Articles

Celebrating 14 Remarkable Child Care Entrepreneurs

This spring, our community gathered to celebrate something truly special: the graduation of 14 dedicated in-home child care business owners who have …

2026 Funding Opportunities

First Steps Kent is pleased to offer funding opportunities, organized into four service categories that reflect the essential supports children and …

Play and Learn Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ready by Five Play and Learn Right for My Family? If you’re wondering whether a playgroup is a good fit, you’re not alone. Many families aren’t …

Families at the Center of Early Literacy

First Steps Kent heard through parents and partners that families of children with developmental differences - specifically those with autism, …

First Steps Kent is searching for a Consultant/Facilitator for Early…

The Power of Early Literacy at Forefront in Kent County and Michigan

For our youngest children, early literacy is crucial because it builds the brain's foundation for language, reading, and writing. It sets the stage …

Power of Early Intervention and Support

For more than a decade, Kent County has been committed to ensuring every child can enter kindergarten healthy, supported, and ready to learn. Through …

The Power of Early: Why Kent County Must Keep Leading for Our Young…

Every big success starts small. For children and families, those small beginnings are supported by strong systems of care and education that help …

First Steps Kent Hosts Press Conference on New Bipartisan Legislation…

First Steps Kent hosted a press conference at our Grand Rapids office today where we were proud to partner in coordinating a major announcement by …

Parent Voice Toolkit

We’re excited to introduce you to the Our Stories Matter Parent Voice Campaign Toolkit. The purpose of this campaign is to help First Steps Kent and …

Deciding How Ready by Five Funds Are Spent: The Resident Proposal…

Deciding how the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funding is spent is no small task. Supported by Kent County taxpayers, it is critical that …

Bio of Kent County Commissioner Katie DeBoer

Bio of Kent County Commissioner Katie DeBoer

Bio of Kent County Commissioner Kris Pachla

Morning Matters with KC Commissioners Kris Pachla

Kent County Invests $8.9 Million in Early Childhood Programs

Fall 2025 Funding Announcement

Morning Matters: Conversation with Rep. Stephen Wooden

Morning Matters: Conversation with Rep. Stephen Wooden

Morning Matters: Conversation with Rep. Carol Glanville

Morning Matters: Conversation with Rep. Carol Glanville

Morning Matters: Conversation with Local Commissioners

Morning Matters: Conversation with Local Commissioners

Morning Matters: Conversation with Local Commissioners

Morning Matters: Conversation with Local Commissioners

Morning Matters!

Parent Timesheets

Here are the parent time sheets!

Thank you

As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the many individuals and organizations who make this work possible. Thank you to our …

Financials

Revenue and Support Total Revenue, Support, and Net Assests= $12,965,156 Expenses Total= $11,930,968

Advocating for Kent County's Littlest Voices

In 2024, First Steps Kent leaned more intentionally into the policy space to protect and sustain the progress made for young children and families. …

Finding Her Voice

Over the last year, the Mainspring Early Care Alliance continued to grow as a powerful, provider-led network of support, connection, and advocacy for …

Mainspring Early Care Alliance

2024 marked the official launch of the Mainspring Early Care Alliance—a first-of-its-kind, provider-led initiative supporting in-home child care …

Parent Leadership at the Center

At First Steps Kent, we believe the people most impacted by decisions should be part of making them. That’s why parent leadership is a cornerstone of …

Ready by Five

PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT builds the knowledge and skills of parents and caregivers to support their children’s health, development, and learning. …

Ready by Five

Programs and services funded by the Ready by Five millage fall into four categories: Outreach and Navigation, Healthy Development, Parent Education …

Kent County Renews Its Commitment to Early Childhood

A resounding “YES” means young children in Kent County will continue to get the start they need to be ready for success when they walk through the …

Readiness Starts Before Kindergarten

Nervous and excited 5-year-olds – wearing backpacks that cover half their bodies – walk into a whole new world on their first day of kindergarten. …

2024 Impact

Here we go again! The community reinforced its support of our youngest children in 2024, renewing the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage that was …

Zaentz Fellowship Announcement

The work to center local voices—especially those of parents—in early childhood systems is getting a boost from Stanford University. First Steps Kent …

2025 Funding Opportunities

First Steps Kent is pleased to offer eight funding opportunities for the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage. Details and requirements for each …

Healthy Development

Healthy Development programming supports parents and caregivers in obtaining the knowledge and skills to support their child’s health, development, …

Parenting Education Programs

Child Safety, Home Visiting, and Translation and Interpretation.

Outreach and Navigation

Outreach aims to increase the usage of early childhood programs and community resources by engaging future parents and families with young children …

Early Learning Programs

High-quality early learning experiences help children develop their thinking, social, and emotional skills. These programs include play and learn …

Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage Pre-Proposal Conference

We will hold two Pre-Proposal Conferences to provide information about the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage proposal process. Both sessions will …

Immigration Resources for Families and Partners

For providers serving immigrant families in Kent County, here are local organizations, programs, and services that can help you and your families …

Ready by Five is Seeking Community Volunteers

Ready by Five is Seeking an Community Volunteers to serve on the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage’s Resident Proposal Review Board.

Commitment to serving all Kent County children

First Steps Kent is committed to ensuring all families have access to high-quality early childhood education, programs, and services. Our purpose is …

First Steps Kent Celebrates Team Promotions

First Steps Kent announced the promotion of three exceptional team members who have consistently demonstrated their dedication to advancing early …

First Steps Kent Seeking Parent Leaders

First Steps Kent is dedicated to involving parents with young children in shaping programs and initiatives that ensure resources are invested wisely …

Before and After Comparisons

Here are several examples of how to incorporate this guidance in your messaging to help illustrate some of the subtle but important edits.

Equity and Inclusion Messaging Guide

This guide is designed to help ensure that Ready by Five messaging is inclusive, culturally responsive, and representative of the diverse communities …

2024 Wrapped Up

As 2024 comes to a close and we prepare for the opportunities ahead in 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable progress we have …

Ready by Five Funding

Discover the impact of Ready by Five Millage as it funds essential programs for expecting parents and children up to age five in Kent County.

Champions for Kids 2024 Luncheon

Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation publishes a “Kids Count Data Book,” which evaluates the 50 states based on categories such as Economic …

Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage renewed for another six years

Kent Counter voters approved millage by more than 20,000 votes

Community Voices

The collaboration between First Steps Kent and the RAPID EC Survey Project, hosted by the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, serves as a prime …

More about Mainspring

First Steps Kent is helping to address the business challenges of child care through the Mainspring Early Care Alliance. Building on the Shared …

Elevating Child Care

Stabilizing and ultimately growing the pool of qualified early educators is key to addressing the shortage of child care in Kent County. Child care …

Play and Learns

As a new parent, ensuring your baby is hitting developmental milestones can be intimidating. Taniah started taking her one-year-old daughter to Play …

Home Visiting

Home Visiting programs match expectant parents or new parents with a trained early childhood or maternal infant professional. Home visits are tailored …

Outreach and Navigation

Not knowing what’s available or where to look for help is what often keeps families from getting the support they need. Outreach and Navigation …

Evaluating Ready by Five

The community deserves to know its investment in young children and families is paying off. An independent comprehensive evaluation - conducted by two …

Ready by Five in 2023

With the completion of the first “term” of the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage just months away, the early childhood landscape in Kent County …

2023 Impact

What does it take for all our kids to succeed in school and in life? It begins will babies being born healthy and families having the skills and …

Millage Recipient Profile - Healthy Homes Coalition

The Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan, born from the successful Get the Lead Out! campaign, focuses on prioritizing children's health and …

Millage Recipient Profile - Arbor Circle

Arbor Circle's mission goes beyond conventional approaches, with more than 50 programs and services, it is one of the region's most comprehensive …

Millage Recipient Profile - Kent ISD

Kent ISD is at the forefront of early childhood education, supporting thousands of families and educators across the region.

2024-25 Funding Opportunities

Millage Recipient Profile - Hispanic Center of Western Michigan

The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, located in the heart of Roosevelt Park, the largest Latino neighborhood in Grand Rapids, serves over 30,000 …

Millage Recipient Profile - MomsBloom

When a new baby comes, parents often find themselves overwhelmed and in need of help – and don’t have enough supportive people in their lives. …

Millage Recipient Profile - Grand Rapids Community College

Play and Learn GRCC is a vibrant community-driven initiative dedicated to enhancing the early learning experiences of young children by empowering …

March Into Reading Month

March celebrates reading month! First Steps Kent and Great Start Collaborative highlight the essential role of reading right from the earliest stages …

Awilda’s Pathway to the ECE Profession

My early childhood education journey began in Chicago, Illinois when I was 3 to 4 years old. I attended the Head Start program at the local YMCA while …

First Steps Kent releases report: “Today’s Investment in Tomorrow: The…

A new report from First Steps Kent reframes the conventional question "Are kids ready for kindergarten?" to ask a more encompassing question: "Is the …

8 ways to celebrate MLK Day with young children

6 ways to celebrate MLK Day with young children

2024 Funding Opportunity – Niche Family Supports Child and Family…

First Steps Kent is pleased to offer one funding opportunity for the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage. The Request for Proposal (RFP) document …

The Power of Recognizing and Using Accurate Early Childhood Education…

Healthy development in the early years provides the building blocks for educational achievement, economic productivity, responsible citizenship, …

Societal Benefits and Return on Investment of Early Childhood…

In 2022, more than 12,000 children and expectant parents in Kent County participated in quality early childhood services that would not have been …

Young children receive services to help with early learning and…

Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage awards $11 million to 34 services

What Parents Are Saying

There is a portion of the RAPID EC survey that asks parents open-ended questions about their challenges, concerns, what's helping them right now, and …

Family Child Care Network Grantee Announcement

Training for Early Childhood Professionals

The Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage supports more than 30 programs aimed at improving the health and well-being of expectant parents and the …

2023 Resident Proposal Review Board

Deciding how the Ready by Five Early Childhood millage funding is spent is no small task. Supported by Kent County taxpayers, it is important …

2023 Resident Proposal Review Board

Deciding how the Ready by Five Early Childhood millage funding is spent is no small task. Supported by Kent County taxpayers, it is important …

Prioritizing Parents through the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage

Parents are a child's first and most important teachers. They play a crucial role in their child's early development. They are the ones who provide …

2022 Ready by Five Millage Service Highlights

A quick highlight and explanation of Play and Learns, infant mortality, home visiting, outreach and navigation, child safety, and lead identification …

About the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage

The time between a mother becoming pregnant and the child entering kindergarten is critical for brain development and social and emotional learning. …

Developing Mainspring Early Care Alliance

In-home child care providers in Kent County are getting back-end support to maintain their businesses, helping to stabilize the industry. A three-year …

Advocating for Care and Early Education

The importance of quality early education on a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development is well documented. However, accessing quality …

Parent Voice Matters

The early childhood system in Kent County is constantly evolving, influenced by new research, reporting, and funding sources. However, the most …

2022 Impact

The experiences and early learning opportunities of infants and toddlers greatly impact their later development and success. Brains are built from the …

Ready by Five Telehealth Policy

Ready by Five Telehealth Policy

How Lead Awareness Helped This Family

Libby, a caring and responsible mother of three children had concerns about her children being exposed to lead poisoning. She heard about Healthy …

Connecting as Father and Son

Michael, a 50 year-old father, self-referred for Early Childhood Attachment services for himself and his toddler son, Aaron. Michael gained primary …

Survey Says

There is a portion of the RAPID EC survey that asks parents open-ended questions about their challenges, concerns, what's helping them right now, and …

Q&As for Required Ready by Five Trainings

Q: Who should attend trainings? A: All direct professional staff and supervisors funded by the Ready by Five Millage at .5 FTE or higher.

RAPID Data Briefings

After each survey, First Steps Kent recieves a presentation from Stanford University

RAPID-Kent County Surveys 1 and 2

RAPID partners with cities, counties, and states to gather essential and ongoing information and caregiver voices, provide timely and relevant data to …

About the Ready by Five Quality and Improvement Consortium (QIC)…

Professional Development through "Equity Talks"

Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative (ELNC) and First Steps Kent, two leaders in early childhood education, have partnered to help advance …

Kent County children benefit from Early Childhood Millage

More families in Kent County are able to receive services that improve the health and school readiness of young children thanks to a new round of …

Resident Proposal Review Board

Deciding how the Ready by Five Early Childhood millage funding is spent is no small task. Supported by Kent County taxpayers, it is important …

Support for Child Care Providers will Improve Access to Care for Kent…

(Grand Rapids, Mich., June 23, 2022)—First Steps Kent received a $750,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to move from pilot to implementation …

Kent County Fiscal Year Changes

In 2023, Kent County will be moving to a new fiscal calendar October - September. Fiscal year 2023 will begin on January 1, 2023, and end on September …

2023 Funding Opportunities

First Steps Kent is pleased to offer five funding opportunities this summer for the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage. Additional specifications …

Local Collaboration Lowers Risk of Lead Poisoning Among Children

The air young children breathe, the home where they spend most of their time, and the yard where they play may all contain a danger that can damage …

800 Kent County Families Receive Learning Kits

Eight hundred three-and-four-year-old children in Kent County received educational kits filled with activities on Tuesday, May 10, in hopes of better …

The Lopez Family

A young woman, Kendall, was having pain. She went to the hospital where they told her she was in active labor. Kendall did not know she was pregnant. …

The Power of Inclusion and Play

Phyllis is currently the primary caregiver of her granddaughter, Cecilia. The four-year-old comes from a diverse family where both parents identify …

Strength-Based Support for Parents and Children

Toby is a four-year-old boy who lives at home with his mother and father. He was referred to Infant Toddler Developmental Services through Arbor …

Getting Support through Homelessness

Serena had three children – an eight-year-old and seven-month-old twins. She came into an appointment with Family Promise seeking shelter. She had …

Annemarie Announcement

As a valued partner in our community’s early childhood work, we are sharing with you the news that Annemarie Valdez has decided to step down as …

Translation and Interpretation Extends Reach of Millage Services

More than 12 percent of families that live in Kent County speak a language other than English at home – a rate that continues to increase. While …

Parent Involvement

Joslyn Ward participated in several home visiting programs for her two young sons over the years. She loved having someone nearby who was relatable …

Opening New Doors

“No wrong door” has been a mantra of the early childhood system in Kent County for decades. Regardless of where families turn for help – which door …

Meeting Families Where They Are

The Ready by Five Early Childhood millage successfully provides dedicated and stable funding for programs that improve the health, school readiness, …

Shared Services: Child Care Collaboration

First Steps Kent and our partners are once again looking to the future to build back-end support to help child care providers sustain and grow their …

Public Policy Update

One silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it prompted policy changes that benefit young children and their families. This is particularly …

2021 Impact

First Steps Kent's collective impact work focuses on three areas that will ensure every child in Kent County is healthy and ready for kindergarten. …

Strong Beginnings Connects Families with Support

Communities of color in Kent County have disproportionately experienced high rates of infant mortality and low birthweight. Strong Beginnings, a …

Home Visiting with Vibrant Futures

“Let them lead the way when we play,” was the takeaway from one parent who recently participated in the Little Scholars, Home Visiting program funded …

MomsBloom grows to meet parents' needs

New parents always face a variety of challenges, and COVID-19 has made it even more difficult to receive the support they need. Despite the obstacles …

Kent County Children Benefit from Early Learning Investments

Kent County Children Benefit from Early Learning Investments | Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage awards $9 million to 28 programs

More Families Now Eligible for Free or Low-Cost Child Care

The little things you do for your child in their early years make a big difference. For many families finding quality, affordable child care is a key …

Announcing Child Care Stabilization Grant

Mark your calendar! The Michigan Department of Education is pleased to announce that the application for the Child Care Stabilization Grant will open …

"Our Changing Families" A Conversation Guide

"Our Changing Families" A Conversation Guide, to go along with the Equity Talks video.

"How Identity is Formed" Conversation Guide

Child Care and the Benefits for our Kids

It all comes down to a feeling. As a parent, you can tell at drop-off or pick-up if your child is being loved and growing in their environment. …

Normal was Never Enough

When will things finally be normal again? It’s a question just about everyone is asking, and understandably so. At a deeper level, though, there is a …

Responding to Infant Mortality in Kent County

The rate of fetal and infant (defined as before a child’s first birthday) death is recognized by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, among …

Discovering How We are Alike and Different from Others

Our friends at WGVU helped us find some additional resources to use in our homes or classrooms to talk about how we are alike and different from …

Discovering How We are Alike and Different from Others

Our friends at WGVU helped us find some additional resources to use in our homes or classrooms to help start conversations about different types of …

Strong Beginnings

A community partnership dedicated to improving the health and well-being of African American and Latino families during pregnancy and early childhood.

Bright Beginnings

Bright Beginnings is a Blue-Ribbon Model Affiliate of the Parents as Teachers program which promotes the early development, learning, and health of …

Meet the Ali Family

Farah and her husband, Yousef had just welcomed their third child into their family at a local hospital. Farah was referred to Health Net of West …

Child Care and the Working Family

(September 12, 2021) Child care has always been a never-ending battle for families because of availability and cost. There are not enough available …

Early Education as a Profession

Preschool children at the Grand Rapids Early Discovery Center were interested in bugs; not just different types of bugs but also bug habitats. As …

What it takes to be a child care provider

Being a child care provider and/or owning a child care business takes a lot of work, but is so valuable to our families and communities. There are …

Early Childhood Attachment

Early Childhood Attachment

Parents, advocates and business groups: Legislature must approve $1.4B…

Delaying investment in Michigan’s child care hurts workforce, economic development

Child Care and the Case for the Economy

Having spent time working in both the workforce development sector and child care system over the past ten years, one theme that I’ve seen play out …

First Steps Kent Launches Equity Talks

Are they really old enough to understand? Are we putting ideas in their heads? Aren’t they naturally colorblind? Those are a few common questions …

Supporting Parents and Child Care Providers

Simon is a 4-year-old boy who lives with his mother. Simon was at risk for expulsion from his child care center. He was being sent home daily and, in …

New Baby - New Challenges

The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan supports expectant mothers and parents with young children by providing them with opportunities to access …

Welcome to our Kent County Community

Recently, Maya and Javier Rivera moved with their three children from out of state to the Grand Rapids area. Upon arriving in Michigan, the family was …

Ready by Five Translation and Intepretation Success

Beginning in 2021, Translation and Interpretation is a new service category for the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage. By ensuring that services …

Celebrate Week of the Young Child

Join us as we “Step it Up” during the 50th Anniversary of the Week of the Young Child, April 10-16, 2021. We will recognize and honor early childhood …

Kent County Health Department Home Health Lead Screenings

Young children are the most at risk for lead poisoning. Even at low levels, lead can affect a child’s brain development, causing developmental delays, …

Millage Recipient Profile - Bethany Christian Services

First Steps Kent welcomes Bethany Christian Services to the Ready by Five Provider Network. Bethany receives millage funding for two of its services.

Ready by Five Evaluation

The Ready by Five Millage invests in programs that promote to what has been identified as four “contributing indicators” of kindergarten success, …

Translation and Interpretation

All programs funded by Ready by Five now have access to Translation and Interpretation Services and the cost will be covered by Ready by Five Millage …

Arbor Circle’s KEEP Making a Difference

Simon*, a four-year-old, has seen things we hope children never have to. He has a history of trauma due to witnessing domestic violence by his father …

Expanded Early Childhood Services will Help More Young Kids in Kent…

Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage awards $2.6 million to 12 community programs

Annemarie Valdez named a top 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in…

We are pleased to announce that our First Steps Kent President, Annemarie Valdez, has been acknowledged as one of the top 200 Most Powerful Business …

Equity and Inclusion

Kent County families have spent much of 2020 changing their course of action amid new uncertainties and realities. The stress is not only connected to …

Birth Equity

The health of a baby at birth can have a lasting impact on his or her development, learning, and behavior, ultimately impacting success in school and …

School Readiness

Within Kent County, the usage of data will foster an early childhood network that learns from and makes data-informed decisions. First Steps Kent's …

Talking to Kids about Race

Talking to kids about race can be a scary thing. Many of us were taught that we should not “see color” or talk about race because it makes some people …

3-Year-Old Pilot Preschool

Kent County has been funded to conduct a three-year research project to determine the benefits of having an additional year of preschool for early …

First Steps Kent Commission Meetings

Backpacks for Kindergartners

With so much uncertainty in children’s lives right now, parents want to make sure they are set up for the best possible start to school. Whether they …

Brain-Building Activities

Your little one’s mind is hard at work. You can see it every time your baby reacts to your smile. Every time your toddler plays catch with you or …

Take a Listen: Parents, You Got This.

Parents, it’s important to know that you were made to be your child’s first and most important teacher. Don’t let that scare you, your child was born …

Meaningful Collaborations Make a Real Difference

Ryann is a mother of three who recently found herself in a housing crisis. With two children under years old and nowhere to go she was at one of the …

Connecting with a Teenage Mother

K.K., who is 16 years old, is pregnant with her first child. She lives with her mom, sibling, and her boyfriend. She was referred to Strong Beginnings …

Meet Paula and Avery

Paula was a new mother who had recently given birth to her daughter Avery and was referred to Health Net of West Michigan for an appointment reminder …

How to Talk to Your Kids about Racism

It is important that young children see the adults in their lives promoting positive change. First Steps Kent has compiled a list of resources to …

Play and Learn Groups Get Creative

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we focused on the need to meet parents and families where they were. This happened quickly with online …

You Got This.

The last few months have upended many – if not most – of our routines. That is especially true for parents, who suddenly had to balance the closure of …

Millage Recipient Profile - Comprehensive Therapy Center

Comprehensive Therapy Center (CTC) is dedicated to meeting the therapeutic and educational needs of individuals with disabilities, fostering skill …

Millage Recipient Profile - Cherry Health

Cherry Health is an independent, non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with a primary focus of providing high-quality health services to …

Equity and Inclusion Impact Statement

First Steps does and has always felt the anguish of injustice for people of color. That is why we intently focus on creating lasting change staring …

Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage Privacy Notice

This First Steps Kent Privacy Practice describes how personal information about you and your child may be used and disclosed by programs funded by the …

Millage Recipient Profile - D.A. Blodgett - St. John's

“The attachment and bond of a child to a caregiver is crucial as it sets the tone for so many aspects of that child’s life – social, emotional, …

Free early childhood 'Play and Learn’ groups increasing for parents,…

Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) plans to expand its early childhood “Play and Learn” groups to help parents and caregivers get preschoolers …

Program receives funding for three parent educators to serve areas of…

Bright Beginnings, a program which serves children from birth to kindergarten with home visits, play groups and free screenings, is the recipient of …

Tax-funded early childhood programs to begin, expand March 2020

New and expanded programs to promote the healthy development of children up to age 5 and connect their parents with resources will begin in …

Linking early literacy and health: Lakeshore healthcare collaborative…

Reach Out and Read is a nonprofit that champions the positive effects of reading daily and engaging in other language-rich activities with young …

Ready by Five Programs Find a Way

The COVID-19 crisis brought much of Michigan to a halt at the same time organizations across Kent County were ramping up their services for families …

Birth Equity in Kent County

The health of a baby at birth can have a lasting impact on his or her development, learning, and behavior, ultimately impacting success in school and …

Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage awards $7.6 million to 23…

Thousands of kent county families will benefit from increased early childhood programming.

Annemarie Valdez honored among 50 Most Influential Women in West…

Annemarie Valdez honored among 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan for 2020

Millage Recipient Profile - Family Futures

Family Futures of Grand Rapids is part of the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage outreach and navigation network.

How Head Start Made a Difference in Annemarie Valdez's Future

Head Start for Kent County interviewed First Steps Kent President & CEO, Annemarie Valdez, on her experiences with Head Start as a child in inner-city …

What Every Resident Should Know about the Ready By Five Early…

What is the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage?

Annemarie Valdez named one of the Top 200 Most Powerful Business…

We’re excited to share that our President & CEO, Annemarie Valdez, has been recognized as one of the Top 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West …

Millage Recipient Profile - Family Promise

Family Promise of Grand Rapids is part of the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage outreach and navigation network.

Four Local Organizations to Receive First Round of Millage Funding

Ready By Five Early Childhood Millage Will Help Connect Thousands Of Kent County Families To Critical Services

Resident Proposal Review Board

Deciding how the Ready by Five Early Childhood millage funding is spent is no small task...

Pilot Program to Provide Business Support to Child Care Providers

First Steps Kent received a $750,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to...

Kent County First in Michigan for Early Childhood Funding

When the Ready by Five Early Childhood proposal was passed in November 2018...

Boosting Literacy in Kent County

One in six children who does not read proficiently in third grade does not graduate from high school on time – a rate four times greater than that for …