Human Development

Introduction

Creating a healthy community for children, youth, families, adults and elders.

Overview

This section includes contacts for First Call for Help , City and County Human Services , Neighborhood Multi-Service Centers , Early Childhood & Family Resources , Youth Resources , Adult Resources , Senior Resources , Prevention Coalitions , Health Clinics, Chemical Health Resources and Health Realization Resources

Page Index

  • Key Issues
  • Common Problems and Solutions
  • Successful Strategies
  • Topic Library
  • Sub-Topics and Vendors


    • Key Issues Related to this Topic

  • It takes a village to raise a child (and support human development.) This African proverb points to the valuable role which neighborhood groups can play in nurturing youth and teens, preventing addiction and abuse, helping seniors stay in their homes and bringing out the best in all residents. In previous generations, our urban neighborhoods carried out many of the functions of a healthy village, with everyone looking out for one another. Neighborhood groups are now working to rekindle these ties of mutual support among neighbors.

  • Human Development is more than social services. Neighborhood volunteers and staff have the freedom to see neighbors as whole people, not as “clients.” The social service model is based on diagnosing people’s problems and deficiencies and providing services to “fix” them. Human development is based on a deep respect for each person and the desire to draw forth their innate gifts and talents. Neighborhood groups can offer opportunities for residents who have long been seen only as “clients” to contribute to their community as a valued member.

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    Common Problems and Solutions

  • Isolation, despair, chemical dependency and abuse are still prevalent in our neighborhoods. Many blocks in our neighborhoods have one or more troubled families, who show visible signs of chemical dependency, child neglect and abuse, partner abuse and or elder/vulnerable person abuse. Neighbors often feel powerless in responding to these problems. While trained professional help is often needed to intervene with families caught up in cycles of abuse, block clubs, churches and other neighborhood networks can also make a difference.

  • Challenges and assets for children. Current research shows the importance of providing a loving, safe and stimulating environment for children from ages 0-3, during the critical years of brain development. When abuse or neglect happen in these younger years, a hair-trigger,“fight or flight” response can get “hard wired” into a child’s developing brain. Such children can develop emotional and mental problems that can cause them difficulties in their life at home, at school, in the neighborhood and in the work place. Fortunately, home visitation programs for young families and early childhood resource centers are located in or near most St. Paul and Minneapolis neighborhoods, including; Head Start, Early Childhood Family Education, Way to Grow and the St. Paul Neighborhood Family Centers. Neighborhood groups can help out by connecting families with young children to these wonderful parent education and support resources.

  • Challenges and assets for teens. Recent surveys in Minnesota show that many teens feel unheard and unsupported by the adults in their lives. Home, school and peer pressures can add up for teens, and they often seek out safe spaces where they feel they belong. Negative peer groups are often available for teens to join who use alcohol, tobacco, drugs and verbal put-downs. Fortunately, volunteers and parents active with many neighborhood associations are starting teen drop in centers, after school mentoring, summer employment, service-learning and restorative justice programs to engage youth in positive endeavors. Some neighborhood groups, including Central, Lyndale, Prospect Park, and the West Side Community Organization empower neighborhood teens to plan and run their own enrichment activities, social events and service projects. Finally, many neighborhoods tap into the energy and enthusiasm of neighborhood teens to improve their neighborhoods through community gardening, graffiti and litter removal, creating murals and other projects.

  • Challenges and assets for seniors and those with physical challenges. Older residents of many urban neighborhoods face challenges to stay in the homes they love and to feel safe as they walk on neighborhood streets. The cost and work of home upkeep, the challenge of transportation for groceries and doctor visits, icy side walks and busy intersections can all pose challenges for seniors. Some of the assets which older residents can bring are knowledge of neighborhood history, a wealth of skills and knowledge, free time, empty rooms in their homes and watchful eyes on the street. Many neighborhoods have started information and referral phone lines, van transportation, chore services and block nurse programs to help older residents stay in their homes.

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    Successful Strategies

  • Start with the health of the helper. Self-care is important for neighborhood volunteers and staff. It is obvious that each of us can best share well-being with others when we are experiencing ourselves. Several groups listed in this Resource Guide teach volunteers and staff how to deepen their own sense of well-being, using the the Health Realization model. Large health-realization projects are currently underway in the Sumner Glenwood and Central neighborhoods.

  • Look for assets instead of deficits. Negative stereotypes of others can filter our vision. As we reject these stereotypes and look for the gifts and talents of neighbors, even troubled neighbors, their talents can be released to serve our community.

  • Reduce isolation & build rapport. Studies show that almost any problem, poor health, addiction, abuse or depression, is made worse by isolation. Block clubs, neighborhood associations and faith communities can offer non-threatening opportunities for more isolated neighbors to develop new relationships of trust.

  • Connect residents with resources. Neighborhood groups can connect residents with the wealth of children’s, youth, family, elderly and health resources available in their community through welcome-wagon packets, neighborhood newspapers, summer activity flyers, block captains, information hot lines, one-on-one outreach and written and verbal translation.

  • Coordinate and expand social services. Often dozens of social service agencies are active in serving a single low-income neighborhood, and are acting in isolation of one another. Several neighborhood groups in Minneapolis & St. Paul including (for example Club Fed in the Northside, the Lyndale Neighborhood Association and the Comprehensive Community Initiative in Frogtown in St. Paul) have formed neighborhood social service councils. Neighborhood youth and families offer direction to the social service councils about unmet neighborhood needs. The social service councils then coordinate, focus, fundraise, expand and promote existing and new human development programs and activities to meet the needs identified by residents.

  • Promote primary prevention. Primary prevention strategies focuses on empowering people and communities with the awareness and skills they need to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. In both Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, nonprofit coalitions have been organized to prevent violence and alcohol and chemical abuse.

  • Promote cultural pride. The Phillips/Powderhorn Cultural Wellness Center supports members of specific ethnic communities to base their health promotion efforts on a sense of cultural pride. Other social service agencies in Minneapolis and St. Paul focus on strengthening the health of families within specific ethnic groups including African American Family Services, the Lao Parent Teacher Association, La Opportunidad and Parents of East Africans Creating Empowerment.

  • Sponsor multgenerational activities. Many neighborhood associations and district councils organize frequent all-age events, including block parties, art projects and celebrations. Bringing residents of all ages together around a common, positive focus strengthens hope and reduces isolation among all.

  • Redesign government services. Several neighborhood groups are helping city and county government departments to change the way they do business in their neighborhood. Hennepin County’s new multiservice center in the Powderhorn neighborhood and the St. Paul Education & Housing Stability Project in the Dayton’s Bluff area are good examples.

  • Co-locate services. Many neighborhood associations are working with city and county departments to make a range of needed services available at one central neighborhood location, making it easier for families to find what they need and promoting greater integration between the services they receive. Most of the neighborhood multi service centers are located in elementary schools, while others are located in parks or community centers.

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    Library

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    Vendors by Sub-Topic

    Adult Resources  
        Alliance of the Streets
        American Indian Services, Inc.
        BIHA Women in Action
        Casa de Esperanza
        Catholic Charities/ Archdiocese of St. Paul/ Minneapolis
        Central Community Housing Trust
        Centro Cultural Chicano
        Centro Legal Inc.
        Chrysalis, A Center for Women
        Community Action of Minneapolis
        Community Emergency Service- CES
        Domestic Abuse Project, Inc.
        Eastside Family Center
        Employment Action Center
        Episcopal Community Services
        Family Service, of St. Paul Inc.
        Father's Resource Center
        Free Store
        Freeport West
        Hamm Clinic
        Harriet Tubman Center
        Harrision Family Initiative
        Hawthorne Ministerial Alliance
        Hennepin County Adult Services
        Hennepin County Corrections
        Hennepin County Economic Assistance
        Hmong American Mutual Assistance Association
        Hmong American Partnership
        Hope Community, Inc.
        Immigrant Woman's Advocacy Project
        Incarnation House
        Jewish Family Service of St. Paul
        Jewish Vocational Service
        Juel Fairbanks Chemical Dependency Services
        Kwanzaa Community Fellowship Church
        La Opportunidad, Inc.
        Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis (North Side)
        Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis (South Side)
        Legal Aid Society of St. Paul
        Legal Rights Center, Inc.
        Loring Nicollet- Bethlehem Community Centers
        Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
        Marie Sandvik Center
        Merrick Community Services
        Metropolitan Visiting Nurse Association
        Minneapolis American Indian Center
        Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA)
        Minneapolis Urban League/ Adult & Family Services
        Neighbor to Neighbor
        Neighborhood House
        Neighborhood Involvement Program, Inc.
        North Community YMCA
        Person to Person
        Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
        Pillsbury Neighborhood Services
        Pilot City Neighborhood Services
        Powderhorn-Phillips Cultural Wellness Center
        Project for Pride in Living
        Ramsey Action Programs (RAP)
        Ramsey County Initiative for Violence Free Families and Communities
        Resource Center of the Americas
        Sabathani Community Center
        Seton Services
        St. Paul Ramsey County Public Health
        St. Paul Tenants Union
        St. Paul Urban League
        Stairstep Initiative
        The Salvation Army- St Paul
        Tubman Family Alliance
        Turning Point
        United Citizens Commission
        United Way of Minneapolis Area
        United Way of the Saint Paul Area
        Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation
        Volunteers of America
        Women's Association of Hmong and Lao
        YMCA of Greater St. Paul
        YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis


    Chemical Health Resources  
        African American Family Services
        American Indian Services, Inc.
        BIHA Women in Action
        Centro Cultural Chicano
        Chicanos/Latinos Unidos en Servicio- CLUES
        Chrysalis, A Center for Women
        Episcopal Community Services
        Family Service, of St. Paul Inc.
        Freeport West
        Glenwood-Lyndale Community Center
        Hamm Clinic
        Harriet Tubman Center
        Harrision Family Initiative
        Hennepin County Adult Services
        Juel Fairbanks Chemical Dependency Services
        Katahdin, Inc.
        La Opportunidad, Inc.
        Marie Sandvik Center
        Martin Luther King / Haley Q Brown Center
        Merrick Community Services
        Merrick Community Services
        MESH (Metropolitan Engagement for Shelter and Housing)
        Minneapolis American Indian Center
        Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support
        Minneapolis Urban League/ Adult & Family Services
        Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
        Pillsbury Neighborhood Services
        Pilot City Neighborhood Services
        Project 504
        Ramsey Action Programs (RAP)
        Ramsey County Human Services
        Ramsey County Initiative for Violence Free Families and Communities
        Sabathani Community Center
        Seton Services
        St. Paul Ramsey County Public Health
        Turning Point


    City and County Human Services  
        Hennepin County Children and Family Services
        Hennepin County Community Health Services
        Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support
        Ramsey County Human Services
        St. Paul Ramsey County Public Health


    Early Childhood & Family Resources  
        African American Adoption and Permanency Planning Agency
        Anew Dimension Child Enrichment Center
        Community Action of Minneapolis
        Crisis Nurseries of Minnesota
        Division of Indian Work -Minneapolis Council of Churches
        Early Childhood Family Education Centers
        Eastside Family Center
        Episcopal Community Services
        Family Alternatives, Inc.
        Family Service, of St. Paul Inc.
        Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association
        Hamm Clinic
        Harriet Tubman Center
        Harrision Family Initiative
        Highland Mac/Groveland Family Center
        Jewish Family Service of St. Paul
        La Familia Guidance Center
        Martin Luther King / Haley Q Brown Center
        MELD
        Merriam Park Community Services Inc.
        Merrick Community Services
        Minneapolis Way To Grow
        Model Cities Family Development Center
        Neighborhood House
        North End Family Center
        Parents in Community Action, Inc.
        Tubman Family Alliance
        Way To Grow (Minneapolis)
        West Side Family Center


    First Call for Help  
        United Way of Minneapolis Area
        United Way of the Saint Paul Area


    Health Realization Resources  
        Glenwood-Lyndale Community Center


    Health Resources  
        St. Paul & Ramsey County Department of Public Health


    Neighborhood Multi-Service Centers  
        African American Family Services
        Chicanos/Latinos Unidos en Servicio- CLUES
        Chrysalis, A Center for Women
        CommonBond Communities
        Community Emergency Service- CES
        Cornerstone Ministries/ Park Ave. Methodist Church
        East Side Neighborhood Service, Inc.
        Eastside Family Center
        Family Service, of St. Paul Inc.
        Freeport West
        Hamm Clinic
        Merriam Park Community Services Inc.
        Merrick Community Services
        Minneapolis Urban League/ Administration
        Minneapolis Urban League/ Adult & Family Services
        Model Cities Family Development Center
        North End Family Center
        Northwest Midway Family Center
        Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
        Sabathani Community Center
        St. Paul Area Council of Churches
        The City, Inc.
        Upper Midwest American Indian Center
        Wilder Foundation- Services to Organizations


    Prevention Coalitions  
        Initiative for Violence-Free Families/Family & Children's Service
        Ramsey County Initiative for Violence Free Families and Communities


    Senior Resources  
        CommonBond Communities
        Division of Indian Work -Minneapolis Council of Churches
        Metropolitan Visiting Nurse Association
        Minneapolis Senior Ombudsman Office
        Minneapolis Urban League/ Adult & Family Services
        Neighborhood House
        Neighborhood Involvement Program, Inc.
        Pillsbury Neighborhood Services
        Pilot City Neighborhood Services
        Sabathani Community Center
        Senior News
        Seton Services
        Volunteers of America
        Zion Lutheran Church


    Youth Resources  
        African American Family Services
        Ain Dah Yung (Our Home) Shelter
        Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Education Department
        Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in MN
        Big Woods Club -- City Green
        Centro de Familias Latinas
        Centro Legal Inc.
        Chicanos/Latinos Unidos en Servicio- CLUES
        Children's Home Society of Minnesota
        Collaborative Movement for Improvement
        Community Action of Minneapolis
        Confederation of Somali Community in MN
        CreArte- Chicano Latino Art Center
        Dayton's Bluff District 4 Community Council
        Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services
        Eco Education
        Exodus Community Development Company
        Family Service, of St. Paul Inc.
        Freeport West
        Glenwood-Lyndale Community Center
        Hamm Clinic
        Harriet Tubman Center
        Hennepin County Children and Family Services
        Incarnation House
        Inner City Youth League
        Juel Fairbanks Chemical Dependency Services
        Katahdin, Inc.
        Kwanzaa Community Fellowship Church
        Lao Family Community of Minnesota
        Lao Parents and Teachers Association
        Legal Rights Center, Inc.
        Little Earth of United Tribes
        Loring Nicollet- Bethlehem Community Centers
        Lyndale Neighborhood Association
        Macedonia Baptist Church
        Martin Luther King / Haley Q Brown Center
        Minneapolis Urban League/ Adult & Family Services
        Model Cities Family Development Center
        Neighborhood House
        North Community YMCA
        North End Family Center
        PEACE (Parents of East African Common Efforts)
        Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
        Pillsbury Neighborhood Services
        Sabathani Community Center
        Salvation Army
        Salvation Army ( Minneapolis- Parkview )
        Seward Neighborhood Group – History Project and Milwaulke Ave. Restoration
        Somali Community of Minnesota
        Somalia Communities of America
        Southeast Asian Community Council
        St. Paul Public Schools
        St. Paul Urban League
        Stairstep Initiative
        The City, Inc.
        The Salvation Army- St Paul
        The Voice in Phillips
        Turning Point
        Walker West Music Academy
        West Seventh Family Center
        West Side Family Center
        YMCA of Greater St. Paul
        YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis
        Young Audiences of Minnesota
        Youth Farm and Market Project
        Zion Lutheran Church


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