Great Start Parent Coalition
Parent Coalition Membership requirements include the following:
*Spreading the word on the work we do and simply wanting to empower families with children from birth through age 8.
*Remain active by attending 4 meetings a year. Meetings are currently virtual.
Additional ways to participate include:
*Liking and sharing our posts on Facebook.
*Help with Parent Coalition community events.
As a member of the Great Start Parent Coalition you will:
*learn about child development, brain development and the importance of early childhood.
*develop leadership skills.
*build connections with other parents.
*learn to plan events.
*be up to date on information that could affect your family.
If you are interested in learning more and getting email updates fill out the form below:
Finding Quality Childcare
The Great Start Collaborative of Berrien County is a partnership of community leaders, business owners, charitable and faith-based organizations, health and human service agencies, educators, and parents. It is committed to establishing and maintaining a network of county-wide supports and services that work together to achieve better results for young children and families.
The Collaborative
• Engages community partners in the planning and coordination of services.
• Addresses the factors that influence a child’s readiness for school and life.
• Promotes community awareness of early childhood issues.
• Advocates for quality early childhood programs and services.
Our goal is that every child in Berrien County is safe, healthy, and eager to succeed in
school and life. Read more …
Great Start to Quality is the best tool for families in Michigan looking for child care or preschool. Every licensed and registered program and provider, including Head Start and Great Start Readiness Programs, is listed in an easy-to-use search engine. Families can search by Zip code, hours of operation or something even more specific. For example, if a child has a food allergy or special need, families can search using that detail to find a program that meets their needs. The only place families can see the Great Start to Quality star rating is on greatstarttoquality.org. The star ratings show how programs and providers scored on a quality rating scale. This rating scale was designed by experts and parents to help families find the highest quality setting to support their child for success in school and life. greatstarttoquality.org is free and accessible 24/7. Other resources available at greatstarttoquality.org include a Child Care Checklist in the Parent Toolkit that is easily printed or viewed on any device, and licensing reports that show inspections, violations and corrections. Read more at greatstarttoquality.org
Berrien County Preschool Directory
The Great Start Collaborative of Berrien County has put together this directory of Berrien County preschools, in hopes to help make the process of finding a
preschool for your child easier. This directory of preschools is meant to provide information and does not endorse or recommend any specific preschool or program. Any information in this directory is subject to change without notification. Read More …
WIC- Women, Infants & Children at the Berrien County Health Department
WIC is a health and nutrition program that has demonstrated a positive effect on pregnancy outcomes, child growth and development. The program provides a combination of nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care.
Riverwood Center- Children’s Services
Children face many obstacles while trying to grow and find their identities. The challenge facing parents and children as they cope with these issues can often lead to conflict in everyday life. Riverwood Center offers a wide variety of services for children and adolescents who experience problems at home, at school or in the community.
Logan Autism Learning Center SW Michigan
Caring for a family member or loved one with intellectual or developmental disabilities is challenging. Logan is here to help.
Michigan State University Extension Early Childhood Development
MSU Extension is focusing their early childhood development services in three dynamic areas. They provide tools to help parents and caregivers get children ready for school and offer programs that promote social and emotional health in young children.
Berrien County Resource Directory
The Great Start Collaborative of Berrien County Resource Guide for families of Berrien County with children ages birth to five. Read more …
Guía de Recursos Para El Condado de Berrien
Estimada familia del condado de Berrien, El gran comienzo colaborativo del condado de Berrien, (The Great Start Collaborative of Berrien County) pagado por, y en la asociación con, la Corporación Inversión Niñez Temprana (ECIC). Es orgulloso de presentar la guía de recursos para familias del condado de Berrien con niños de nacimiento a cinco. Leer más…
Free Home Visiting Programs
There’s a lot going on in your life when you’re parenting. Getting away from your home can be hard. So we put together Berrien Parents Care to help you give your child a great start right where you live. By registering with the Berrien Parents Care, you’ll find FREE services that you may not have heard about. You do not need transportation to use these services, these programs bring the services to your home. Free Home Visiting Programs
berriencountyParentNET.org connects parents to local resources — including healthcare, schools, activities, and parenting support.
That connection includes an interactive activity-based calendar that grows everyday! Our goal is to keep you informed of camps, sports, crafts, after-school activities, etc. available for your child throughout the year. Create your FREE account to unlock additional calendar features. But we don’t stop there! Berrien County ParentNet also offers information and connections to area providers in an effort to make it easier for you and your family to take advantage of all the services and resources Berrien County has to offer.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library brings books to children’s homes. From birth until they turn five years old, children enrolled in the program will receive a new, age-appropriate book mailed to their home each month. By the time they enter kindergarten, children will have their own library of books and be more prepared to enter school and become readers.
United Way has secured funding for all of Berrien County and Cass Counties.
Read more at uwsm.org/dpil
