March 2008

Video on Northfield youth development efforts available online

This fall, the Minnesota Alliance With Youth (a statewide youth organization) selected Northfield to feature in a video on outstanding youth development efforts in the state. The video was shown during the opening remarks of the Minnesota Summit on Youth Development and Graduation in Minneapolis in December. The Alliance is also using the DVD as a training tool as it travels across the state.

The video is now available online. Click here to check it out! If you would like to arrange to show the video at an upcoming event, please contact HCI (664-3524, info@northfieldhci.org).

HCI seeks independent consultant to assist with Rice County Chemical Health Coalition efforts

The Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) seeks an independent consultant to provide organizational support to the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition. This individual should have knowledge and expertise in the areas of youth substance use prevention/intervention and coalition-building.

For a complete description, click here. This is a grant-funded opportunity, beginning April 1.

If you are interested, please submit documentation of relevant experience to the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite 128, Northfield, MN 55057. Material review begins on March 12, 2008.

Keeping Kids Safe training

The HOPE Center is planning an upcoming training – “Keeping Kids Safe: You Can Make the Difference.” It will be offered twice -- on April 7 and April 24.

The training will include a panel on the impact of childhood traumatic experiences, intervention and prevention efforts, and how we can all "make a difference" together.

Click here to learn more about this important training opportunity!

YMCA Healthy Kids Day

The second annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day will be Saturday, April 12, 2008, at the Northfield Middle School from 9 a.m. to noon. Last year, more than 2,000 community members attended the free event, which features displays and demonstrations that promote healthy and safe activities.

HCI, along with a host of community organizations, contributes to Healthy Kids Day. This year, in addition to the indoor and outdoor displays and demonstrations, Healthy Kids Day will also include information on a wide variety of summer opportunities available for Northfield youth from various community organizations.

Watch for more information on this free community event!

Skateboarding Coalition moving closer to challenge grant goal

With the help of a number of individual donations and a successful pancake breakfast at Applebee’s last month, the Northfield Skateboard Coalition has now raised nearly $7,000 toward their challenge grant from HCI! Every dollar the Coalition raises from October 1, 2007, to April 1, 2008, will be matched with a dollar from HCI, up to $10,000.

Help the Skateboard Coalition meet its $10,000 goal this month! To learn more about the Coalition and their work over the past year and a half, click here.

Donations to support a new skate park can be mailed to the Northfield Union of Youth, P.O. Box 481, Northfield, MN 55057. Checks can be made out to the Northfield Union of Youth – please write “Skateboard Coalition” in the memo line. Donations are tax-deductible.

Also, consider attending the Skateboard Coalition’s next fundraising breakfast – an all-you-can-eat omelet breakfast on Sunday, March 16, at the Eagles Club (304 S. Water Street). The breakfast is from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased from a local skater, by calling HCI (664-3524), or at the door.

Parent resource carts

In each of the Northfield Public Schools, there is a parent resource cart with brochures, books, and videos on parenting topics available to checkout or take. Stop by and visit the cart in your child’s school! Most carts are located in or near the main office, but ask the office staff if you have any trouble finding it.

If you have suggestions of items to add to the cart, contact HCI (info@northfieldhci.org, 664-3524).

Two HCI Board members honored at reception

Nearly 200 people attended a reception last month, honoring Mary Nelson and Beth Berry for their exceptional work advocating for local youth. Mary was recognized for receiving the “2007 Virginia McKnight Binger Award for Human Services” from the McKnight Foundation. A foster parent to over 40 Rice County youth since 1997, Mary was one of 10 individuals statewide selected for this honor.

Beth Berry was recognized for receiving the “2008 Human Rights Award” from the Northfield Human Rights Commission. Beth is the coordinator of the Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes (TORCH) initiative. TORCH works to increase the graduation and postsecondary attendance rates of Northfield Latino and ESL students, as well as youth who would be first-generation college students.

As part of the reception, community leaders and five high school students gave moving tributes about the impact Beth and Mary have had on their lives.

The reception was sponsored by Women in Northfield Giving Support (WINGS) and HCI.

Mary Nelson (left) and
Beth Berry (right)

7th annual Helping Professionals Luncheon held

HCI hosted the 7th annual Helping Professionals Luncheon on February 26 at the Northfield Golf Club. More than 45 mental health and youth service professionals from throughout Rice County attended the luncheon, which featured a presentation by Martha Schultz, (Faribault High School Youth Development Coordinator).

Each year, the Helping Professionals Luncheon provides education and networking opportunities for helping professionals from Rice County school districts, government and nonprofit social service agencies, faith groups, and private practices, as well as community volunteers.

To sign up for the mailing list for next year’s luncheon, email Julie Bubser, HCI Coordinator.

Check out these local resource directories!

Through a collaboration with the Rice County Family Services Collaborative, online resource directories of local resources in the areas of:

Chemical Health
Mental Health
Parent Education & Support

are available on the HCI website. Click here for these directories! The chemical health and mental health diretories are currently also available in Spanish!

Northfield HCI Home Page

info@northfieldhci.org

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