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Great Start Collaborative

Hillsdale County - June 2026

Great StartCollaborative Hillsdale County - June 2026
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Please follow our website and Facebook page for updates, news, and tips.

Great Start Collaborative Funding Great Start Collaborative Funding

The Hillsdale County Intermediate School District (HCISD) has chosen to continue operations “business as usual” for the remainder of the school year. All current initiatives, programs, and events will continue as planned through June 30, 2027.

Family Fun Family Fun

30 Days of Summer Fun ideas for the Kids!

Ready to make these last days of summer count? I've got a fun printable 30-day countdown calendar full of Easy Ideas for Summer Fun with the Kids!

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Nature Cutting Bin for Preschoolers - Busy Toddler

Looking for a fun and FREE kids activity? Make a nature cutting bin from yard clippings. Let your kids practice scissor skills AND play.

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Fun and Easy Water Play Ideas

Kids love playing with water and it's a great learning experience. Try one of these simple, no fuss, super fun easy water play activities.

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16 Fun Sidewalk Chalk Activity Ideas

Sidewalk chalk is an inexpensive activity that gets kids outdoors and allows their creativity to flow! There are so many fun, active and educational sidewalk chalk activities, sometimes you just need an idea to get started. Keep reading for lots of ideas and instructions!

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Water Safety Water Safety

BUYING BATHING SUITS FOR LAKES / OPEN WATER?

Do you know what colors create the most visibility in this environment?

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Let's Stop Distracted Supervision

Let’s Talk About Distractions…

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Summer Reading at your Local Library! Summer Reading at your Local Library!

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Michigan's 2026 Summer Reading Programs are officially underway! The statewide theme for this year is "Unearth a Story," focusing on discovery, archaeology, and dinosaurs. Programs are free, open to all ages, and run from June through August, offering prizes, reading challenges, and community events.

For more information, visit your local library!


For a complete list of local libraries and their service areas, click here.

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

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Story Walk 2026 (1).pdf
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2.6 MB
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King's Kupboard King's Kupboard

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Click Here to Preregister for a Cookout Bag

1000 Books Before Kindergarten 1000 Books Before Kindergarten

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New locations recently added!

Sign up at any of the participating libraries to start your 1000 book journey!

Talking is Teaching Talking is Teaching

Research shows that talking, reading, and singing with your children regularly from birth helps build important language, math, and social-emotional skills, preparing them for success in school and beyond!

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Check out the Talking is Teaching website for additional resources.

Welcome Baby Home Visit! Welcome Baby Home Visit!

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Click Here to Register for a Welcome Baby Home Visit
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Welcome Baby Visits (Poster) (9).pdf
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7.2 MB

Developmental Milestones Developmental Milestones

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CDC’s Developmental Milestones

Is your baby’s or young child’s development on track for his or her age? Young

children grow so fast it can be hard to know what to expect. With the newly updated

FREE Milestone Tracker app from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), you can learn how children play, learn, speak, act, and move as they grow

and how you can support your child’s development.

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CDC’s FREE app for parents and care providers offers:

• Interactive milestone checklists in English and Spanish for children ages 2 months

through 5 years;

• The ability to adjust the checklist age if your child was born prematurely;

• Photos and videos that illustrate each milestone and make tracking them for your

child easy and fun;

• Your child’s milestone summary to share with others, like your child’s health care

provider;

• Tips and activities that can help your child’s development;

• Information on what to do if you have a concern about your child’s development;

• Reminders for appointments and developmental screening; and

• New milestone countdowns and custom user profiles

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/MilestoneTracker.

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CDC also offers an Information for Families section that includes some additional topics such as:

  • Free tools
  • Books for families
  • Resources to support developmental screeners
  • Helpful resources for parents
  • Resources to help promote your child development

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/index

Little Free Library Little Free Library

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Great Start Collaborative Family Coalition Little Free Library Initiative

Did you know that there are many Little Free Libraries in Hillsdale County... 18 of which we monitor.

The Great Start Collaborative Family Coalition members volunteer to help keep our Little Free Libraries stocked with children's books throughout the year.


For more information on Little Free Library please visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/

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Hillsdale County Resource Guide Hillsdale County Resource Guide

Hillsdale County Resource Guide

Check out this design designed by Wendy Playford.

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South Michigan Food Bank Mobile Markets South Michigan Food Bank Mobile Markets

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Mom Meet Up Mom Meet Up

When: Every Friday at 10am
Who: Moms and their little rascals
Where: Hillsdale First Baptist (across from the library)
What: A chance to spill coffee while chatting, and see who can stack the most toy blocks while making new mom friends

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Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center

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BHSJ Community Health Agency BHSJ Community Health Agency

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Click Here for The Nursing Nest (BHSJ) | Facebook
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For more information on "Lock it Up"

Lock It Up | Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency

Looking for a secure, lockable bag to keep your Marijuana or THC products out of reach from your child or teenager? Visit one of these locations to receive a free lockable bag.

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For more information on "Lock it Up"

Lock It Up | Branch Hillsdale St. Joseph Community Health Agency

Community Action Agency Community Action Agency

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MDHHS MDHHS

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Karen's House Karen's House

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Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness (CAPA) Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness (CAPA)

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Triple P Parenting Class - June Sessions | capahillsdale

Triple P Parenting Class - June Sessions | capahillsdale

3 Online Sessions | 1 Hour Each | FREE! Parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but Triple P can help! Join our Positive Parenting Program to strengthen your bond with your children, encourage positive behavior, and make parenting less stressful and more confident

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Triple P Parenting Class - June/July Sessions | capahillsdale

Triple P Parenting Class - June/July Sessions | capahillsdale

3 Online Sessions | 1 Hour Each | FREE! Parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but Triple P can help! Join our Positive Parenting Program to strengthen your bond with your children, encourage positive behavior, and make parenting less stressful and more confident

launch capahillsdale.net

Perennial Park Perennial Park

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MSU Extension MSU Extension

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

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Click here to register

Child Care Child Care

Looking for child care in Hillsdale County?


Great Start to Quality allows you to search for all licensed programs in Michigan. You can search in the ways that are most important to you, whether it is by area, cost, or specific needs.


https://greatstarttoquality.org/find-programs/

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Join Us! Join Us!

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The End The End

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Hillsdale Co. Great Start Collaborative
http://www.greatstarthillsdale.com/
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