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Great Start Collaborative-Oakland
The
purpose of the GSC-O is to assure a coordinated system of community resources
and support whereby ALL Oakland County families have knowledge of and access to
the services they need which will result in their children being prepared and
eager to learn.
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It's Their Future; It's Our Responsibility!
Thank you for your continued interest and support in building our Great Start System in Oakland County.
Great Start Collaborative-Oakland would like to recognize Lake Orion Community School District as our Winter 2009/2010 Children's Champion. Thank you for your efforts in leadership on the ECIC board, participation with Early Care and Education and Social Emotional Subcommittees, hosting Parent Coalition meetings and provider focus groups, speaking at the Galileo Institute and hosting/co-sponsoring our Annual Parent Conference. You are a model of community collaboration!
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Upcoming Great Start Meetings
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Click here to view the GSC-O Calendar online.
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Date
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Meeting
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Location
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Wednesday, January 6
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Social and Emotional Health Subcommittee Meeting
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CERC, Lake Orion
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Monday, January 11
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Community Engagement
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Oakland Schools, Waterford
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Tuesday, January 19
| Parent Coalition Meeting
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Oakland Family Services, Pontiac
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| Thursday, January 28 |
Parenting Leadership Subcommittee Meeting |
Carehouse, Pontiac |
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| Talking Points |
A message from our Chair, Connie Sidor, OLHSA:
"Fiscal year 2009 was a tough, busy one to be sure. The state budget tested all, but most especially young children and their families. That said, out of trial comes strength, and the good news is that we discovered that by working together passionately we can improve the lives of young learners and their families and therefore improve Michigan's economic and social future."
Below are some highlights of 2009 successes. The listing is by no means comprehensive, but it does provide the highlights of the year and demonstrates the hard work and commitment of the GSC-O and Parent Coalition members.
GSC-O Activities:
- 332 parents and 144 children attended one of two separate 2009 Great Parents Conference and Resource Fair (held on 4/18/09 and 5/02/09) resulting in increased awareness of early childhood development, parenting support and community resources.
- 80 parents attended Parent Coalition meetings and activities resulting in increased parenting knowledge of early childhood issues, as well as parenting leadership and advocacy skills.
- On 5/21/09, 38 community members participated in a Star Power Rally in Lansing, visiting with legislators to share the impact of early childhood services in our community.
- 140 community partners attended the Ruby Payne training, A Framework for Understanding Poverty on 5/29/09, resulting in a greater understanding of the impact of poverty on families with young children.
- In September 2009, 100 community partners participated in a professional development event, Attachment Relationships, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and Infant Mental Health Practice and 140 community partners participated in When the Bough Breaks: Understanding and Responding to Children with Trauma Experiences or Attachment Difficulties. These everts were held as part of the GSC-O professional development created with the input of our partners.
Success Stories:
- Increased Funding for Early Childhood Services and Supports:
- GSC-O secured a grant from United way for Southeastern Michigan for $1,350,000 ($450,000 per year for a three-year cycle). In the first year, grant funds support hospital newborn visits (112 families served); home visiting servcies (23 families served); child care quality improvement support (18 classrooms served); parent education and support for developmental delays (180 families served); and child care enhancement program services (45 families served).
- In 2008, GSC-O worked with community partners to secure a grant from Michigan Department of Community Health in the amount of $375,000 ($75,000 per year for a 5-year cycle). Grant funds support child care enhancement program services. Approximately 30 families will be served per year.
- Increased Access to and Coordination of Early Childhood Services and Supports:
- GSC-O began the Physician Outreach Project in the Summer of 2009. The goal of this project is to increase pediatricians awareness of GSC-O, community resources and developmental screening tools. Over 85 physicians have been contacted to date.
- In the Summer of 2009, GSC-O sponsored the Galileo Institute at Meadowbrook Hall with 80 participants representing 11 local school districts and a variety of roles with a focus on building an early childhood through 12th grade school system, including kindergarten transitions. Work with these school districts will continue through the new year.
The Great Start Collaborative would like to wish each of our community partners the best as we head into another challenging-and hopefully rewarding-fiscal year.
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Further Information
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- On December 15th, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) hosted the third annual Michigan Early Childhood Challenge. Statewide advocacy efforts were acknowledged and celebrated. Participants (both in Lansing and at videoconferencing sites across the state) were also reminded of the gravity of the political and fiscal year ahead.
- David Hollister (ECIC Executive Committee, President and CEO, Prima Vitas Foundation) rallied participants to demand that "Never Again" would the Michigan's budget be balanced on the backs of its young children and families. "Michigan's economic future hinges on the investments it makes now in its youngest children, and there has never been so much at stake." For more click here.
- Jane Zehnder-Merrell (Project Director, Kids Count-Michigan, Michigan League for Human Services) presented valuable data and statistics on the state of Michigan's youngest children (especially those in poverty). She also presented suggestions on how we can improve those outcomes through tax adjustments. To view her powerpoint and other charts/handouts, click here.
- Douglas Luciani (ECIC Executive Committee, Director, President & CEO, Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce) presented the Early Childhood Policy Agenda for 2011. The Policy Agenda includes:
- Create a single place within state government to coordinate early childhood programs and funding
- Position early childhood efforts, birth to 5, as among Michigan's top priorities in the minds of candidates, lawmakers and voters
- Establish a coordinated, interrelated Great Start system of programs, resources and services in at least two local Michigan communities
- Create an Early Childhood Alliance which speaks with "one voice" for early childhood
- Lose no ground in the 2011 state budget
- The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) officially unveiled the Great Start Child Care Quality Project on Tuesday, December 8th. For a summary of this project click here. For answers to frequently asked questions click here.
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| Upcoming Learning Opportunities |
Please review these announcements carefully to determine which ones best meet your needs. Programs, resources and services that follow are neither specifically recommended nor endorsed by Great Start Collaborative-Oakland.
- The Michigan Collaborative Early Childhood Conference (MECEC) will be held January 27-29, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn. For more information or to register click here.
- The 10th Annual Midwest Father's Conference will be held Saturday, January 30th at Oakland Schools in Waterford. For more information or to register click here.
- Michigan's Great Start Child Care Resource Center at CMU in conjunction with CMU's Child Development and Learning Lab and the Mt. Pleasant Association for the Education of Young Children is pleased to announce the one day Loving Guidance: Conscious Discipline Conference on Thursday, April 29th. For more information see attached document.
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Find Us On Facebook
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Find us on Facebook to get the latest advocacy updates and learn more about the Great Start Collaborative-Oakland.
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Lisa Sturges
Great Start Collaborative-Oakland
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