Minnesota Integrated Care for Early Childhood Initiative

The Minnesota Integrated Care for Early Childhood Initiative (MN-ICECI) is a community-driven effort aimed at enhancing health services for African American children aged 0-3 and their families. With a focus on equity and integrated care, MN-ICECI works to build a robust model for early childhood screenings, referrals, and follow-ups within health settings. The Minnesota Department of Health's Child and Family Health Division launched MN-ICECI after securing a federal grant in 2021.

Partners

Minnesota Department of Health

In the early stages, MDH contracted external vendors and collaborated with African American early childhood professionals and community members to build an initiative that centers community-driven leadership. In 2022, MDH partnered with GrayHall LLP (GrayHall) to establish the MN-ICECI Community Advisory Council (CAC).

Community Advisory Council

The Community Advisory Council consists of 16 African American parents, caregivers, and professionals. The CAC serves as the decision-making body, guiding MN-ICECI’s strategic planning and systems change efforts. GrayHall facilitates the CAC's work, offering strategic guidance, community connections, and technical support.

Improve Group

In 2023, MDH partnered with The Improve Group and Research in Action to design and implement the evaluation plan, with The Improve Group overseeing implementation and Research in Action leading community-engaged evaluation design. With the CAC designated as MN-ICECI leadership, MDH, GrayHall, and the Improve Group serve as the Support Team.  

Process

RIA’s Equity in Action (EIA) model emphasizes the integration of community knowledge in every phase of a project, fostering power-sharing and lasting partnerships. The model's approach of shared meaning-making ensures continuous collaboration, allowing for the reassessment of values and knowledge throughout the project lifecycle. This participatory model is designed to disrupt traditional institutional practices that often overlook community input. In collaboration with the MN-ICECI Support Team, RIA and the Improve Group developed an evaluation plan centered on assessing the Minnesota Department of Health’s effectiveness in sharing power with African American families, focusing on systems change within early childhood health. Despite initial challenges in defining the evaluation scope, the final plan includes broader participation from MDH leaders to ensure systemic, community-driven change.

Key Evaluation Questions and Learning Outcomes

The evaluation plan focuses on assessing MDH’s effectiveness in sharing power with African American families to drive systems change. Key evaluation questions include:

  1. What is MDH currently doing to share power with African American families?

  2. What is keeping MDH from doing more to share power with African American families?

  3. What positive changes have come from MDH initiating the MN-ICECI grant?

The learning outcomes are centered around understanding MDH staff’s values, methods, and readiness for community engagement, as well as the impact of these efforts on early childhood health systems for African American families. The evaluation will provide insights into how MDH’s policies and practices can be improved to better support and engage with African American communities.