Raising a child is hard work. We’re here to help!
At Way to Grow, we support families with children from birth to age eight, empowering our next generation of leaders! Our signature home visiting program pairs enrolled families with a certified Family Educator. Our Family Educators are here to answer questions, provide resources, and connect families with the tools they need to create a healthy, stable environment at home.
Our Home Visiting Model
A child’s parent or primary caregiver is their first and foremost educator. At Way to Grow, our job is to support the caregiver as families learn and grow together! We work culture to culture, language to language to ensure that all families in our community can be supported in a way that celebrates their family and helps them thrive.
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From helping parents achieve their personal goals, to modeling ways to learn at home, our highly-trained and experienced Family Educators customize every visit to meet the needs of the family. To help stabilize families, Family Educators provide access to resources and information about housing, employment, education, and health services.
Being a parent can feel isolating. We provide monthly parent groups to bring families together to learn, play, and support one another. We especially work to support our youngest parents through our Dream Tracks Teen Parenting program, specially designed for parents ages 15–22.
Pregnancy & Prenatal Support
Way to Grow Family Educators partner with families to teach them about every stage of their child’s development, including prenatal health.
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Using our specialized curriculum, we provide education during all three trimesters, reviewing the stages of prenatal development so parents know what to expect and feel empowered in their journey.
During home visits, Family Educators model techniques for playing and learning, providing a space for parents to ask questions and receive personalized support. This individual support is crucial for new and experienced parents alike: when families better understand pregnancy, birth, and the ways a child will change their lives, they are providing their child with the strongest start possible!
Great By Eight: Early Education
We know that early education is a game changer for both children and their families. By starting early, we set children up for a lifetime of success. Through regular home visits and personalized support, we we are there for parents as they navigate their lives as caregivers and help the entire family become lifelong learners.
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Our signature home visiting program pairs enrolled families with a certified Family Educator. During home visits, Family Educators model techniques for playing and learning, providing parents with a trustworthy source of personalized information. Way to Grow Family Educators partner with families to teach them about every stage of their child’s development, and how to support growth at home.
Family Educators walk parents through preschool and kindergarten enrollment, from child screenings to school selection! We work to ensure that families feel empowered to make the best choices for their children.
Great By Eight: Elementary Education
While starting school is a joyful and exciting milestone, it can be difficult to navigate questions, complicated systems, and major changes at home. Our elementary program works with families with children ages 5–8 to help guide them through the this new stage of family life!
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Even if a child begins Kindergarten on-track, it can be easy to fall behind. Our Family Educators help families understand their options and feel empowered during the school selection process.
Family Educators work as a bridge, connecting parents with teachers and administrators to build a network of support for each child. At home, we help families set up schedules and set expectations, making sure students have what they need to learn and grow. We also provide academic support for children in all areas of schooling: including literacy and STEM!
Through Way to Grow’s “My Voice Matters” initiative, Way to Grow families have the opportunity to engage with their child’s education through parent advocacy trainings and events. Alongside our families, we’ve met with local leaders and spoken at school, city, and state levels.
Health & Wellness
A strong start happens in a healthy home! Through our Growing Strong program, we work with families in the home, teaching parents about the importance of holistic health and child safety.
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Our curriculum is deeply personalized and fine-tuned for each unique family situation. Family Educators act as guides, teaching essentials for family wellness, including prenatal care, nutrition, safe sleep practices, home safety checks, and building healthy habits.
Healthcare can be daunting, and we’re here to help families navigate the healthcare system: from immunizations to booking well-child checkups, our goal is to ensure all children are healthy and prepared to learn! We parter with numerous community organizations to find close, affordable healthcare. When necessary, our staff readily refers families to health, mental health, and dental care partners.
Our work doesn’t stop there: Way to Grow partners with local agencies to offer cooking and nutrition courses, as well as car seat training courses with certified instructors.
Preschool Pals
Way to Grow operates a high-quality, center-based preschool, Preschool Pals, for enrolled families with children ages 3–5. Preschool Pals is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and has been awarded a four-star rating by Minnesota Parent Aware.
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Our programming is centered around the unique interests of the preschool class! Our staff uses developmentally appropriate and evidence-based practices to engage students and develop key learning skills.
Parental involvement is a vital part of our preschool programming, and we aim to foster a positive relationship between family and school! Unique from other early learning programs, our preschool offers monthly parent-child classes and field trips.
The families of all children enrolled in Preschool Pals are also enrolled in our Great by Eight programming, and receive regular home visits by certified Way to Grow Family Educators.