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.

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

Adult and child preparing to high five.
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These materials are funded through a grant provided by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.

Mobile Story Walk

The Great Start Family Coalition has a variety of mobile Story Walks available free to non-profits and educational institutions. 

Story Walk lengths vary, with the maximum being 16 placards long. Each placard is 3 1/2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. They are lightweight with aluminum frames. The number of placards borrowed will depend on the length of the story you choose. The borrower is responsible for picking up and returning the Story Walk. 

Books available include: 

  • Bugs A-Z
  • Fish Eyes
  • Let's Go Bikes 
  • Bee Dance 
  • Hey Coach 
  • Farm Animals 
  • Belly Breathe 
  • Be Who You Are 
  • Gardens are for Growing 
  • Five Little Ducks
  • It's Okay to be Different

Book your mobile story walk by completing this form or by calling 989-725-2581!

Girl in red shirt looking for preschool

Join Us! Great Start Shiawassee Event Calendar

  • 8 April
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Corunna - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Wed Apr 8
      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

      Sponsored by Great Start Shiawassee through a grant through Mi Family Engagement.
  • 9 April
    • Make Parenting A Pleasure - Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition
      Date: Thu Apr 9
      Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
      Location: Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee

      What: Make Parenting A Pleasure

      Who: Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition

      Location: SRESD Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W. North St., Owosso

      Date/Time: Thursdays, April 9 - May 14, 5:30 - 8:00 pm

      Make Parenting a Pleasure (MPAP) is a training program that promotes family resilience by bringing parents together to share and normalize their parenting experiences, learn about typical early childhood development and parenting strategies, develop a support network, and learn about other community resources available to them. Free/RSVP at 989-725-2581 or https://bit.ly/MPAP2026
  • 10 April
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Byron - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Fri Apr 10
      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

      Sponsored by Great Start Shiawassee through a grant through Mi Family Engagement.
  • 14 April
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Morrice - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Tue Apr 14
      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 Sponsored by Great Start Shiawassee through a grant through Mi Family Engagement.
  • 15 April
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Corunna - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Wed Apr 15
      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

      Sponsored by Great Start Shiawassee through a grant through Mi Family Engagement.
  • 16 April
    • Make Parenting A Pleasure - Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition
      Date: Thu Apr 16
      Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
      Location: Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USA
      Calendar: Great Start Shiawassee

      What: Make Parenting A Pleasure

      Who: Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition

      Location: SRESD Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W. North St., Owosso

      Date/Time: Thursdays, April 9 - May 14, 5:30 - 8:00 pm

      Make Parenting a Pleasure (MPAP) is a training program that promotes family resilience by bringing parents together to share and normalize their parenting experiences, learn about typical early childhood development and parenting strategies, develop a support network, and learn about other community resources available to them. Free/RSVP at 989-725-2581 or https://bit.ly/MPAP2026
  • 17 April
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Byron - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Fri Apr 17
      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

      Sponsored by Great Start Shiawassee through a grant through Mi Family Engagement.

 

 

 

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