Imagination Library Reading Train Volunteers Needed
The Imagination Library Reading Train needs local volunteers (individuals or organizations) to conduct reading sessions and literacy activities in Jackson County child care/preschool settings for the purpose of strengthening the early literacy skills of children enrolled. Fill out the Imagination Library Reading Train Volunteer Form to learn more.
Free Online Developmental Screening Now Available
Families with children between the ages of 2 months and 5 years residing in Jackson County can complete a FREE Ages and Stages developmental screening.
Click here to complete a free Ages & Stages Questionnaire on your child's development.
Click here to complete a free Ages & Stages Questionnaire on your child's social emotional development. Click here for Spanish.
If you have questions or would like more information about the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, please Contact Us.
Local Preschool Programs are Now Enrolling!
Head Start and Great Start Readiness Programs county-wide are currently enrolling eligible children for the
2012 - 2013 school year.
Not sure what type of program is right for your child? Check out the Jackson County Free Preschool Brochure.
Ready to start the application process? Visit our Preschool Partnership page to complete an intake form.
2012 KIDS COUNT Report - Michigan Lags Behind
Michigan has done a good job of extending health insurance to kids in a down economy, but it falls in the bottom half of the states in most other categories of child well-being in the 2012 KIDS COUNT rankings, released July 25 by the Baltimore-based Annie E. Casey Foundation. Read the story about the latest Kids Count report on the Great Start website. To read the full report click here.
Make your voice heard by sending social media messages or letters to the editor of your local newspapers and magazines. For sample letters, the Michigan League for Human Services has provided a few at this site.
Resources & Information
Life-Long Success
The early years of a child's life provide the physical and emotional framework that shapes individual potential. During the early years a child's development is rapid
and extensive.
Experiences in these years establish intelligence, behavioral patterns, and other personality traits that will persist throughout a lifetime.
These experiences take place in the context of family and community life molded by economic and social conditions.
The Great Start System recognizes that early childhood experiences are most profound in Five Key Areas:
Visit each of the component areas above to learn more about the local work of Jackson's Great Start Collaborative.
Helpful Links
