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Healthy Children Healthy Nations (HCHN) Fund provides grants to tribal governments and Native nonprofit organizations in Minnesota for promising models, capacity building, knowledge sharing and effective programming designed to:

• Expand Native early childhood development programs that are rooted in traditional knowledge, provide Native perspectives on childhood development, and celebrate Native language, identities and cultures
• Provide healthful early nutrition by encouraging investment in breastfeeding education, supporting partnerships among food producers and child care providers, and expanding access to healthy, traditional food outside of child care settings
• Build whole, healthy children, families, and communities by supporting efforts to address historical trauma, adverse childhood experiences, social determinants of health, and substance abuse that create cycles of abuse, neglect, and disparity

Funding may be used for:

• Core operation improvements grants for organizations with existing work that aligns with the goals of the HCHN initiative but need additional support to help advance or catalyze a specific element of the work
• Planning grants for organizations whose existing work aligns with the goals of the HCHN initiative that would like to:
  • Develop or expand one or more of the HCHN focus areas within their work
  • Would like to explore new collaborations, partnerships, or other strategies to increase the impact of their work

Eligible applicants include:

• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Tribal government programs
• Native-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Native-controlled community organizations with fiscal sponsorship

Applicants must:

• Have governing and staff leadership that is majority Native American
• Serve Native American children 0-6 years of age and/or their families in Minnesota
• Work in one or more of the HCHN focus areas

Core operations improvements grants: 12 month grants, up to $25,000
Planning grants: 6 month grants, up to $25,000

A link to the online application portal is available on the program website.