Great Start Family Coalition
Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition
Parents play a critical role in the healthy development of young children, ages 0-8. Great Start Shiawassee recognizes the expertise and value of parents. The Great Start Family Coalition supports efforts to engage, empower and recruit parent leaders.
Family Coalition Meetings
Join us at our next meeting to enjoy dinner and conversation with other parents. Fun learning activities for parents and children.
Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the Month from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Dinner is served at 5:30, discussion starts at 6pm. Tot watch is available. Meeting details are located on the Great Start event calendar. Location: 114 W. North Street, Owosso, Michigan.
RSVP to Family Coalition Meetings
Contact Us
To find out more information about the Great Start Shiawassee Family Coalition contact our
Great Start Family Liaison
Jennifer Babcock
989-725-2581
babcockj@sresd.org
Family Coalition Activities
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library - Children in Shiawassee County (ages 0-4) are eligible to receive an age-appropriate book in the mail each month. Family Coalition members assist in signing children up for the program. Families can register at https://imaginationlibrary.com
Bus Book Buckets - Bus rides can be long for young children so the Coalition provides buckets of books to various school bus routes. The Coalition provides the books, volunteers stop in regularly to refresh the selection.
Story Walks - Families looking to explore the outdoors with their children will enjoy the Story Walks. As they walk along the designated path they will find pages from a book, which they can read together. The walk at DeVries Nature Conservancy is a 1/8th of a mile or as far as your imagination can take you. The Story Walk at Camp Shiawassee is slightly longer but easily managed by young walkers. The stories shared on the Story Walks vary by season.
The Great Start Family Coalition also has mobile Story Walks available for use by non-profits and educational institutions. Learn more on our resource page.
Parenting Classes
The Great Start Family Coalition also offers parenting classes. The next class will be offered April 10 - May 8, 2025. The program, called Make Parenting a Pleasure, focuses on children aged 0-8.
Topics will include:
- Parents identify and discuss “Barriers” they may encounter
- Parents identify the values and goals they want for their child, as they “pack their child’s suitcase”
- Parents learn to support their children's emotional development through emotion coaching
- Parents learn to strengthen the parent-child relationship with “Positive Attention Through Play”
- Parents learn about current brain development information and the “Effect of Stress” on child development
Great Start Shiawassee at Work
These materials are funded through a grant provided by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.
Join Us! Great Start Shiawassee Event Calendar
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25 March
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Literacy Night - Great Start Family Coalition Meeting 5:30 PM to 7:00 PMLiteracy Night - Great Start Family Coalition MeetingDate: Tue Mar 25Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PMLocation: Early Childhood Learning Center, 114 W North St, Owosso, MI 48867, USACalendar: Great Start ShiawasseeJoin us at our next meeting to enjoy dinner and conversation with other parents. Meetings are held on the last Tuesdays of the month with dinner served at 5:30. Tot watch is provided.
Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/3X40vgo
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26 March
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Life with Preschoolers - Perry 5:30 PM to 7:30 PMLife with Preschoolers - PerryDate: Wed Mar 26Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PMLocation: Perry Elementary School, 401 N Watkins St, Perry, MI 48872, USACalendar: Great Start Shiawassee
A 4-Session Family Discussion Group
Free for Great Start Readiness Program Preschool Families
Discussions:
- Consistent routines
- Positive discipline
- Communication skills
- Connected relationships
- Handling stress and time challenges
- ...much more!
Register by calling 989-725-2581or visiting bit.ly/LifeWithPreschoolers
We are able to offer drop in supervised care for your children ages 2-12 in a classroom close to the class. Meals will also be provided to both children and adults.
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10 April
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Make Parenting A Pleasure Parenting Class 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMMake Parenting A Pleasure Parenting ClassDate: Thu Apr 10Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: Shiawassee RESD, 1025 N Shiawassee St, Corunna, MI 48817, USACalendar: Great Start Shiawassee
Thursday April 10th thru May 8th5:30-8pm.
Make Parenting a Pleasure (MPAP) is a training program that promotes family resilience by bringing parents together to share and normalize their parenting experiences, learn about typical early childhood development and parenting strategies, develop a support network, and learn about other community resources available to them.
Topics Include:- Self care
- Stress
- Anger management
- Communication skills
- Positive discipline
- Support emotional development
- ...much more!
Register at
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17 April
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Make Parenting A Pleasure Parenting Class 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMMake Parenting A Pleasure Parenting ClassDate: Thu Apr 17Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: Shiawassee RESD, 1025 N Shiawassee St, Corunna, MI 48817, USACalendar: Great Start Shiawassee
Thursday April 10th thru May 8th5:30-8pm.
Make Parenting a Pleasure (MPAP) is a training program that promotes family resilience by bringing parents together to share and normalize their parenting experiences, learn about typical early childhood development and parenting strategies, develop a support network, and learn about other community resources available to them.
Topics Include:- Self care
- Stress
- Anger management
- Communication skills
- Positive discipline
- Support emotional development
- ...much more!
Register at
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24 April
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Make Parenting A Pleasure Parenting Class 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMMake Parenting A Pleasure Parenting ClassDate: Thu Apr 24Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: Shiawassee RESD, 1025 N Shiawassee St, Corunna, MI 48817, USACalendar: Great Start Shiawassee
Thursday April 10th thru May 8th5:30-8pm.
Make Parenting a Pleasure (MPAP) is a training program that promotes family resilience by bringing parents together to share and normalize their parenting experiences, learn about typical early childhood development and parenting strategies, develop a support network, and learn about other community resources available to them.
Topics Include:- Self care
- Stress
- Anger management
- Communication skills
- Positive discipline
- Support emotional development
- ...much more!
Register at
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29 April
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Parent Cafe: Financial Support - Great Start Family Coalition Meeting 5:30 PM to 7:00 PMParent Cafe: Financial Support - Great Start Family Coalition MeetingDate: Tue Apr 29Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PMCalendar: Great Start ShiawasseeJoin us at our next meeting to enjoy dinner and conversation with other parents. Meetings are held on the last Tuesdays of the month with dinner served at 5:30. Tot watch is provided.
Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/3X40vgo
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1 May
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Make Parenting A Pleasure Parenting Class 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMMake Parenting A Pleasure Parenting ClassDate: Thu May 1Time: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: Shiawassee RESD, 1025 N Shiawassee St, Corunna, MI 48817, USACalendar: Great Start Shiawassee
Thursday April 10th thru May 8th5:30-8pm.
Make Parenting a Pleasure (MPAP) is a training program that promotes family resilience by bringing parents together to share and normalize their parenting experiences, learn about typical early childhood development and parenting strategies, develop a support network, and learn about other community resources available to them.
Topics Include:- Self care
- Stress
- Anger management
- Communication skills
- Positive discipline
- Support emotional development
- ...much more!
Register at
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