United Way of Central Minnesota Community Child Care Coordinator Sara Hagen was hired to bring her expertise about early education and child care to the table. She knows any cracks in the intricate support system for kids and caregivers mean trouble. “If a child doesn’t get high-quality early care and education, that affects development and how learners achieve and perform later in school. If families cannot figure out how to secure child care, then that is about how they may or may not be able to work, which is an economic issue. And if employers can’t attract and retain workers because the area has too few daycare spots, that’s a workforce issue.”
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Caregiver Crisis: Struggling To Make Ends Meet →
Mande Hatten’s eyes welled with tears, and her voice wavered as she talked about the challenges some of her best employees face. The owner of Merry Moose Childcare and Preschool runs infant, toddler and pre-kindergarten centers out of Cold Spring, Rockville and Richmond. She’s been in the early childhood care industry since 1998 when she operated a family child care business out of her home for 18 years. She then opened her first child care center in 2016. She has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development leadership and is currently working on a master’s degree.
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Pine County, Mille Lacs Band, and East Central Schools Receives Bridge Award
Resource Training and Solutions
137 23rd Street South
Sartell, Minn.
(320) 255-3236
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Project RISE is a partnership put in place to serve kids and families in a way that provides hope by helping students become successful, thriving adults within the community. The project addresses many of the issues that may lead individuals to engage with the criminal justice system. Project RISE is a collaborative, restorative approach in working with these community members that seeks to align services and systems in a better way so that all stakeholders have a sense of ownership and responsibility for youth within the community. The ultimate goal of Project RISE is to build a healthier, stronger community.
Pine County, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and East Central Schools received Resource Training and Solutions’ Bridge Award for their collaborative work on Project RISE (Restorative Investment for Student Empowerment). East Central Schools received the award on Monday, November 19, presented by Mark Schmitz, executive director, Resource Training and Solutions, at the East Central school board meeting.
Pine County and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe received their awards on Wednesday, December 5, presented by Martha Roth, Member Care Coordinator, Resource Training and Solutions, at the Pine County Commissioners meeting.
Those honored at the East Central School Board Meeting and Pine County Commissioners Meeting for work with Project RISE: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Education Mentor and Office Manage, Carla Big Bear; Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Director of Government Affairs, Katie Draper; East Central Schools Superintendent, Andy Almos; East Central High School Principal, Stef Youngberg; East Central Schools Resource Officer/Pine County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Zak Vork; Pine County Administrator, Dave Minke; Pine County Attorney, Reese Frederickson; Pine County Health and Human Services Director, Becky Foss; Director of Pine County Probation, Terry Fawcett; and Pine County Sheriff, Jeff Nelson.
The Resource Training and Solutions' Bridge Award celebrates those who advance innovative solutions, demonstrate meaningful progress in their community, and advocate for positive change. Criteria for the award includes collaboration with others in an effort to build a “bridge” between member organizations and other groups that innovate a new process, access, or solution to a problem. The organization must go above-and-beyond normal operations for consideration.
Resource Training and Solutions a nonprofit, public corporation, is one of nine Minnesota service cooperatives that provides support services, training, and resources that contribute to Region 7 member success.