Helping Kids
The Great Start Collaborative benefits Montcalm County
The Great Start Collaborative is part of a statewide initiative in Michigan, focused on ensuring that children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. It supports a range of services and programs aimed at building an early childhood system that lifts up family engagement, and community resources. To understand its benefits to Montcalm County, we can look at several areas where Great Start Montcalm has made a measurable impact:
1. Early Childhood Development and Education
- School Readiness: Great Start Montcalm focuses on improving children’s readiness for school by partnering with local preschools and early childhood programs. It supports parents through workshops and activities that promote literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills.
- Improved Early Literacy Rates: Programs like Dolly Parton Imagination Library and professional learning initiatives provide families and service providers with tools to promote literacy at home. Research shows that early literacy interventions lead to higher reading levels by the third grade.
2. Parent and Family Support
- Parent Workshops and Resources: Great Start Montcalm offers parenting classes, resource connections, and community events. These services are designed to enhance parents’ capacity to support their children’s growth and learning.
- Family Engagement: Family engagement events bring together parents and caregivers to participate in activities that foster stronger bonds and learning opportunities at home.
3. Access to Health and Nutrition Services
- Increased Access to Health Services: By partnering with healthcare providers and our public health department, Great Start Montcalm has increased the knowledge of health screenings, immunizations, and developmental checks for young children in Montcalm county.
- Support for Nutrition Programs: We build connections for families to resources like WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to ensure children in Montcalm County have access to proper nutrition, contributing to better health outcomes.
4. Community Collaboration
- Strengthening Community Networks: Great Start Montcalm collaborates with local schools, health departments, libraries, and nonprofits to create a more cohesive support system for children and families.
- Increased Awareness of Early Childhood Needs: Through community campaigns and partnerships, the organization raises awareness about the importance of early childhood education, which can lead to increased funding and community resources.
5. Reduction in Child Poverty and Barriers
- Addressing Socioeconomic Barriers: By providing access information to family services and early interventions, Great Start Montcalm helps reduce the barriers caused by poverty, ensuring more children have the opportunity to succeed.
Data-Driven Outcomes to support a community where all children thrive:
- Higher Preschool Enrollment Rates: In counties where Great Start initiatives are active, enrollment in early childhood education programs often increases.
- Improved Health Metrics: Children in programs like Great Start are more likely to be up to date on immunizations and developmental check-ups.
- Supporting early identification and access to Special Education supports: By identifying developmental delays early, children are more likely to receive appropriate interventions, reducing the need for special education services later on.
We are located at the Montcalm Transition Center 618 W Main St Suite C Stanton MI 48888
