COORDINATOR'S CORNER:

When you are preparing to go on a trip you must plan ahead!  It is the key to the success of your journey.  In the same way it’s important to plan ahead and make goals when you are trying to implement change in a community.  This is exactly what the Great Start Collaborative has been doing this past year-planning ahead! 

The Great Start Collaborative has been very busy  analyzing data, determining needs and gaps for young children and their families, and deciding what to focus on for improvements.  We have completed our strategic plan and are beginning the implementation process.   We have determined 9 goals that we will be working to implement over the next several months:

1. To increase the awareness of social/emotional health needs of children and their families and reduce fear/stigma of accessing services
2. To reduce the rate of children born to parents without a high school diploma
3. To increase the level of active participation of parents and business leaders on the Collaborative and Parent Coalition
4. To aide in the increase of employment for the families of Hillsdale County
5. To ensure that all young children reside in safe, adequate, and sustainable home environments
6. All young children and their families will have access to quality, affordable health care
7. All physicians and health care providers in Hillsdale County will recognize and refer appropriately (developmental, social-emotional, and physical concerns)
8. All families will have access to school readiness materials that support children’s early learning and development
9. All parents, childcare providers, local agency staff, early educators, and early elementary educators will be given developmentally appropriate school readiness information

The Collaborative members are excited about the plan we have developed and are ready to begin implementing some of these ideas right away.   I want to personally thank the members of the Great Start Collaborative for their time and effort during the planning stage.  Now that we have planned our “trip” we are ready to begin the journey together.  If you are interested in learning more about the GREAT things the Great Start Collaborative are doing please call me.  I would love to talk with you about Great Start.

Sincerely,

Ginelle Skinner
Hillsdale County
Great Start Coordinator