Focus Area: Early Childhood

Grant Amount: $15,000

Located in St. Louis Park. Founded in 1976, Perspectives addresses issues around homelessness, racial disparity, poverty, trauma, mental and chemical health issues, and nutrition. Its programs support homeless, dual-diagnosed (chemical and mental health diagnosis) mothers and their children. It also provides out-of-school time and early childhood programs designed to close the opportunity gap and address social emotional needs. In 2019, Perspectives launched an early learning program called Pre-K Every Day, providing intervention services for children emerging from homelessness.

Grant supports support for Perspectives’ Early Connections program, which provides intervention services for young children emerging from homelessness. Further development of the trauma-informed environment will be critical for families who have been severely impacted by Covid. Perspectives has hired a children’s mental health specialist who is also an art teacher, who is spending time with children most affected by family violence.