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School Days

Building Stronger Families Together: Our Community Partners

Oakland County’s Great Start Collaborative works to ensure every child is born healthy, develops on track, succeeds in school, and reads proficiently by third grade—aligning with Michigan’s shared early childhood goals.

Family Support: Providing resources to help parents navigate early childhood challenges.

Early Education: Supporting programs that offer safe, nurturing, and engaging learning experiences.

Community Strengthening: Building partnerships that improve access to essential services.

Capacity Building: Equipping professionals and communities with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to promote positive childhood experiences and strengthen protective factors for families.

What We Do:

Our Programs

We offer a range of initiatives designed to support early childhood success:

Our Programs -

Free Pre-School

Help Me Grow

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Family Coalition

Help Me Grow

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Home Visitation

Help Me Grow

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Childhood Development

Help Me Grow

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Our Commitees State 2

Our executive committee meets quarterly and includes diverse stakeholders (individuals or representing an organization) from Oakland County who contribute to addressing early childhood outcomes. We are striving to understand what services are needed in our communities, what currently is available and how we can support families in accessing services. This group helps to craft our strategic plan, guides our work through the plan, and is the decision-making body of the Great Start Collaborative-Oakland.

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Our Commitees

Our executive committee meets quarterly and includes diverse stakeholders (individuals or representing an organization) from Oakland County who contribute to addressing early childhood outcomes. We are striving to understand what services are needed in our communities, what currently is available and how we can support families in accessing services. This group helps to craft our strategic plan, guides our work through the plan, and is the decision-making body of the Great Start Collaborative-Oakland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find tools, guides, and support to help you navigate your child's early years.

I have to take parenting classes for the court or CPS. Do yours work?

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Contact your caseworker to see if a specific class meets requirements. Often, classes need to be in person to satisfy that. In Oakland County, there are two classes from the Friends of the Court.
https://www.oakgov.com/government/courts/friend-of-the-court/programs-services. Otherwise, classes from CARE https://www.careofsem.com/parenting-services/classes/ can be a great fit.

How much do home visits cost?

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Home visits are free.

How often do home visits happen?

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Depending on your needs and the home visiting program you're enrolled in, home visits can happen as often as every week or twice a month. Home visits usually last between 30 minutes to 1 hour, but may change depending on your needs. Your home visitor will work closely with you to schedule a home visit for a day and time that works well for you.

Who provides home visits?

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Home visitors have extensive training in helping families. Some may be nurses, some may be social workers, and some may be early childhood educators. Home visitors usually know a lot about the community and are aware of other services that may benefit your family.

Who can enroll in Home Visiting?

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Eligibility for home visiting depends on the program. Some programs begin as early as pregnancy, while others serve only first-time parents or families with infants under one year. Certain programs continue until your child is five years old. To find a program that fits your needs, contact us at 844-456-5437.

What is Home Visiting?

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A home visit is a planned meeting with a trained and supportive home visitor. A home visitor usually comes to your home but can meet you someplace that works for you. During a home visit, you can talk with your visitor about things that are going well and things you may be concerned about. Your home visitor will be helpful and supportive, provide information, and connect you to community resources.

What is the process for enrollment?

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Phase 1: Complete the online application in MiECC and upload the required documents (proof of income, address, and a copy of the child's birth certificate). Once a care coordinator verifies documents, they will send a referral to your preferred program.

Phase 2: The program will contact you with the next steps for enrollment and provide you with a start date.

What are the program requirements for becoming a GSRP program? Is it just a daycare?

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Each Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) picks a curriculum from the approved list... No matter which curriculum is chosen, teaching teams create fair and meaningful learning experiences using a child-centered, hands-on curriculum model. This approach is recommended for PreK and supported by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Is there a cost associated with GSRP? Do I make too much money? Why do you need to collect income documentation?

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There are no current income guidelines for GSRP. Income is used to determine when your child can enroll in a program. All age-eligible children can qualify for GSRP.

How do I know if my child is eligible for the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)?

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Children must turn four years old on or before September 1. However, a provision exists for families requesting early enrollment for children who will turn 4 after September 1, but on or before December 1.

What are your parenting classes?

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We host some parent workshops, and we would love to connect you with others in the community based on what would fit you. See our calendar or contact a care coordinator.

What is the Family Coalition? Can I join?

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The Family Coalition is a group of parents and caregivers working together to support early childhood programs and resources in the community. Yes! Any parent or caregiver with a child under 12 can join.

Still have questions?

Find tools, guides, and support to help you navigate your child's early years.

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Need Parenting Support?

Call or Text: 844.456.5437

Parenting can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you need advice, developmental screening, or resources like free preschool or childcare, we're here to help. Reach out today for guidance and support tailored to your needs.

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