Parent Coalition

Mother and baby play with bocks
Dad reading to baby
parents and two children family portrait

Our Mission

To educate and encourage pregnant and new parents as well as community members about the available resources and how to access them.

 

Our Vision

Sanilac County is a well rounded and knowledgeable community that has the resources available to support and nurture young children thereby strengthening families and the community.

The Great Start Parent Coalition is a group of dedicated parents who:

  • Help the Great Start Collaborative understand the desires and needs of parents in the community;
  • Provide public support/education/advocacy on the issues of early childhood in their community;
  • Offer feedback to be used to educate policy makers on the importance of investing in the first five years of life; are involved in community meetings, parent focus groups, and GSC workgroups;
  • Show the importance of parent involvement in the decision-making process for local programs;
  • Interact with other parents who share the same ideas and goals for their children.

The Coalition is a "grass roots" organization which represents the voice of the family, the child, and their community to the collaborative.

The Great Start Parent Coalition is a subset of the Great Start Collaborative Sanilac. This collaborative is the planning and decision-making body for Michigan's Great Start System at the local level. Michigan's Great Start System includes connecting parents to services that provide the following:

  • Basic Needs, Economic Security and Child Safety
  • Early Care and Education
  • Parent Education and Family Support
  • Physical Health Care
  • Social-Emotional Health Care

What's in it for you? Why should I join?

Parents who choose to give their time and share the vision of the parent coalition are given opportunities to expand their leadership and advocacy skills through professional development and peer-to-peer learning experiences.

Parents also have opportunities to build relationships with other parents of young children throughout Sanilac County while being involved in the decision-making process to improve the early childhood system.

Become Involved

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Parent Coalition you can choose to be as active as your life allows. We are all busy parents and the Parent Coalition has a few different ways to be involved. Choose one or more levels of involvement and see what fits you the best.

  • Level 1 - Stay in contact with the group by e-mail and web site participation.
  • Level 2 - Attend events and activities and share information in your community circles.
  • Level 3 - Attend meetings regularly and volunteer at parent coalition. Attend Great Start Collaborative events and activities.
  • Level 4 - Actively serve on both the Parent Coalition and the Great Start Collaborative
Child Care and mileage reimbursement is available.