CSCB Committees » Early Childhood Collaborative Workgroup

Mission

St. Clair County will have a coordinated system of community resources and supports to assist all our families in providing a great start for children from birth through age eight.

Vision

Every child in St. Clair County will have a great start in life. They will be safe, healthy, and eager to succeed in school and in life.

Early Childhood Outcomes (Outlined by the Governor)

1. Children born healthy;
2. Children healthy, thriving, and developmentally on track from birth to third grade
3. Children developmentally ready to succeed in school at the time of school entry
4. Children prepared to succeed in fourth grade and beyond by reading proficiently by the end of third grade

Workgroup Goals

• Early childhood services and programs reach and engage all families who need support, programming, and information.
• Improve maternal and child health outcomes through an active collaboration with WIC, the GSC, and GSPC.
• Increase access to high quality early care and education services that are of high quality.
• Children in St. Clair County have access to early literacy services that are of high quality.

2025 Collaborative Accomplishments

Community Baby Shower:

• The Community Baby Shower hosted 56 moms and their 34 guests. Parents received education on car seat safety, health and safety, safe sleep, Shaken Baby Syndrome, postpartum depression, nutrition, and child development. Parents also visited 27 vendors to learn about local programs and services.

Help Me Grow Collaborative:

• Help Me Grow, in collaboration with community partners, completed 4,692 Ages and Stages developmental screenings this year, helping families identify potential delays early and connect with the services and supports their children need. Of the 1,429 families connected to Help Me Grow, 1,279 received direct referrals to programs or services, and 70% resulted in successful enrollment.

Parent Education Workshops:

• The Great Start Family Coalition hosted four Parent Education Workshops, with 45 parents attending. The parents left with positive feedback and ideas for future training.

Talking is Teaching:

• The GSC distributed over 1,000 Talking is Teaching bags to partners and families to promote and support positive parent/child interactions and early literacy. Bags were distributed through community events, playgroups, preschool classrooms, WIC, MIHP, partners, and Talking is Teaching literacy spaces.
• The GSC created five new Talking is Teaching reading spaces to promote early literacy and encourage meaningful conversations between caregivers and children. They are located at All American Flames Gymnastix, the new St. Clair County WIC office, Early Childhood Court, Hunter Hospitality House’s Family Home, and the Port Huron Schools Early Childhood Center lobby.

Imagination Library:

• Imagination Library provides free books to registered children, from birth to age five, in St. Clair County. This year, 51,036 books were distributed.

Chairperson: Jennifer Gunderson