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With the arrival of snow, we are embracing nature's call to adopt a slower pace, seek warmth, and hold space for reflection.
In these moments, we find comfort, strength, and immense gratitude for each member of our Great Start Collaborative & Parent Coalition community; a community of individuals, children, families, parents, grandparents, philanthropists, activists, volunteers, organizations, change agents, and so much more. Together, we are strengthening families and improving child outcomes in Charlevoix, Emmet, and northern Antrim Counties.
We want you to know we are happy to see you, to receive your calls and emails, and to sit at tables and screens with you as we celebrate successes, work through challenges, envision possibilities, and take action to ensure there is always light in any darkness that may come a family's way.
Thank you for joining us, for giving your time, talent, and treasure. We are grateful for you!
~ Savanah, Crissy, Jean, & Liz
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Updates from the Parent Coalition |
Our new Parent Members of the Great Start Collaborative have jumped in headfirst. All five were welcomed to the Collaborative in our first meeting for the fiscal year, which took place in October. They are signing up and diving in to enhance their skills, share parent and family perspective, and lend a hand in moving our work forward. In addition to the formal duties of Parent Members, this group has committed four additional evenings to gathering, building rapport, and working together to build a Parent Nation!
In Parent Coalition meetings, the group is creating plans and determining the direction for parent led work to support collaboration with Women Infants and Children and our FreeCycle Book project. We hope you will join us via Zoom, morning and evening options are available.
We've got plans for our next Family Adventure and we hope you will join us. Details below!
Jean and Liz continue their battle over tea and coffee Wednesday mornings and Great Start Community Connections continues to highlight programs and services available to youth and families zero to eight via Facebook live!
If you've been contemplating getting involved, now is a great time! Reach out
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Winter Early Childhood Networking Nights: |
Join us in January and February as Waja Berarducci, Behavioral Specialist with NMCAA, shares her knowledge and experience to help us better regulate and connect.
January: Regulate, Relate, Reason
This session will focus on shifting the lens to look beneath behaviors. Participants will gain new tools to regulate the adult nervous system, develop strategies to relate to a child’s needs, and learn how to move past big emotions & reason with children to shift them to a more calm and regulated state.
February: Neuroscience of Movement and Yoga as a Way to Regulate Behaviors
Learn how yoga helps connect the mind and body and creates an experience of safety in our nervous system. Movement is a powerful tool that helps move big emotions through our bodies and creates a deep pathway to calm.
Early Childhood Networking Nights are open to all parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals at no cost to participants. Register
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A heartfelt thank you to all who joined our November volunteer drop in.
This was the second time we've offered such an opportunity and you all reaffirmed what we've already experienced, we live in a generous community!
Twelve volunteers committed a total of 28 hours to support our Talking is Teaching and FreeCycle Book projects. Together they assembled 75 Baby Bundles, 120 Bedtime/Bathtime kits, and stickered nearly 3,000 FreeCycle Books!
Your time is so precious and valuable, and we are thankful you've invested it with us!
To discuss opportunities to offer support, please reach out to Savanah. |
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Join Us for the Great Start Parent Coalition Winter Family Adventure |
Let's listen to the water, see what animal tracks we can find, and explore the trees and bridges along Berry Creek!
Saturday, Dec. 3rd from 10am to 11:30 at Camp Petosega
Join the Parent Coalition on an adventure down one of our newest Talking is Teaching Nature Trails. We will be hiking the short and flat woodchipped trail, which should be accessible to families using wheeled mobility devices. After the hike we will enjoy free play, a story, and cocoa!
As always, this event is available at no cost to participants and available to families with children birth to eight. Learn more
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Great Start Collaborative Provides Preschool Scholarships with Support of Community Foundations |
Having access to high quality, early childcare is a key factor impacting a child and families school readiness. While many families may qualify for no cost preschool options provided by the Great Start Readiness Program and Head Start, there simply is not enough capacity to serve every child that qualifies in our community.
The good news is, the Great Start Collaborative and its School Readiness Advisory Committee, in partnership with our fiduciary, Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District advocates for and seeks out funding to support scholarships for children and families who may have been waitlisted.
While additional grant requests have been submitted, with one pending, 40 additional children remain waitlisted in Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. With additional funding, we could assist in placing 11 of those children in high quality programs with space available.
If you, your business, organization, or group of caring community members would like to assist with this financial gap, please reach out to Savanah. The Collaborative and the ISD pass on 100% of all funds received to support scholarships and tax incentives may be available. |
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Find Us in Central Lake for Window Night |
Join us Wednesday, December 7th from 4 pm to 8 pm for Window Night in Central Lake.
This family-friendly community event offers free hot cocoa, cider, hot dogs, and marshmallows. There will be a tree lighting, Santa visits, reindeer, fire truck rides, and free children's books, book bags, or ornaments while supplies last.
We hope to see you!
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Find Us in Petoskey at a Visit with Santa |
Join us Saturday, December 10th from 12 pm to 4 pm for a Visit with Santa at Emmet County Fairgrounds.
Santa will visit the Community Building where guests are invited to take a photo with Santa, make crafts to take home, and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies. Entry is free. Details
We hope to see you!
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Reducing Stress this Holiday Season |
The holidays are considered the happiest time of the year for most, but they can also be the busiest and most stressful times!
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Food Drive Community Movie: The Polar Express |
Head to Charlevoix Cinema III Saturday, December 3rd at 1PM to support The Rayder Den. Bring along one non-perishable food item in exchange for free admission to a viewing of The Polar Express. Details
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Head over to Camp Daggett Sunday, December 11th from 1pm to 3pm to enjoy a winter wonderland. Families are invited to meet Santa Claus, enjoy a winter scavenger hunt, explore their trails, and indulge in s'mores and hot cocoa around a cozy campfire. This event is free and no registration is required. Details
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New Talking is Teaching Baby Bundles Distributed to Child Welfare Agencies |
Expanding upon a Talking is Teaching Baby Bundle project that originated at the Petoskey District Library, we created 15 themed bags pairing books, toys, and talking prompts. Believe it or not, a child's brain develops 90% in the first five years of life. Parents and caregivers have a unique role in boosting early brain development and building early literacy skills. These kits will support parents and caregivers in building confidence as their child's first teacher and offer opportunities to practice talking, reading, and singing in everyday moments.
The Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services in Charlevoix-Emmet and Antrim Counties, Wellspring Lutheran Services, Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, and Northern Family Intervention Services each received a box of 15 kits for use during home visits, parenting time visits, and to provide as a lending library option for the foster and adoptive families they serve.
Many thanks to Megan Goedge, Children and Youth Services Librarian at PDL for being an active and engaged member of our Talking is Teaching Committee and for sharing her ideas and creativity!
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Great Start Collaborative & Parent Coalition of Charlevoix, Emmet, and Northern Antrim Counties
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