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 Wednesday of the Month from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Dinner is served at 5:30, discussion starts at 6pm. Tot watch 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
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.
Touch-A-Truck - Our most popular event! Trucks, emergency vehicles and more turnout for children to explore while our non-profit partners host various fun activities inside. Coalition members help set-up/take down tables for the event and distribute books.
Parenting Classes
The Great Start Family Coalition also offers parenting classes. The next class will be offered April 4 to May 9 in 2024. The program is Make Parenting A Pleasure, dealing with ages 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
Register for the April class at https://bit.ly/4bk7y9A.
Great Start Shiawassee at Work
These materials are funded through a grant provided by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.
Join Us!
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24 April
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Great Start Family Coalition Meeting - Literacy Night 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMGreat Start Family Coalition Meeting - Literacy NightDate: Wed Apr 24Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMLocation: Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USACalendar: Great Start ShiawasseeLiteracy night! Join us at our next meeting to enjoy dinner and conversation with other parents.
Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the Month from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Dinner is served at 5:30. Tot watch is provided.
Your RSVP allows us to properly plan for your dinner and care needs: https://forms.gle/WiJmwdfhVh9RYKx76
For questions contact the Shiawassee RESD at 989-725-2581.
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25 April
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Make Parenting A Pleasure 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMMake Parenting A PleasureDate: Thu Apr 25Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: SRESD Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USACalendar: Great Start ShiawasseeMake 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.
Topics include:
Self care
Stress
Anger management
Communication skills
Positive discipline
Support emotional development
...much more!Register at https://bit.ly/4bk7y9A
For questions contact the Shiawassee RESD at 989-725-2581.
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2 May
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Make Parenting A Pleasure 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMMake Parenting A PleasureDate: Thu May 2Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: SRESD Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USACalendar: Great Start ShiawasseeMake 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.
Topics include:
Self care
Stress
Anger management
Communication skills
Positive discipline
Support emotional development
...much more!Register at https://bit.ly/4bk7y9A
For questions contact the Shiawassee RESD at 989-725-2581.
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29 May
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Great Start Family Coalition - Touch A Truck Planning Meeting 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMGreat Start Family Coalition - Touch A Truck Planning MeetingDate: Wed May 29Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMLocation: Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USACalendar: Great Start ShiawasseeLiteracy night! Join us at our next meeting to enjoy dinner and conversation with other parents.
Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the Month from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Dinner is served at 5:30. Tot watch is provided.
Your RSVP allows us to properly plan for your dinner and care needs: https://forms.gle/WiJmwdfhVh9RYKx76
For questions contact the Shiawassee RESD at 989-725-2581.
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25 September
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Great Start Family Coalition 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMGreat Start Family CoalitionDate: Wed Sep 25Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMLocation: Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USACalendar: Great Start ShiawasseeLiteracy night! Join us at our next meeting to enjoy dinner and conversation with other parents.
Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the Month from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Dinner is served at 5:30. Tot watch is provided.
Your RSVP allows us to properly plan for your dinner and care needs: https://forms.gle/WiJmwdfhVh9RYKx76
For questions contact the Shiawassee RESD at 989-725-2581.
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