You can help Browns Valley

A couple weeks ago, an ice-dammed river and a fast thaw caused about 60 homes in the town of Browns Valley, Minn., to be flooded.

Here are some organizations to help direct your volunteer assistance and donations:

• Lutheran Social Services
• Salvation Army
• Volunteer Reception Center, Browns Valley Public Library: 320-695-2315;
• Cash donations can be sent to the Browns Valley Long-Term Flood Recovery Fund, in care of Union State Bank, PO Box 334, Browns Valley, Minnesota, 56219.
• Red Cross in Browns Valley: 320-695-2313.

What does "early childhood mental health" mean to you?

Psychotherapy for toddlers?

For West Central Initiative and the Minnesota Thrive Initiative, early childhood mental health means helping with our youngest children's social and emotional development.

On March 12, Nine WCI staffers from West Central Initiative headed to Glenwood, Minn., to conduct a day of interviews about early childhood mental health in Pope County. Child care providers, social workers, police officers, parents and more (about 60 interviewees) volunteered time out of their day to give their perceptions of the type of care and opportunities available in Pope County for young children's healthy social and emotional development.

The interviews were a part of the Minnesota Thrive Initiative, a statewide intiative that seeks to learn and provide resources... Pope County is one of six areas throughout Minnesota chosen to be a pilot site for the initiative.

WCI will compile the results and present them at a public forum later this year.

Pine to Prairie--and Back Again.

The Pine to Prairie GIS (Geographic Information Systems) User Group met at West Central Initiative on March 7. This group of GIS professionals and users meet on a quarterly basis to learn some new GIS practices, discuss topics of interest and network with other GIS users in the region. WCI hosts meetings and provides a grant to the group to cover the cost of web site hosting and some of the meeting expenses. For more information, about the group, visit its Web site.