FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MINNEAPOLIS (June 21, 2022) — According to Wilder Research, an estimated 12,000 three-year-olds in the Twin Cities have experienced trauma, which can have lasting effects on their brain development. To support the region, Greater Twin Cities United Way (United Way) announces the launch of its early childhood education initiative “80×3: Resilient from the Start,” including $1.2 million in grants to nine local early child care centers to build their capacity in trauma-sensitive caregiving and to help families navigate community resources.
“80×3 gets its name from research indicating that 80 percent of a child’s brain development happens by age three,” said Jamie Bonczyk, 80×3 Program Officer, Greater Twin Cities United Way. “For every child to succeed, it is so important they receive high-quality care in safe, nurturing environments during those developmentally critical early years.”
Research shows trauma-sensitive caregiving can help children grow their resiliency, and a wide body of evidence demonstrates long-lasting benefits of early intervention that follow children into adulthood with higher educational attainment and higher wages. The nine child care organizations funded by 80×3 support children and families experiencing poverty and communities disproportionally impacted by poverty, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander and People of Color.
“The urgency of 80×3 couldn’t be greater. High-quality early child care can change the lives of children and their families — and accelerate our state’s economic growth,” said John Wilgers, President and CEO, Greater Twin Cities United Way. “80×3 showcases the transformative change that is possible when we ‘think big’ and commit ourselves to innovation.”
Learn more about why 80×3 matters for children and communities.
Leaders and educators from United Way’s 80×3 partner organizations will receive professional development in trauma-sensitive care and healing-centered engagement. This training will ensure organizations and individual caregivers are equipped to recognize and mitigate the effects of trauma among the children they serve.
A long history of public underinvestment has made the field of early childhood care inaccessible to many with a passion for children and families, which negatively impacts the quality of care. United Way’s 80×3 grants will cover coaching for partner organizations in recruiting and retaining high-quality staff who reflect the communities they serve.
Identifying and accessing a network of family support and community resources for working families is a common challenge, yet few organizations have the capacity to fully meet these needs. United Way grants will help partner organizations establish new navigator resources for families.
An advisory board oversees the work of the 80×3 initiative, and the experiences and feedback of the organizations receiving 80×3 grants will inform the program’s design in year two and beyond.
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About Greater Twin Cities United Way: Greater Twin Cities United Way unites changemakers and develops solutions to address the challenges no one can solve alone to create a region where all people thrive, regardless of income, race or place. The organization fuels lasting community change through its 211 resource helpline, Suicide Prevention Lifeline, innovation initiatives, nonprofit partnerships, advocacy work with legislators, and business and individual donor partnerships. For more information, visit www.gtcuw.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Contact: Sam Daub, Greater Twin Cities United Way, sam.daub@gtcuw.org, 612-340-7425
