Local parent wins statewide advocacy award from Early Childhood Investment Corporation

More than 4,000 parents, children and advocates are expected at the Capitol Thursday, May 19, to thank state lawmakers for their ongoing support of early childhood programs and to remind them how important those investments are to local communities.  Among them will be more [...]

First Steps, Grand Rapids Public Schools, and the Great Start Collaborative are teaming up to make sure that young children enter kindergarten ready to be successful in school.  They’ve launched a new program called Early Learning Communities, funded in large part by recent grants from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation and PNC Grow Up Great.

New report emphasizes the need to strengthen all systems that support children
A commitment to education must recognize that learning begins at birth and does not happen in a vacuum.  More and more children in Kent County and around the state are living in or near poverty.  At the same time, many of the support systems [...]

ReImagine Early Years supports early partnership among First Steps, Grand Rapids Public Schools, and the Great Start Collaborative
The Grand Rapids Public Schools received a $100,000 grant from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation as part of a project called ReImagine Early Years.  The money is being used to strengthen the early learning experiences of young children [...]

Grant helps expand “Family, Friends and Neighbor Care” project for preschoolers and care providers
The PNC Foundation announced today a $300,000, three-year grant to First Steps to enhance literacy education, language development and child care quality for Grand Rapids’ preschoolers in preparation for their first years of elementary school.

Great Start Parent Coalition of Kent County Hosts Legislative Candidate Forum
The development of a highly skilled work force is a top priority for policymakers in Michigan as they seek to rebuild the state’s economy.  The early education, health and general wellbeing of our community’s youngest children are critical to our state’s future prosperity.  The Great [...]

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Renews Support of First Steps
First Steps today announced that the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is making a significant investment in Kent County’s youngest children.  The Battle Creek-based foundation is committing $1.3 million over the next three years to two programs that support the health and development of children across the community:  the Children’s [...]

Nationally-known columnist and political analyst David Brooks says supporting quality early childhood programs is the “biggest and best thing” elected officials can do.
“The investment return on early childhood is higher than the return on any other investment in human capital development that we can make,” Brooks told a sold-out crowd of [...]

Kent County Community Providing Support to Meet the Growing Needs of Young Children
The economic problems of the last decade are taking a toll on young children across Michigan and in Kent County.  Child poverty has increased 40 percent over the last 10 years.  In Kent County, more than 20% of children age 5 and younger [...]

The Children’s Healthcare Access Program Shows Encouraging Results; Receives Awards for Collaboration
Grand Rapids, Mich.—As the nation debates healthcare reform, a community partnership in Kent County is ensuring more children have access to quality healthcare by shifting resources to focus on prevention and early intervention.