership with 80x3 hit us at a really good time because we were really looking at how to support teachers in a different way,” said Angela Clair, Director of Early Childhood Services at Wilder.

Parents, the true architects of this initiative, expressed their longing for a haven within the center. The vision was clear: a room designed by parents, for parents. They envisioned a space where they could recharge before reuniting with their children, where they could share experiences and advice with peers, and where practical amenities, like access to a computer for printing documents, could ease the burden of administrative tasks.

“For a good amount of our families, social isolation is a big thing. And that's due to trusting those around you. We're a small enough center that we're pretty tight-knit. And I think when families are able to make those connections with another parent, that's someone that they can rely on and, and have as a support where they wouldn't have had that before,” said Angela.

Transforming this vision into reality required creativity, resourcefulness, and, most importantly, external support. The 80x3 funding provided the crucial catalyst needed to breathe life into the parent room project. What was once a dimly lit office space cluttered with paperwork has undergone a remarkable transformation. The room, now affectionately named "The Den," stands as a testament to the power of community collaboration and collective empowerment.

The parent room at the Wilder Child Development Center is a testament to the profound impact of trauma-sensitive care and holistic family support. By investing in resources and spaces that support parents, early childhood education programs can acknowledge the vital interplay between parental resilience and child development.  A parent who feels supported, heard, and valued is better equipped to nurture their child's growth, fostering a cycle of positivity and empowerment within the community.

By embracing trauma-informed approaches and prioritizing holistic family support, child care centers can foster stronger connections within their communities, empower caregivers with valuable skills and resources, and ultimately shape a brighter future for all children

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 A 2022 study showed that 45% of early childhood educators reported to be battling mental health challenges and burnout. Just as educators care for children, they must also care for themselves and each other. To ensure teachers can give their all to every student, Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 80x3: Resilient from the Start initiative partners with educators and program administrators to provide a wide array of resources promoting teacher well-being and professional development. 80x3 works with professional development providers and early childhood programs to give teachers growth opportunities focused on trauma-sensitive care, including training, workshops, and cohorts.

Educators like those at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center located in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, MN utilize the training offered through 80x3 to recognize triggers and traumas in their classroom and it has “opened their eyes” as teachers. The Hallie Q. Brown program was founded as part of an effort to address the growing challenges facing marginalized communities, in particular African American families, in Minnesota’s capital city. The mission of the center is to enhance community well-being by offering essential human services, preserving African American heritage, and promoting personal development, self-reliance, and community leadership.  96% of the program's enrollment is African American and 95% of the families are low-income.

Hallie Q. Brown and many other early childhood centers have seen an uptick of students entering their programs with stresses and trauma that were not being addressed in traditional child care settings. When left unaddressed, trauma and stresses experienced by children in the first few years of their life can significantly impact their brain and body development, potentially leading to long-term consequences on their physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. Angelica Goettl, Assistant Executive Director at Hallie Q. Brown, and her staff saw the need to help and jumped into action, utilizing the partnership with 80x3 to prioritize trauma-informed care development programs for staff to get ahead of the curve. The team noticed an incredible improvement in the children and the classroom atmosphere as the impact of this training became more evident. Caring, communication, and a consistent feedback loop between child and educator have created a more constructive, growth-oriented classroom for each student. "The training has made such a difference, not just for myself or the staff, but for the kids,” Angelica said.

Angelica stresses how important it is for the holistic success of the program for teachers to be feeling their best, something professional development programming through the 80x3 partnership has highlighted as a key to providing the best care for every child. "When life is getting in the way, you're not giving 100% to those little people. We want to give every teacher the resources so they can be here 100%," she remarked. “They bring us the resources to face the challenges that we are dealing with. They do the legwork, they do the research, and we can feel confident doing our work with their support.” Angelica and her colleagues recognize traumas and triggers within each other, just as they would with the children in their classroom.

High job turnover and burnout are a critical challenge in education as teacher shortages continue to worsen across the country. According to Forbes, roughly one-quarter, 24%, of teachers have expressed the inability to cope with job stress compared to just 12% of workers in other professions, underscoring the need to prioritize the well-being of educators as essential to maintaining a positive and effective learning environment for young children. Hallie Q. Brown’s partnership with 80x3 has given educators like Angelica and her team access to resources they otherwise wouldn’t have, allowing them to impart trauma-informed care practices not only in their classrooms but also in their interactions with one another. When educators take care of themselves and each other, they can create a more nurturing and positive learning environment.

If you would like to learn more about opportunities for educators and classrooms through 80x3 Resilient from the Start, click here.