21,020 children’s books awarded through SMIF’s Early Literacy Grant program

(Story and photo courtesy of the Albert Lea Tribune) – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation recently awarded 21,020 children’s books to 46 organizations through its Early Literacy Grant Program. This grant supports early literacy efforts that enhance school readiness for children birth to age 8 by providing children with books. The books were awarded in partnership with Capstone and ABDO,

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Tri-Valley Head Start, Child & Family Programs Recognized as a Program of Excellence by the National Head Start Association

(Crookston, Minn.)- Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. announced that Tri-Valley Head Start, Child & Family Programs has earned the National Head Start Association’s (NHSA) Program of Excellence Accreditation. The NHSA Program of Excellence recognizes and supports innovative and outstanding Head Start and Early Head Start programs across the nation. This achievement is earned by early childhood

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Jami Lee (Nutrition Services Manager) speaks at a press conference for the farm to school bill at the capitol.

Jami Lee (Nutrition Services Manager) speaks at a press conference for the farm to school bill on Wednesday, February 13, at the capitol. WHAT IS “FARM TO HEAD START?” “Farm to Head Start” is a type of Farm to Early Care initiative. Farm to Early Care initiatives connect young children with healthy, locally grown foods

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Tri-Valley’s Hedden and Young Graduate from UCLA’s Head Start Management Fellows Program

Melody Hedden, (Family and Community Services Manager) and Christine Young (Identification and Recruitment Manager) at Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. in Crookston recently completed training at University of California, Los Angeles’ (UCLA) Head Start Management Fellows Program. They were two of 38 graduates from UCLA’s intensive leadership program. “The Head Start Management Fellows Program played a

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Tri-Valley Head Start, Child & Family Programs Parents Attend Parents as Leaders Training Program in Washington, D.C.

Three members of the Tri-Valley Head Start/Early Head Start and Migrant & Seasonal Head Start/Migrant & Seasonal Early Head Start Policy Councils had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. in September to attend the Parents as Leaders Training Program. Sponsored by the National Head Start Association and part of the Families Unite for Head

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Chisholm-Bennett Receives Years of Service Recognition from MinnCAP

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. staff attended the Minnesota Community Action Partnership (MinnCAP) Annual Training Conference held on August 1-3 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn. Staff took part in Legislative General Sessions, listened to speakers on various topics, and took part in several educational breakout sessions. In conjunction with the annual training conference, 25

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Tri-Valley Implements Farm to Head Start

Jami Nunn, Food and Nutrition Specialist has been partnering with the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy to implement Farm to Head Start in Tri-Valley Opportunity Councils Head Start centers. Farm to Head Start works to connect early child care and education settings to local food producers with the objectives of serving locally-grown, healthy foods

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