Great Start Family Coalition

Who We Are

Working hand-in-hand with the GSC members, The Great Start Family Coalition (GSFC) consists of parents and caregivers of children under 12. The GSFC is dedicated to informing and shaping early childhood initiatives, and helping families raise children who are supported and prioritized. Every coalition meeting encourages parents to share stories, participate in workshops, and advocate for assistance at the community, county, and state level.

If you’re a caregiver, we urge you to join our cause. Take action. Speak up. And discover how influential you can be today.

What We Do

  • Equip parents to be leaders in their families and our community.
  • Partner with providers to offer professional development, as many meetings qualify for Tier II Professional Development hours.
  • Serve as a sounding board to parent representatives and deliver the parent perspective to organizations and agencies within the GSC.
  • Engage with the community, coordinate and participate in outreach activities, public will-building, and advocacy at both the local and state level.

Come to a Coalition Meeting

Join us the second Thursday of every month for a fun filled night. We provide dinner and childcare starting at 5:45pm. Our meetings end at 8pm. Every month, we discuss various topics that come along with parenting children in our community today. Join us at the First CRC 651 Franklin St. Grand Rapids, MI 49507. You can RSVP by email to gsparents@successstartsearly.org or call us at (616) 632-1007.

Directions to First CRC Church >

Sorry, there are no meetings to show at this time.

Parent Cafés and Support Stations

Our Parent Cafés focus on The Strengthening Families 5 Protective Factors:

  • Resilience
  • Relationships
  • Knowledge
  • Support
  • Communication

Cafés are offered as both Parent Cafés (for moms and couples), as well as Parent Cafés for Dads (for fathers and father-figures).

Interested in Hosting?

Sorry, there are no meetings to show at this time.

GREAT START COLLABORATIVE KENT COUNTY

Funding from the Office of Great Start within the Michigan Department of Education supports the implementation of Great Start.