First Steps Initiative:
At-risk families are being helped through First Steps, which is a home visiting program aimed at identifying at-risk, first time parents during pregnancy. First Steps delivers information, education and support to families during pregnancy and continuing through age three. First Steps staff provides regular home visits and mentoring to the families in their own home.

Goals of First Steps:
The goals of the program are to help pregnant women have healthy babies, promote child health and development, and strengthen family self-sufficiency. Ultimately, children enrolled in First Steps will enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed in school.

Relevance in the greater Mankato area:

• Statistics show 49% of children who entered kindergarten in the Mankato Area Public Schools did not meet the readiness benchmark.
• Over 72% of child abuse and neglect happens the first two years of a child's life. In Blue Earth County, there were 67 cases of child maltreatment in 2008.
• In Independent School District 77, there has been an 80% increase in poverty over the last 10 years.
• More than 1 out of 10 (11.5%) of children in Blue Earth County live at or below the federal poverty guidelines.

Outcomes:
Studies have shown by having a home visitor:

• Parents know more about child rearing
• Use more positive discipline
• Are more confident about parenting
• Have better communication skills
• Have less parenting stress
• Are more involved with their children

Collaborative Partners:

• Blue Earth County Public Health
• Immanuel St. Joseph's- Mayo Health System
• Greater Mankato Area United Way
• Mankato Clinic
• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
• YMCA membership scholarships

Click here to learn more about the First Steps Program.