Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota

Leadership for ActionParent Leadership for Child Safety and Permanency (PLCSP) Team: The PLCSP Team has been a partnership of MCCC and the MN Department of Human Services (MN DHS) division of Child Safety and Permanency since 2009. The program seeks to empower parents in the prevention of child maltreatment and to give parents a voice within MN DHS for improving the child protection system, particularly in reducing racial disparities. As part of this program, leadership training is provided to a group of 25 Parent Leaders one day per month over a three-year period. Funding is also available for parents to attend other trainings or conferences to build knowledge and connections. The intent is to increase Parent Leaders' skills and influence so they can effectively articulate their experience, add value in their communities and on task forces within MN DHS, and ultimately contribute to a reduction in incidents of abuse, neglect and out-of-home placement (foster care). In FY18, 20 Parent Leaders performed awareness activities in their communities and 15 Parent Leaders participated in DHS workgroups. These parents worked more than 1,300 hours advising service providers, raising awareness statewide about family resilience and community needs, and enhancing their own knowledge and skills. Each year for Parent Recognition Month (February) MCCC recognizes parents from across Minnesota, who are nominated by their peers, with an Unsung Hero award. Last February MCCC celebrated 22 parent honorees at an event which included families, legislators, and community-based stakeholders. Tribal Community Wisdom Project: In partnership with The Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN Center for Prevention, the Tribal Community Wisdom Project began in 2015 with the aim of building the capacity of tribal communities to address challenging health and social issues related to childhood trauma. This project has three stages: 1) raising awareness about trauma and resilience by providing ACE Interface presentations, 2) training presenters in the ACE Interface curriculum to build capacity and broaden community awareness, and 3) facilitating community-driven action planning to identify key strategies that the community will leverage to support healing and building resilience. In FY18, MCCC partnered with five tribes on this project - White Earth, Fond du Lac, Lower Sioux, Leech Lake, and Mille Lacs. More than 400 people across the five communities have been reached by ACE Interface presentations and over 60 people have been trained as ACE Interface Presenters. White Earth, Fond du Lac, Lower Sioux, and Leech Lake communities have begun implementing their action plans with funding from The Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN Center for Prevention.

Advocacy and Program Evaluation - This program was merged into the above programs during fiscal 2016.Public Policy: MCCC provides leadership to shaping and advocating for policy and systems change that best serves the interests of children and families. Currently MCCC is collaborating with parents and community partners to develop a statewide prevention plan that will integrate child abuse prevention and trauma-informed care practices into systems that interact with children and families