When the whole community gets behind our children, it benefits everyone. Supporting children helps more than the children and their families. It helps our entire society, and all of Michigan. Children who start with early learning and get support all the way through high school contribute more to society as Michigan adults.
There are many ways to get involved if you want to help MI Kids. There are many organizations, collaboratives, and parent coalitions to offer support to parents and caregivers. Early learning is a key component of giving every Michigan child a great start on life.
All throughout Michigan, parents have formed strong coalitions to act as advocates, thought-leaders, teachers, students, team members, and more. Their mission, through the Great Start Collaboratives (GSC) and Great Start Parent Coalitions (GSPC) is to get the message out there that every child, from birth to age four needs and deserves a Great Start in life. They are the champions of early learning, lending a voice and hand where needed.
The Early Childhood Support Network (ECSN) is made up of four regions throughout the state of Michigan: Eastern, Northern, Southeast, and Western. The ECSN coordinates all the local, state and federal resources to develop a strong Michigan early childhood system. This gives families an easy way to find and access resources that address the needs of the whole child.
The ECSN system promotes constant communication, coordination, and support for early childhood partners throughout the state, such as the Great Start Collaboratives, Great Start Parent Coalitions, and the Great Start to Quality (GSQ) Resource Centers (RC).
GSQ Resource Centers can provide families with
80% of a child's brain develops by age three. The steps you take during these early years shape a child's future health, happiness, learning, and success in life. These are simple steps, like talking to them, interacting with them, reading, singing, and playing with them daily.
To help you take the necessary steps to help all Michigan children thrive, we have put together two online tool kits packed with information and tips.
Simple things you do with your child every day make a big impact on their success in school and later in life. In this kit, you’ll find how to take small steps at each age of your child’s development. Steps is a major initiative in Michigan to provide you with tips, infographics, articles, and all the information you need to give your child a great start.
If you are a teacher, doctor, faith leader, community leader, influencer or collaborator with parents of children aged 0 – 3, your personal involvement in Steps is crucial. We are asking for your help in connecting parents with useful resources and services. This Steps tool kit gives you materials and easy ways to share critical information important during this time in a child’s life.