Great Start Family Coalition
Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition
Parents play a critical role in the healthy development of young children, ages 0-8. Great Start Shiawassee recognizes the expertise and value of parents. The Great Start Family Coalition supports efforts to engage, empower, and recruit parent leaders.
Family Coalition Meetings
Join us at our next meeting to enjoy dinner and conversation with other parents. Fun learning activities for parents and children.
Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the Month from 5:30 - 7:00 pm, September through May. Dinner is served at 5:30, and discussion starts at 6 pm. Supervised care is available. Meeting details are located on the Great Start event calendar. Location: 114 W. North Street, Owosso, Michigan.
Contact Us
To find out more information about the Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition contact our
Great Start Family Liaison
Jennifer Babcock
989-725-2581
babcockj@sresd.org
Great Start Shiawassee at Work
These materials are funded through a grant provided by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.
Parenting Classes
The Great Start Family Coalition offers parenting classes. The next Make Parenting A Pleasure class will be offered on Thursdays, April 9th - May 14th from 5:30 - 8:00 PM. Register at https://bit.ly/MPAP2026 or contact Jennifer Babcock at 989-725-2581 x 2150. Free dinner & supervised care for children from infants to eight.
Book Nooks & More
- Book buckets are available at Lounge Barber Shop, Cutting Edge Salon, Foster Coffee Co., Cakey Cakes, Dowen's Barbershop, Stompin' Grounds, Young Cadillac, Lunghammer Ford, and It's A Deli.
- Book nooks are at the Shiawassee County Health Department and DHHS.
- A book shelf is at Smokin' Jacks BBQ.
Story Walks
Families looking to explore the outdoors with their children will enjoy the Story Walks. As they walk along the designated path, they will find pages from a book, which they can read together. The walk at DeVries Nature Conservancy is a 1/8th of a mile or as far as your imagination can take you. The stories shared on the Story Walks vary by season.
Mobile Story Walks Available
At your next event, encourage families to take a walk and explore their imaginations with the Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition’s Mobile Story Walks.
Books available include:
Fish Eyes
Let's Go Bikes
Hey Coach
Farm Animals
Belly Breathe
Be Who You Are
Gardens are for Growing
Five Little Ducks
Free to non-profits and educational institutions with advance registration. Book the mobile story walk by contacting Jennifer Babcock at email or 989-725-2581.
Talking Is Teaching
Great Start Shiawassee provided four Talking is Teaching signs in Grand Avenue Park to encourage conversations with the families around senses, numbers, community and how things move. How do you use your senses in the park?
Look for Talking is Teaching signs in Grand Avenue Park, Collamer Park, Bentley Park, and Harmon Patridge!
Join Us! Great Start Shiawassee Event Calendar
Subscribe to Join Us! Great Start Shiawassee Event Calendar Calendars
A hero doesn’t necessarily have to wear a cape and tights, maybe a hero speaks up for what’s right. Maybe that hero could be you. If you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, you can submit a confidential tip to OK2SAY. OK2SAY allows anyone to confidentially report tips on criminal activities or potential harm directed at Michigan students, school employees, or schools. Protect yourself and others by using OK2SAY. Because if you won’t, who will?