Blog / News & Information

19Mar

Events/ Family Activities/ Family Coalition/ Low Cost / Free Family Fun/ Parent Coalition

2025 Spring Break Ideas for Livingston County Littles

Mar19, 2025 Events/ Family Activities/ Family Coalition/ Low Cost / Free Family Fun/ Parent Coalition

Sticking around Livingston County for spring break and need something to do? Below you will find ideas for each day to keep your child ages 0-8 busy all week long! If you are unable to get out, just remember that time at home simply...

19Mar

Community Impact & Volunteerism/ Community Partner

Honoring Service & Strengthening Our Community – Spirit of the Community Breakfast

Mar19, 2025 Community Impact & Volunteerism/ Community Partner

This morning, we joined fellow community members at the Livingston County United Way’s Spirit of the Community & Volunteer Recognition Breakfast—a celebration of dedication, service, and collective impact. Held at Crystal Gardens Banquet Center, the event brought together local leaders, volunteers, and organizations committed...

18Mar

Annual Parent Family Survey/ Family Coalition/ Parent Coalition

2025 Annual Parent & Family Survey

Mar18, 2025 Annual Parent Family Survey/ Family Coalition/ Parent Coalition

Our Annual Parent & Family Survey is now live! At Great Start Livingston, we believe that strong families create strong communities. That’s why we’re asking for your input! Our 2025 Parent & Family Survey is now open, and we want to hear from YOU. This short survey helps us...

18Mar

Community Events & Engagement/ Parent & Family Resources/ Perinatal & Maternal Health

Calling All Parents: Help Shape the Future of Perinatal Care in Livingston County!

Mar18, 2025 Community Events & Engagement/ Parent & Family Resources/ Perinatal & Maternal Health

Your voice matters! Are you a parent who has experienced pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care? Have you faced challenges or discovered amazing resources that made a difference in your journey? We want to hear from you! Join us for the Livingston County Perinatal Luncheon...

17Mar

Last week, Robin Schutz and Breanne Green proudly represented the Great Start Livingston Collaborative and Family Coalition at Early Childhood Capitol Day 2025 in Lansing! We were joined by Madeline Garcia, a dedicated mom from our Family Coalition, who came to advocate for her...

15Mar

Community events/ Community Impact & Volunteerism/ Events/ Family Coalition/ Livingston County Early Literacy Collaborative/ Low Cost / Free Family Fun

Family Fun Day 2025: A Celebration of Early Literacy and Community Joy

Mar15, 2025 Community events/ Community Impact & Volunteerism/ Events/ Family Coalition/ Livingston County Early Literacy Collaborative/ Low Cost / Free Family Fun

What a day! Family Fun Day 2025 was a vibrant, joyful celebration of early literacy—and our hearts are still full from all the smiles, songs, and storybook moments we shared together. 🌟 Thank you to the 570+ families who joined us on March 15,...

14Mar

Food/ Summer

Summer EBT is Back For Michigan SNAP Families

Mar14, 2025 Food/ Summer

Michigan Summer EBT is a program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer, and SUN Bucks is the new name for the Summer EBT grocery benefit. Eligible families will receive $120 per child to purchase groceries over the summer....

27Feb

MSU Extension/ Parent Education

Michigan State University Extension Child and Family Development March 2025 Offerings

Feb27, 2025 MSU Extension/ Parent Education

MSU Extension has a wide range of free online classes for parents and caregivers of children of all ages and early childhood professionals. See below for March offerings! Please reach out to your local Extension office or find a Child and Family Development team...

25Feb

Disability/ Parent Resources

Resources for the ASL and Deaf Community

Feb25, 2025 Disability/ Parent Resources

The following resources help serve the American Sign Language and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. Thank you to Early On for providing us with this fantastic list! Michigan Hands and Voices Website: https://www.mihandsandvoices.org/gbys My Deaf Child Website: https://www.mydeafchild.org Sign It! ASL This website:...

15Feb

Awards/ Child Abuse Prevention

Award Nominations Sought for 2025 Champions for Children in Livingston County

Feb15, 2025 Awards/ Child Abuse Prevention

LACASA Center’s CAP (Child Abuse Prevention) Council and Great Start Livingston are asking Livingston County residents to consider who are Champions for Children in our community. Nominees may be people whose support for children and families is evident in the work they do, or, in the...

28Jan

CPR/ First Aid

Saving Lives First Aid & CPR Upcoming Classes for Families and Providers

Jan28, 2025 CPR/ First Aid

Saving Lives First Aid & CPR offers many classes for HeartSaver Pediatric Total, which includes First Aid, CPR and AED in Pinckney. Upcoming Dates (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.): Location: Christian House of Prayer, 9949 McGregor Rd., Pinckney Cost: $75 per person. Cost includes:...

27Jan

MSU Extension/ Parent Education

Michigan State University Extension Child and Family Development February 2025 Offerings

Jan27, 2025 MSU Extension/ Parent Education

MSU Extension has a wide range of free online classes for parents and caregivers of children of all ages and early childhood professionals. See below for February offerings! Please reach out to your local Extension office or find a Child and Family Development team...

24Jan

Child Care/ Guest Post/ Preschool

Childcare and Preschool: Finding The Right Fit For Your Child

Jan24, 2025 Child Care/ Guest Post/ Preschool

By: Liz Fuss, Family Support Specialist, Child Care Network I have talked with many parents and families who are looking for child care or preschool for their child. Often, it is the first time they have done this search and have a lot of...

15Jan

Education/ Family Coalition/ Kdg Readiness/ Parent Coalition/ Parent Resources/ School/ School Readiness Campaign

2025-2026 Kindergarten Registration for Livingston County

Jan15, 2025 Education/ Family Coalition/ Kdg Readiness/ Parent Coalition/ Parent Resources/ School/ School Readiness Campaign

Starting school is an important time in a child’s life and children’s readiness for school is important to us here at Great Start Livingston! Kindergarten registration in Livingston County is held between January and April, depending on your school district. Registering early allows the...

9Jan

Community Partner/ Education/ Food/ Guest Post/ Health/ MSU Extension/ Parent Education/ Resources

MSU Extension’s free online program brings nutrition education to the public

Jan9, 2025 Community Partner/ Education/ Food/ Guest Post/ Health/ MSU Extension/ Parent Education/ Resources

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/msu-extension-launches-online-nutrition-program Amy Shovels, Michigan State University Extension – November 11, 2024 Updated from an original article written by Erin Powell. My Way to Wellness provides guidance for better nutrition, food safety, and active living through a free online program. My Way to Wellness is a free online nutrition...

9Jan

Community Partner/ Guest Post/ MDHHS/ Safety

Extreme Cold and Carbon Monoxide

Jan9, 2025 Community Partner/ Guest Post/ MDHHS/ Safety

Bundle Up! Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. Extreme cold, heavy rain, snow and ice, and heat waves can impact health. Of course, you are doing everything you can to keep your loved ones warm, so keep safety in mind...