{"id":191,"date":"2015-07-24T00:34:16","date_gmt":"2015-07-24T05:34:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/?page_id=191"},"modified":"2026-04-14T18:54:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T23:54:41","slug":"great-parents-great-start","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/?page_id=191","title":{"rendered":"Great Parents, Great Start Playgroup Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">October 15, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dear Community Partners &amp; Families,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are writing to share that the <\/span><b>Great Start Collaborative of Menominee County<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has officially concluded its operations and will no longer continue its work or services as of November 4th. This is the result of an unexpected cut to Collaborative funding in the State of Michigan budget called \u201cEarly Childhood Block Grant\/ 32P\u201d, which eliminated support for these efforts without warning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since its inception, the <\/span><b>Great Start Collaborative (GSC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been dedicated to ensuring that all children in Menominee County have a safe, healthy, and successful start in life for nearly two decades. Through data-driven initiatives and strong community partnerships, the Collaborative has utilized the Five Protective Factors: Social and Emotional Competence of Children, Knowledge of Parenting and Parent Development, Social Connections, Parental Resilience, and Concrete Support in times of Need to complete the work. The GSC work focused on the Michigan state-led directives:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h4><b>All children are born healthy.<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GSC supported healthy beginnings through prenatal and early childhood initiatives. As the local grantee for <\/span><b>Children\u2019s Trust Michigan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we lead efforts including safe sleep education, distribution of sleep sacks for all newborns in Menominee County, and <\/span><b>Pack \u2018n Play<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> donations for families in need. We hosted <\/span><b>Community Baby Showers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to connect new parents with local resources and advocate for improved <\/span><b>Substance Use Disorder (SUD)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> treatment options for pregnant mothers. Additionally, GSC has helped strengthen communication between local hospitals and pediatricians, bridging key gaps across state lines.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h4><b>Children are healthy, thriving, and developmentally on track from birth to third grade. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To support children\u2019s development, GSC created a <\/span><b>Kids Cash Incentive Program<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that rewards positive and healthy experiences with printed coupons redeemable at local stores, restaurants, and businesses. This was made possible thanks to community partners at 15 distribution and 22 redemption sites located throughout Menominee County. We provided education on developmental milestones and connected families with pediatricians or the ISD when concerns arose. Our initiatives also included:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Funding more than 140 convertible <\/span><b>free car seats<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for families in need. With an additional 200+ booster seats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating a <\/span><b>baby food pantry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> integrated with three existing food pantry sites.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Participating in the <\/span><b>Help Me Grow<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pilot program to enhance outreach and one-on-one family support with Build Up Michigan.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hosting <\/span><b>Family Coalition meetings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as safe spaces for parents to discuss community needs and help them advocate for their children.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hosted numerous playgroups &amp; Talking is Teaching themed playgroup packet pick-up over the winter months<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many years, we offered home-visiting parent support<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offering <\/span><b>ACEs and HOPE<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> presentations and screenings of the film <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resilience<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to raise awareness about early trauma and healing.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h4><b>Children are developmentally ready to succeed in school at Kindergarten entry. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We prepared children for school by providing pediatricians with the <\/span><b>Ages &amp; Stages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> developmental screening tool and maintaining a <\/span><b>Kindergarten Readiness Workgroup, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">including representatives from all school districts in Menominee County, as well as four additional community partners and parents. GSC also offered parent education series, both in-person and online, and supported <\/span><b>Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> classrooms across the county. To improve family access to information, we established <\/span><b>Welcome Centers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in ten community locations, featuring resource boards and flyers for families. Additionally, the GSC offered numerous educational opportunities and resources to local daycares, collaborating closely with Great Start to Quality.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h4><b>Children are proficient readers by the end of third grade. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through the <\/span><b>Early Literacy Council<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, GSC united two previously separate library systems in Menominee County to strengthen early literacy efforts. Together, we hosted <\/span><b>Reading Adventure Nights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other family events highlighting the <\/span><b>Top 10 Early Literacy Essentials<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, held at local libraries and community sites such as the <\/span><b>Abundant Life Homeless Shelter<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since 2008, this council has sustained the <\/span><b>Dolly Parton Imagination Library<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, mailing <\/span><b>97,778 books<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to children in Menominee County. As of October, <\/span><b>620 children\u2014half of all children ages 0\u20135 in the county\u2014are enrolled<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Additional literacy efforts include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delivering <\/span><b>70+ book bins<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to local waiting rooms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining two<\/span><b> Children\u2019s Little Free Libraries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating and maintaining two <\/span><b>Book Walks. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One at Henes Park in Menominee and the other at Erickson Park in Stephenson.\u00a0 Another one has also been purchased for northern Menominee County.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distributing books at every community event the GSC attended.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bookin\u2019 Menominee County, hiding books at frequently visited areas throughout the county for children to find.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leading the <\/span><b>1,000 Books Before Kindergarten<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> program in Menominee County.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distributing thousands of <\/span><b>Talking is Teaching<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> materials and parent education at all GSC events with the message that the more you talk, read, and sing with your child, the stronger their vocabulary, literacy skills, and bond with family will be.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are incredibly proud of the work accomplished over the years and deeply grateful for the commitment of our community partners, families, and stakeholders. However, due to changes in funding and organizational priorities, <\/span><b>none of the services, events, or programming previously coordinated by the Collaborative will continue at this time.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The website (www.greatstartmenomineecounty.org) will also be taken offline in the near future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the Collaborative\u2019s work has come to an end, we know that the importance of early childhood development remains. We encourage those who can continue supporting families and young children in whatever ways possible through your respective roles and organizations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you for your support, collaboration, and shared commitment to our community\u2019s youngest learners. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Menominee County ISD Superintendent Steve Martin directly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are interested in advocating for future funding for the Great Start Collaborative within our county and across the state, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to our elected officials directly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Representative Dave Prestin, <\/span><a href=\"mailto:DavePrestin@house.mi.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DavePrestin@house.mi.gov<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senator Ed McBroom, <\/span><a href=\"mailto:senemcbroom@senate.mi.gov\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">senemcbroom@senate.mi.gov<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sincerely,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sarah Hanson, Jennifer MacDonald, and Katie Sannes<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>\u201cGoodbyes make you think. They make you realize what you\u2019ve had, what you\u2019ve lost, and what you\u2019ve taken for granted.\u201d -Ritu Ghatourey<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you to all the following organizations, funders, and volunteers.\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t have done this work without any of you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Parent Members, Greater M&amp;M YMCA, Great Start to Quality, North Central Area Public Schools, Carney-Nadeau Area Schools, Stephenson Area Public Schools, Menominee Area Public Schools, Northpointe Behavioral Services, CASA of Marinette &amp; Menominee County, Public Health Delta &amp; Menominee County, Head Start at MDS CAA, Menominee County Juvenile Probation, Tri-City United Way, Department of Health and Human Services, Menominee County Library, Spies Public Library, City of Stephenson, City of Menominee, Aurora Medical Center- Bay Area, Emplify Health, Marinette Menomine Community Foundation, Upper Great Lakes Community Health, WIC, Provident Health, St. Vincent de Paul, Hannahville Indian Community, Healthy Youth Coalition, Communities That Care Coalition, Early On, Birth to Three, Bay Area Pregnancy Services, Mid-County Ministerial Food Pantry, ISD Early Literacy Coaches, and Menominee Fire Department.\u00a0 Please forgive us if anyone was missed in this list! We appreciate every one of you!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>October 15, 2025 Dear Community Partners &amp; Families, We are writing to share that the Great Start Collaborative of Menominee County has officially concluded its operations and will no longer continue its work or services as of November 4th. This is the result of an unexpected cut to Collaborative funding in the State of Michigan [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":true,"two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-191","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9GD8E-35","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=191"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1805,"href":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/191\/revisions\/1805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.GREATSTARTMENOMINEECOUNTY.ORG\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}