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.

Taking the Fear Out of Tax Time

Just the thought of compiling one's taxes can be daunting to a lot of people. Luckily, there are free services and tax-savvy folks who are volunteering their time to help individuals and families of low to moderate income (generally $39,000 and below) make the most of their tax returns.

Here's a list of tax aide sites throughout west central Minnesota.

Learn more about Earned Income Tax Credit. More than $13 billion (that's right, billions!) went unclaimed in the U.S. last year with only one in four people qualifying for EITC actually filing for the credit.

A Frosty Fergus Falls Morning

The trees and prairie grasses around West Central Initiative were gorgeous in their frosty finery Monday morning.

Think oral health is just about brushing your teeth? Guess again.

In 90 minutes, dental care professional and instructor Becky Lommen can have you swabbing your baby's gums after each meal and thinking twice about a can of pop.

Eleven teaspoons in 12 ounces of Mountain Dew (even more in Orange Slice)? It's possible to spread your own cavities to your child? Poor oral health in young children can lead to overall health problems into adulthood?

Lommen gives many such facts in her presentation, "Learn How to Talk ‘Tooth’ When You’re Not a Tooth Professional," a 90-minute oral health training session open to all parents, child care providers, early childhood teachers, healthcare providers and anyone who works directly with young children or their caregivers.

It is part of the Early Childhood Dental Network’s free oral health training sessions throughout west central Minnesota during the months of Feb. through April.

The free training includes dental care supplies and door prizes. In some locations meals will be provided.

To learn more, or to sign up to attend one of the "Learn How to Talk ‘Tooth’" training sessions, register online or contact Marsha Erickson at West Central Initiative, 800-735-2239. Continuing education credit and clock hours for health professionals and care providers are available.

The oral health training sessions are funded by Bremer Foundation, Dakota Medical Foundation, the McKnight Foundation’s Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative and West Central Initiative. It is a project of The Early Childhood Dental Network, a nine-county multi-disciplinary collaborative project designed to increase awareness and education to all children about the importance of oral health, and increase access to dental care, specifically to those ages 0-5 who are on Minnesota Health Care Programs or are uninsured.

Ashby proud of its PreK education

The billboard off of Highway 94 between Alexandria and Ashby proudly announces that the stellar education system in Ashby includes pre-Kindergarten. Ready 4 K, a nonprofit group that works to provide our youngest citizens with a strong start in life, recently wrote and posted an article about Ashby on its Web site.