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Many children in northern Michigan face difficult journeys every day, encountering real life obstacles. A network of heroic early childhood services and programs work diligently throughout our region to provide the support they need in an environment of declining financial support and escalating need.

The statistics are staggering:

• Michigan ranks #30 (out of 50 states) in terms of the ten rankings that comprise the overall condition of children (including infant mortality at #40; percent of children living in families where no parent has no full-time, year round employment at #44; percent of children in poverty at #32; percent of children in single parent households at #23; low birthrate at #24, child death rate at #15; and teen birth rate at #14.) (Kids Count Report, 2010)
• Michigan has gone from #28 in the nation in 2000 to #30 in 2008 in this overall ranking (Kids Count Report, 2010)
• The unemployment rates in Charlevoix (12.8%), Emmet (12.6%) and northern Antrim (14%) Counties are among the highest in the nation and continue to climb with the need outpacing human services’ providers abilities to provide support. (U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• Each year the incidences of childhood obesity increase
• More children than ever arrive at kindergarten without preparation or early childhood development programs; greatly hindering their ability to be succeed academically.

By joining together into a collaborative initiative, the Great Start Char Em, early childhood services and programs leverage precious resources, services, skills and talents into a powerful force that is more strongly positioned to serve children and families in our region. It’s truly an example of 1 + 1 = 3 by pooling resources to generate the most benefit for the children who need support.

Our mission is clear and important…

The Great Start Collaborative of Charlevoix, Emmet, and N. Antrim Counties will promote and develop a comprehensive system of support, education, and wellness for 0-5 age children and their families. Inclusive in the system are the unique concerns of our community, specific data and outcomes that will drive activities and resources of the collaborative effort. The results of these efforts are strength in human and economic assets for our community now and in the future

Our vision is vital to healthy families, communities and to our region…

Our vision is that every child born in Charlevoix, Emmet and N. Antrim Counties has a Great Start growing and developing in communities that promote safe and healthy learning environments for children and families.

How you can help…

Children and families in our region have unmet needs for essential services and programs. The severe economic climate has stretched our collaborative members to the limit and they are unable to address many important needs.

-          Increase funding for specific programs and services

-          Increase support for “kindergarten readiness”; we must address the gap in services for 4 to 5 year olds

-          Address new challenges: fitness, economic hardships

-          Assist in covering a large, geographic service area

-          Provide funding for ideas/ initiatives that aren’t covered in the current budget

Help make the journey a success for children in our communities.

When you donate to Great Start you donate to a larger team of 30 plus agencies with common missions and all supporting children aged 0 to 5 years old and their families.

A donation today of $100 will help provide a child care scholarship to a child in need.

You are critical to our ongoing work. Please join us in our work today.

Call us at 877-866-3714 or