Parent Resources
Childcare
Resources
Great Start to Quality - helps families find the best early learning settings for their children and helps educators improve the care they give to children.
Information for Families - Most young children in Michigan are in licensed programs, for children ages 0-12, so it is important for these experiences to be the very best. Quality licensed programs, for children ages 0-12, help children learn, grow and develop. Click on the Great Start to Quality logo to search local licensed providers.
HWC
Handle With Care is based on three main components.
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Law Enforcement – If a law enforcement officer encounters a child that may have been exposed to violence or a traumatic event, the law enforcement officer will contact the designated school personnel by issuing a Handle With Care notice.
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School Districts - The designated school personnel will then ensure notification is provided to appropriate teaching and support staff. This provides the staff with a “Head Up” that if this child is not their usual self, falling asleep in class, not turning in last nights homework, etc… what supports can be put in place to help this child. Maybe its only keeping an eye on them, but maybe more interventions and supports are necessary.
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Mental Health - Should the school supports not be sufficient and additional outside supports are needed, through partnerships with local mental health providers additional services can be provided to the child and even their family at the school.
Talking is
Teaching
"Talk, Read, Sing" is a public awareness and action campaign that helps parents recognize their power to boost their children’s early brain and vocabulary development through simple, everyday actions - like describing things while walking outside, or singing songs together during bath time. Using books, videos, social media, and information from expert partners, "Talking is Teaching" empowers parents and caregivers with fun and easy ways to improve their babies learning.
Get in touch through their Facebook page, here.
Read Cycle
Read Cycle is a local parent lead literacy initiative.
The purpose of Read Cycle is to collect gently used books, clean them up, and recycle them strategically into the community. Read Cycle book bins can be found in numerous locations throughout Branch County that is kid friendly!
Schools
of Hope
Schools of Hope is a local reading buddy program designed to help children in the second grade achieve state required grade level reading. This is done by matching local volunteers with students needing a little extra help in the reading and language arts for 30 minutes per week. This is a local partnership between the Great Start Collaborative, Kiwanis Club of Coldwater, and the Branch County United Way.