Welcom to Great Start of Ottawa County
The Great Start Collaborative-Ottawa is a partnership of local stakeholders and parents who are committed to establishing and maintaining a comprehensive early childhood system that will address all factors that influence a child’s readiness for school and life. The Collaborative’s core responsibilities include:

  • Engaging parents, schools, businesses, faith based organizations and other stakeholders in the planning, implementation and coordination of services to support the healthy development of children ages 0-5 and their families.
  • Promoting community awareness of early childhood issues.
  • Advocating for quality early childhood programs and services.

In The News!

Join the Great Start Team!  Employment Opportunity

Are you an Ottawa County parent who wants to make a difference in the lives of young children? Great Start is seeking a part-time Parent Liaison for a leadership role in the community to: recruit and engage parents to advocate for children ages 0-5 and their families, coordinate meetings and activities, mentor/educate parent leaders, and help develop community action plans. Qualifications: be  parenting a child under 12; have  internet, phone and own transportation; possess excellent verbal, written and technological communication skills;  be willing to travel both in and out of county; and have a flexible schedule.  Bi-lingual/bi-cultural skills are a plus.  Click Here for Job Description

Send resumes to:
Pathways, MI
412 Century Lane
Holland, MI  49423
Attention: Joyce Bos


Budget Negotiations Resume!

The Youngest Victims a new report by Michigan’s Children that addresses why young children are so vulnerable during a fiscal crisis, when needs rise and revenues fall.
The Early Childhood Budget Status is a new report by Michigan’s Children that addresses why young children are so vulnerable during a fiscal crisis, when needs rise and revenues fall.

Time To Register For Preschool???

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION!!!

Get Out to Vote!

Need information about how to register? If you are registered, where is your polling place? Are you a non-profit and want non-partisan voter engagement resources? Click here to go to The Michigan Participation Project!

Calling 2-1-1 can put you in touch with thousands of health and human services near the Lakeshore. The service is free and available to all Ottawa & Muskegon County residents. Call 2-1-1 is available 24/7 along with interpreter services. Click here to find out more.

NEED A RIDE???

View all Ottawa County transportation providers at one convenient NEW website! Work, School, Medical Trips, Intercity Transportation, ADA Accessible Transportation! Click here...
Lakeshore Ride Link

ARE YOU PROVIDING CHILDCARE FOR A RELATIVE, NEIGHBOR OR A FRIEND?

Are you receiving child care subsidy from DHS? Are you wondering how to increase your knowledge about child development while increasing your income? Great Start C.A.R.E. helps you meet the new DHS optional training requirements while giving you the chance to get important information about: child development, literacy, and fun activities to engage the children you are caring for!!! For more information about activity sessions contact: Kathy Peppin at 1-877-702-8600 x4646 or kpeppin@oaisd.org.  For information about the monthly in-home program call: Lindsay Dean at 616-842-7273.


  • Join the Great Start Collaborative or work group to help explore plans for a comprehensive early childhood system. more
  • Participate in Ottawa County Great Start outreach events. more
  • Become involved in the Parent Coalition more
  • Be an advocate for the importance of early childhood by working with Great Start. more
  • STAY INFORMED!!!

The Guide to Data in Your Back Yard

The Michigan League for Human Services was created an online tool that will help quickly locate a wealth of local information. It can be used by nonprofit organizations writing grant requests, research papers or reports to board members. It's also a great help for concerned citizens who are writing to their representatives or crafting letters to the editor, blogs or viewpoints.  The Guide to Data in Your Back Yard compiles, in one spot, county-level information that includes poverty rates, Kids Count rankings, social assistance caseloads, unemployment and the latest basic demographic information.

Kids Count Data Center

Access hundreds hundreds of measures of child well-being at the Kids Count Data Center.


facebook

Follow us on Facebook

  Twitter

Follow us on Twitter

  Newsletter

Sign up for local newsletters

Early Childhood Investment Corportation
Great Start Parent Coalition - Ottawa

 

  ECIC4Kids
ParentsUnitedGS
  Great Starts Here Monthly News