All children deserve a safe start. Every child deserves to be protected from violence and to be cared for in a nurturing, permanent family and supportive community.
What's New
New CDF-MN Report: Barriers Keep Many Low-Income Families from Accessing Vital Work Supports
Parents who work hard, but at low wages, often find that their income doesn't stretch far enough to meet their families' basic needs. These low-income families benefit greatly from public "work supports," such as child care assistance, health care coverage, food support, energy assistance, and school meals. These non-cash programs can help support and strengthen working families. Eligible parents who take advantage of these programs experience more financial stability, making them more likely to stay in the workforce and off of welfare. In addition, low-income children whose families access work supports display improved cognitive, behavioral and social skills. By bolstering our economy and investing in children, these programs also benefit our entire state.
However, despite the importance of work supports, burdensome program rules and requirements can prevent families from participating. A new report examining access to six Minnesota programs is now available from CDF Minnesota. The report grades multiple program dimensions that may dampen families' participation, including application availability, application length and processing time, asset limits for participants, verification requirements, and language assistance. It also includes a brief overview of each program and case studies that highlight some barriers that families face.
Click here to read the report.
Click here to view a comparison of six Minnesota work supports.
Report: Huge Payoff to Taxpayers from Early Investment in Kids - and Huge Losses from Current Neglect. (Oct. 19, 2004)
Data Shows 120,772 Minnesota Children in Poverty in 2003 - Increase of More Than 41,291 Since 2000.
41,291 more Minnesota children fell into poverty between 2000 and 2003 according to new data from the US Census Bureau. Citing these disturbing numbers, Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Minnesota today released a new study from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) that finds that our failure to invest in the healthy development of young children leads to enormous problems...
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Read full report.
Programs That Prevent Child Abuse And Neglect Are Cut Or Eliminated (Jul. 14, 2004)
Minnesota child welfare system faces further weakening due to 2003 budget cutting decisions
A new report shows that the 2003 state budget cuts are eroding an already weak state child welfare system. The report reveals that while core child welfare services have been spared, early intervention and prevention programs for child abuse and neglect were the first to be cut or eliminated. And homeless youth services designed to keep youth off the streets were dramatically reduced.
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Read full report.
Poor Martha Stewart ... no, wait! Poor Children of Minnesota (Jul. 19, 2004)
Diary of a Mad Twin Cities Columnist, Entry No. 198 for Friday, July 16, 2004:
6:30 to 8:15 a.m. — Played hoops with the guys at the Y. Head to the weight machines. Martha Stewart's mug appears between the two other muted TV screens showing ESPN sports highlights. Closed caption informs me between grunts that the defrocked Queen of Good Things could be facing hard time at This Big Old House.
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