Baby’s Space: A Place to Grow is a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization that implements the unique Baby’s Space Model within a nationally-accredited childcare facility and Pre-K – 3rd grade public school.
The mission of Baby’s Space is to ensure that beginning at birth, children living in poverty are on a path for success by linking quality childcare and education to family services and parent education.
Originally inspired by the needs and experiences of families facing multiple challenges coupled with the introduction of the welfare-to-work policy initiative, nine community organizations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed a collaborative in 1998.
Led by Dr. Terrie Rose and pooling resources, knowledge and expertise, the board members were committed to finding ways to strengthen and improve current prevention and intervention models with a focus on “how do we serve families better in light of the new demands of welfare reform?” At the time, |
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organizations were only providing part-day or parenting services and there was no high quality childcare serving infants and toddlers.
Baby’s Space opened in 2000 at the Little Earth Neighborhood Early Learning Center (NELC), located in the heart of the Minneapolis American Indian Community. The University of Minnesota, Dr. Rose’s employer, was the fiscal agent.
Designed as an infant through age-three childcare facility serving families residing in the Little Earth of United Tribes housing development and surrounding Phillips Neighborhood of South Minneapolis, Baby’s Space was developed as a community-based program that responded to the cultures, values, and needs of families.
Today, Baby’s Space at Little Earth offers year-round full-day childcare and education for children beginning at six weeks of age and year-round public education, Tatanka Academy, for kindergarten through third grade children as part of the Minneapolis Public School District.
Baby’s Space also serves as a community-service site for students from area schools, youth groups, and colleges. |
History and Mission 
