Young children and their caregivers are invited to a free street fair in downtown Grand Rapids

The Great Start Collaborative and Great Start Parent Coalition are teaming up with the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, Grand Rapids Public Library, PNC, and First Steps to throw a free community party for young children on Tuesday, May 8. Parents or other adult caregivers are encouraged to attend Star Power – a day-long celebration to show children that they are the “stars” of our community. read more…

Early Learning Communities expands to serve children and families in Northwest Grand Rapids

First Steps, Grand Rapids Public Schools, and the Great Start Collaborative are expanding their work to make sure that young children enter kindergarten ready for school success by opening a new Early Learning Communities hub in Harrison Park School.  A kick-off is planned for Tuesday, April 24, during the Week of the Young Child—an annual celebration that focuses public attention on the needs of young children and their families and recognizes quality programs that meet those needs. read more…

The Great Start Parent Coalition has collected more than 160,000 diapers over the last three years and is working to bring in another 75,000 this spring.  The Great Start Parent Coalition Diaper Drive provides a great opportunity to help meet one of the most basic needs of babies in our community. read more…

First Steps and the March of Dimes Michigan Chapter are teaming up to provide essential supplies to encourage safe sleep among newborn babies.  A $10,000 grant from the March of Dimes Michigan Chapter will provide cribs and sleep sacks to families of newborns.  read more…

The number of Kent County children living in poverty has increased every year of the last decade. At the same time, many of the support systems that children need to be healthy and successful in school are unraveling in the face of budget cuts and increasing needs. read more…

The Children’s Healthcare Access Program shows encouraging results; is being replicated across the state

An independent evaluation of an innovative approach to children’s healthcare in Kent County has found the program is succeeding in significantly reducing the number of expensive emergency room visits and hospital admissions while improving kids’ health. read more…

Grand Rapids Public Schools, First Steps and Great Start team up to get children and parents ready for kindergarten

Grand Rapids Public Schools, First Steps and the Great Start Collaborative of Kent County are launching a new program to ease the transition to kindergarten and prepare families for school success.  KinderCamp is a free, week-long program that introduces children and their parents to their elementary school and helps them adjust to the routines and expectations of kindergarten.  It is for children who will be in kindergarten during the 2011-2012 school year. read more…

$800,000 scholarship fund will provide quality early education for Kent County three year olds

Kent County has an exciting opportunity to improve the early learning experiences of young children so that they arrive at kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.  The Great Start Collaborative, in partnership with First Steps, the Heart of West Michigan United Way and Kent Regional 4C, is pleased to announce the new Great Start Early Childhood Scholarship Fund.  It will provide scholarships to vulnerable three year old children to attend a high quality child care center or preschool.  read more…

Welcome Home Baby provides free home visit; connects families to community resources

As the organization recognized for its work to integrate and coordinate Kent County’s system of care and education for early childhood, First Steps worked with its community partners to build a gateway for entry into that system.  By providing education and support to families in the earliest days of their baby’s life, this gateway then connects them to a system of resources to ensure that their child reaches kindergarten ready to be successful in school and life.

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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 than 70 Kent County parents and children with the Great Start Parent Coalition. read more…