Early Childhood

Join Footnotes, a texting club and community service through MPR News offering early childhood news, updates and information for children aged 0-5 and their caregivers. Engage with other parents/guardians and early childhood reporter Kyra Miles:
Minnesota child care aid freeze amid fraud probe leaves centers, parents confused
Minnesota child care providers say they are in the dark about how a payment freeze by federal officials will play out. The freeze affects reimbursements for care for children in lower-income families.
U of M family researcher: Make memories, not debt this holiday season
With holiday gift-buying season in full swing, educators from the University of Minnesota are reminding parents to focus on creating a strong family culture over buying lots of gifts.
 How is ICE enforcement affecting child care? 5 questions, answered
Tensions remain high in Minnesota’s Somali community as federal immigration agents continue their two-week surge in the Twin Cities, and it's impacting young children and their caregivers.
U.S. vaccine advisers say not all babies need a hepatitis B shot at birth
A federal vaccine advisory committee has voted to end a longstanding recommendation that all U.S. babies get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born. For decades, the government has advised that all babies be vaccinated against the liver infection right after birth.
University of Minnesota researchers say hepatitis B vaccine safe for babies, despite federal concern
A report from the University of Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project maintains the recommendation for newborn hepatitis B vaccination. This contradicts arguments from Trump administration health advisors like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who may recommend a vaccine delay later this month.
New child care house aims to solve vexing small town child care shortage
The southern Minnesota city of Mapleton may have found a unique solution to the difficult problem of finding quality, affordable child care in rural areas by building a "child care house."