I would like to thank those of you that were able to commit your in-person time on February 26th, to support the future of our Great Start Collaborative. If you were unable to join us, that's OK, I look forward to catching up with you at our March 26th meeting. Right now, I ask you to commit 15 minutes of your time to read this newsletter and learn more about your Great Start Collaborative. Think about how we can connect and make our collaboration more intentional and meaningful for the benefit of the children in our community.

Let's set up a time to meet. Meetings are available virtually, or I'd love to come out for a visit.

Book time with Wiskur, Catrina: Great Start Collaborative

Best Regards,

Catrina

The Strategic Plan is quite a lengthy document. I have prepared a few alternatives for a quick briefing on what you would find in the Strategic Plan. The following Google Drive Folder, links to the Strategic Plan, an AI created FAQ, Briefing Document, and Podcast. Please know since the Podcast was AI created, we are not soliciting donations, and W-I-C, is actually, WIC.

Please contact Catrina to learn more and how to get involved: (810) 591-5137 or cwiskur@geneseeisd.org.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1chmcwexEEK-agn99sEdlxIemvmdfYlcr?usp=sharing

You are an important part of helping us carry out our mission! Here are a number of ways you can help:

• Attend a Great Start Collaborative meeting.
• Join an Action Team.
• Attend any of our events.
• Help spread the word.
• Invite us to speak at your organization about how we best support families.
• Can't commit to a meeting? Reach out, we can find another way of collaborating.

Call or email today to find out more about how you or your organization can join the Great Start Collaborative. I look forward to connecting: (810) 591-5137, cwiskur@geneseeisd.org or complete the following link to join our next meeting, join our list serve, or just to have a conversation to learn more.

https://forms.gle/JzapgEh5CZ4v28FT8.

Great Start - Genesee currently has five Actions Teams to move the work of the Collaborative and Strategic Plan forward. Each Action Team is a commitment of 1 hour a month. Your time beyond that, is your time and commitment to give. The five Action Teams include: School Readiness, Literacy Birth - 3rd Grade, the Local Leadership Group (home visiting), Pre-Natal (*New), and Talking is Teaching (*New). To learn more, please follow the link to indicate your interest. Catrina will reach out for a conversation.

https://forms.gle/LMrq8WBcpexoudTZ8

The GSC Family Coalition leads our efforts to put books in the hands of children and literacy tips in the hands of parents. Little libraries and book nooks have been placed with partners across the county. We do get requests from partners for children's books to distribute at events or maybe even our presence at an event. We do participate and/or provide books when we can, however we are unable to fill all requests based on program intent and capacity. If you have a request, please complete the Google Form and your request will be reviewed with a prompt response.

https://forms.gle/axEtKmJcKruBdZcZ9

Parent Cafés allow parents and caregivers a chance to connect over the common struggles they face with a series of conversation starters, learning from one another and building strengths. Feeling heard, sharing ideas and strategies, and learning from others can help parents deal with common challenges in life.

This is not a parenting class, instead it is an adult only opportunity to share your experiences, learn from others and recharge.

Please share this information with families you connect with and serve. Free and open to all parents and caregivers in Genesee County.

Great Start to Quality is Michigan’s quality and improvement system, which sets the quality standards and evaluates the quality of early care and education programs. Great Start to Quality also shares information about licensed childcare programs with families and helps families select the right program for their needs. Please share information about Great Start to Quality with colleagues, employees, and the community.

Want to become a Childcare Provider or a GSRP Preschool Provider? Our Great Start to Quality Resource Center can help with that too!

https://greatstarttoquality.org/

591-KIDS can assist in locating a Head Start or Great Start Readiness Preschool Program (GSRP) for any child in Genesee County. 591-KIDS specialists will assist in identifying programs a child may qualify for based on age and income. Look at the document below to learn next steps and where programs are located.

The Whole Child Framework encompasses the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model providing a broad framework for addressing both the learning and health needs of students in an integrated approach.

GISD supports the Michigan Department of Education’s definition of the Whole Child: a unique learner comprised of interacting dimensions, such as cognitive, physical, behavioral, social, and emotional. The whole child lives within multiple and interconnected environments including home, school, and community.

The five tenets of the Whole Child Framework identify that each student will be:

• Healthy: Provide education and resources to support and encourage a healthy life.
• Safe: Have access to an environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and adults.
• Engaged: Actively involved in learning and experience a connection to the school and broader community.
• Supported: Have access to qualified caring adults that address each students individual needs.
• Challenged: Is challenged academically and prepared for success as an adult, regardless of career path.

Learn more by visiting this link Whole Child Framework - Genesee Intermediate School District or visiting the Smore GISD Whole Child Update Newsletter link below.

The intent of this newsletter is to inform you of everything related to the Great Start Collaborative. This will include meeting and Action Team updates, events, projects and collaborations in addition to sharing resources and information. If there is something you would like to see, please contact Catrina at 810-591-5137 or cwiskur@geneseeisd.org.