Have a question about parenting? Wonder what normal development looks like? Need a new strategy for handling difficult behavior? As every parent knows, raising a child comes with many challenges. But what many families might not realize is that MPS’ Early Childhood Education Department provides free consultations and home visits with licensed parent educators to help families as they raise their children.
Complete the form below and an ECFE Parent Educator or staff member will reach out to you within a few days:
English
Spanish
Hmong
Somali
Oromo
Amharic
Pashto
Dari
Parent educators help families work through many issues (see checklist of topics). Tailored to each issue, families do activities such as deep breathing exercises, reading picture books, singing, dancing, parent-child activities, and parent discussions. Parent Educators also connect families to other resources such as early childhood screening, preschool programs, and ECFE classes where they can connect with, and get support from, other families with children the same age.
Cost: FREE (Must live in Minneapolis with children from birth to third grade.)
What to expect: On the first visit, early childhood professionals meet with the family to assess and discuss their child-rearing issues and questions. Paperwork is filled out and additional visits are scheduled with the family.
Length and number of visits: Visits typically last one hour and may take place every other week. Families may get up to eight home visits – the number of visits is determined by the family’s needs.
Languages served: ECFE highly values a family's home language and every effort is made to match families with staff to meet each family's culture and language.
Please note: The staff and forms DO NOT ask or collect information about a family’s immigration status.
Referral partners: Home visits are completely voluntary. Many families find out about Home Visits through other programs and services within Minneapolis Public Schools or from clinics, hospitals and other community early childhood programs.
From 2015 to 2018, a total of 1,380 home visits were conducted reaching 585 children!
Internal partners – Minneapolis Public Schools programs and staff:
External partners:
“It exceeded my expectations. The information and support was amazing as a new mother. Loved getting books!”
“As a busy mom these home visits helped both me and my child understand how to deal with temperament/ development.”
“Being a first time mom and being young I didn't really have a set routine and Wednesday visits with Kelly were one thing I could always look forward to.”
“Kelly was incredibly helpful, listened, and gave great tools for use to use to achieve our goals.”
“We really enjoyed having Karen come into our home and work with our son. She was personal, professional, and connected really easily with our family!”
Mona Moede Early Learning Center 2410 Girard Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411
Ph: 612.668.2134
Email ecfe@mpls.k12.mn.us.