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. Dinner is served at 5:30, discussion starts at 6pm. Supervised care is available.  Meeting details are located on the Great Start event calendar. Location: 114 W. North Street, Owosso, Michigan.

RSVP to Family Coalition Meetings 

September 30, 2025 - Pizza in the Park

October 28, 2025 - Halloween Fun Night

November 25, 2025 - Family Fun 

January 27, 2026 - Staying Safe in a Virtual World

February 24, 2026 - Challenging Stereotypes: Poverty 101

March 24, 2026 - Grow in to Reading Kids Night

April 28, 2026 - Exploring Parenting Styles

May 26, 2026 - Parent Cafe

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

Family Coalition Activities

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - Children in Shiawassee County (ages 0-4) are eligible to receive an age-appropriate book in the mail each month.  Family Coalition members assist in signing children up for the program. Families can register at https://imaginationlibrary.com

Bus Book Buckets - Bus rides can be long for young children so the Coalition provides buckets of books to various school bus routes. The Coalition provides the books, volunteers stop in regularly to refresh the selection.

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 Story Walk at Camp Shiawassee is slightly longer but easily managed by young walkers. The stories shared on the Story Walks vary by season.

The Great Start Family Coalition also has mobile Story Walks available for use by non-profits and educational institutions.  Learn more on our resource page.

Great Start Resource Hub 989-725-2581

Parenting Classes

The Great Start Family Coalition also offers parenting classes.  The next 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 infant to eight.

 The program, called Make Parenting a Pleasure, focuses on children aged 0-8.

Topics will include:

  • Parents identify and discuss “Barriers” they may encounter
  • Parents identify the values and goals they want for their child, as they “pack their child’s suitcase”
  • Parents learn to support their children's emotional development through emotion coaching 
  • Parents learn to strengthen the parent-child relationship with “Positive Attention Through Play”
  • Parents learn about current brain development information and the “Effect of Stress” on child development


Great Start Shiawassee at Work

GS Family Coalition participants enjoying a talk on the trails of DeVries Nature Center.
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These materials are funded through a grant provided by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.

Girl in red shirt looking for preschool

Join Us! Great Start Shiawassee Event Calendar

  • 4 March
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Wed Mar 4
      Time: 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM
      Location: Louise Peacock Elementary School, 485 E McArthur St, Corunna, MI 48817, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee
      Full

      Registration Opens Wednesday, February 11
      For families and children ages 0-5
      To register 989-743-8848
  • 7 March
    • Infant, Child, & Adult CPR/AED/First Aid Training - SRESD
      Date: Sat Mar 7
      Time: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
      Location: Shiawassee RESD College and Career Readiness Center, 201 E Washington Ave, Vernon, MI 48476, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee
      Call to Register 989-725-2581
  • 11 March
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Wed Mar 11
      Time: 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM
      Location: Louise Peacock Elementary School, 485 E McArthur St, Corunna, MI 48817, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee
      Full

      Registration Opens Wednesday, February 11
      For families and children ages 0-5
      To register 989-743-8848
  • 17 March
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Tue Mar 17
      Time: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
      Location: Morrice Area Elementary School, 111 Mason St, Morrice, MI 48857, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee
      Full Registration Opens Wednesday, February 11 For children 0-5 Questions 517-625-3141
  • 18 March
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Wed Mar 18
      Time: 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM
      Location: Louise Peacock Elementary School, 485 E McArthur St, Corunna, MI 48817, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee
      Full

      Registration Opens Wednesday, February 11
      For families and children ages 0-5
      To register 989-743-8848
  • 20 March
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Fri Mar 20
      Time: 9:45 AM to 11:00 AM
      Location: Byron Elementary School, 401 Maple St, Byron, MI 48418, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee
      Full

      Registration Opens Wednesday, February 11
      For families and children ages 0-5
      To register 810-266-6323
  • 24 March
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Tue Mar 24
      Time: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
      Location: Morrice Area Elementary School, 111 Mason St, Morrice, MI 48857, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee
      Full Registration Opens Wednesday, February 11 For children 0-5 Questions 517-625-3141
    • Grow Into Reading Kids Night - Family Coalition
      Date: Tue Mar 24
      Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
      Location: Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee
      Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the Month from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Dinner is served at 5:30, discussion starts at 6pm.


      www.SRESD.org or register directly at https://bit.ly/ShiawasseeFamily

 

 

 

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