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

Great Start Shiawassee at Work

Two children making a craft with a volunteer from Home Depot at the 2023 Touch A Truck
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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. 
DHHS Talking is Teaching waiting room
Smokin Jack's Book Rack
Book Nook at WIC

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.

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!

Great Start Hub 989-725-2581

Join Us! Great Start Shiawassee Event Calendar

  • 28 April
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Morrice - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Tue Apr 28
      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.
    • Exploring Parenting Styles - Family Coalition
      Date: Tue Apr 28
      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
  • 29 April
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Corunna - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Wed Apr 29
      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.
  • 30 April
    • Make Parenting A Pleasure - Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition
      Date: Thu Apr 30
      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
  • 1 May
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Byron - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Fri May 1
      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.
  • 5 May
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Morrice - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Tue May 5
      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.
  • 7 May
    • Make Parenting A Pleasure - Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition
      Date: Thu May 7
      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
  • 8 May
    • Play to Learn Playgroup - Byron - Great Start Shiawassee
      Date: Fri May 8
      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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