Minnesota (December 28th, 2020) –Care in Action Minnesota (CIAM) is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from the Sauer Family Foundation. These funds will support us in our efforts as we work to enhance the quality of life of children who have experienced abuse or neglect, strengthen families, connect communities, and prevent childhood maltreatment, by providing timely crucial support that meets the basic needs of local families
The community foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. In 2019, CIAM received its first crucial investment from the Sauer Family Foundation, which allowed us to hire our first staff person ever, after 15 years of fully volunteer run! Like Care in Action Minnesota, the Sauer Family Foundation believes “when children are abused or neglected, we need to attend to the child’s well-being and support their family.” In addition to this trauma informed response that focuses on family healing, we know preventing child maltreatment requires a focus on these protective factors within children and families that can reduce risks, build family capacity, and foster resilience. This focus is crucial to our work because abuse and neglect are often associated with factors and conditions causing families to experience toxic levels of stress; including: lack of access to basic resources, housing instability, poverty, mental health issues and social isolation. Conversely, access to these concrete resources and services can help meet families’ basic needs and support parents in their role.
While the pandemic created an array of unforeseen circumstances this past year, due to the critical investment we received from the Sauer Family Foundation, as well as, CIAM’s unique positioning, collaborative structure, and our established focus on assuring access to basic needs, while targeting a population at-risk to be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, CIAM was poised to quickly and directly deploy resources in response to immediate emergency needs in our community.
Looking ahead, with the continued generous support of the Sauer Family Foundation, CIAM’s positioning to address the growing issues surrounding childhood maltreatment is reinforced and strengthened. Care in Action Minnesota will continue to work to ensure access to immediate basic needs like groceries, housing and health-related services. Additionally, in an effort to combat COVID-19 learning loss and the digital divide, CIAM continues to work to provide technology and equipment to facilitate and enhance virtual learning opportunities, delivered directly to the child’s door. Ultimately, we hope to meet the urgent needs in our communities, support equitable long-term recovery, and fortify our ongoing efforts to strengthen families and prevent childhood maltreatment.
About the Sauer Family Foundation
The mission of the Sauer Family Foundation is to invest in strengthening the well-being of children so they thrive in their families and communities. They work in settings that serve children who are at-risk or experiencing abuse or neglect, exposed to toxic stress/trauma, or have challenges developing reading, writing and math skills.
About Care in Action Minnesota
Care in Action Minnesota (CIAM) was established in 2005 to further a vision of the world with no family violence, where all children, youth, and families in our community can operate at their full potential and have the resources and skills they need to live with hope and dignity.
Through a grassroots engagement model and community connections, CIAM has built a committed network of donors, crowdfunding critical goods and services that are identified by partnered County Social Worker’s, in cooperation with the families receiving relief.
For more information or to learn how you can get involved, visit our website or contact Katherine Sims at katherine@careinactionmn.org