The Minneapolis Redesign is the part of the YCB that functions as the Minneapolis Family Service Collaborative. Minneapolis Redesign is funded by an integrated pot of dollars involving all major Minneapolis Redesign partners. The majority of funds come from the Local Collaborative Time Study (LCTS) -Revenue Enhancement Program, which allows Minneapolis Redesign to collect Federal dollars for reimbursement of specific Redesign activities.

Currently the Redesign funds multiple projects designed to increase academic achievement and ensure school success for Minneapolis students. The projects include:

Family Connection Centers:

In 2006, the Family Connection Centers were formed by merging the New Family Center and the Family Resource Centers. The new partnership brings together resources of YCB, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support and Portico Healthnet, a non-profit provider of health insurance access outreach. The Centers are governed by a steering committee made up of the partners and representatives from Hennepin County and Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota.

The steering committee recently determined the strategic direction to guide our work into the next school year and beyond. The strategic direction is:

The Family Connection Centers serve as an early entry point for residents of Minneapolis to access needed educational, health and social services.

The essential services provided by the Family Connection Centers include:

• MPS Pre K- 12 Student Placement

• Assistance with obtaining health care coverage, including intensive assistance with the application process and connecting families to a medical home
• On site health assessments, immunizations and follow-up
• Bi-cultural/bi-lingual support for families
• Referral to community resources including Mental Health and Dental Care

The Family Connection Centers outreach provides support to school sites increasing the number of access points convenient for families. The Family Connections Centers are the base from which a system of public and private services can grow and connect.

Head Start Nursing services:

MVNA nursing services provided to Head Start provide a healthy and safe environment at Head Start and help to ensure school readiness for the children served by the program.