Hello Great Start Livingston community!Here’s what’s happening this week for families, caregivers, and early childhood partners across Livingston County. Read the weekly update here: https://conta.cc/3YIQJAB Great Start Collaborative Meeting📅 Wednesday, May 28 | 🕘 9:00–11:45 AMCome learn about the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive...
Summer is just about here, and with it comes endless opportunities to play, explore, and grow! The 2025 Kindergarten Summer Activity Calendar is your go-to guide for keeping little learners engaged all summer long while getting ready for the exciting journey into kindergarten. Each...
Infant/ MDHHS
Michigan Blood Lead Testing Rules Finalized; Physicians Now Required To Order Testing For Children At Ages 12 Months and 24 Months
LANSING, Mich. – To help prevent and address lead poisoning of Michigan children as soon as possible, laws requiring physicians provide blood lead testing to all young children in Michigan are now in effect. In October 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills into...
Collaborative Updates/ Community events/ Community Partner/ Early Childhood Education/ Events/ Family Engagement/ HOPE/ Parent & Family Resources
H.O.P.E. in Action: Join the May 2025 Great Start Collaborative Meeting
The May 2025 Great Start Collaborative (GSC) meeting is your chance to come together with fellow Livingston County partners, parents, and providers to explore the HOPE Framework—Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences and build a stronger, more connected community for our youngest residents. 📅 Date:...
Community Impact & Volunteerism/ School
✏️🌟 Teacher Appreciation Week: Livingston County, We See You!
May 6–10, 2025 | Teacher Appreciation Month: All of May At Great Start Livingston, we know teachers do far more than teach, they love, inspire, encourage, and advocate. Whether you’re in a K-12 classroom, a preschool, a therapy room, or visiting families at home:...
Collaborative Updates/ Community events/ Community Partner/ Events/ Playdates
You’re Invited: Partner with Us at Great Start Livingston Summer Playdates!
Summer is almost here, and that means it’s time for sunshine, storytime, and sweet connections! ☀️ Great Start Livingston is excited to host another season of free community playdates for families with young children (ages 0–8) in Livingston County. These playdates provide a relaxed,...
Community events/ Family Coalition/ Fundraisers/ Parent Coalition
Building Community Over Coffee – Biggby Fundraiser Recap
On Friday, April 11, Great Start Livingston brewed up more than just coffee at Biggby Coffee in Howell. We built relationships, shared resources, and strengthened community connections for families of young children across Livingston County. Our Family Liaisons, Breanne and Lauren, were at Biggby...
Health/ Outdoor Activities/ Safety
Ditch the Hitchhikers: Keep Your Family Safe from Ticks and Mosquitoes This Spring
Spring has sprung in Livingston County—and while we welcome the sunshine and warmer weather, it also means ticks and mosquitoes are back. These little hitchhikers can do more than just cause itchy bites. Some carry diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile Virus, and...
Child Care
Making Child Care Affordable: How Michigan’s Tri-Share Program Supports Families and Employers
Finding affordable child care is a top concern for families across Livingston County and all of Michigan. The Michigan Tri-Share Child Care Program is a groundbreaking solution that offers real relief by splitting the cost of child care equally among three parties: the employee,...
Advocacy/ Family Engagement/ Grandparents/ Kinship Care
Kinship Care Dome Day 2025: Elevating the Voices of Relative Caregivers
Are you a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or family friend raising someone else’s child? You are not alone and your voice matters. Join Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Lansing for Michigan Kinship Care Dome Day, a powerful day of recognition, advocacy, and...
Disability/ Early Childhood Education/ Education/ Parent Education/ Preschool
Preschool with an IEP: Navigating Services, Supports, and Inclusion
Preschool with an IEP: With Kelsey Biswanger 📅 Wednesday, May 14, 2025🕛 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM📍 Online – Free Registration Required🔗 Register here Is your child heading off to preschool with an IEP? Whether your family is transitioning from Early On or just...
Diapers/ Parent & Family Resources/ Parent Resources/ Resources
Free Emergency Diaper Support Available for Livingston County Families with UnitedHealthcare Medicaid
Get Emergency Diapers Mailed to Your Home – At No Cost Families raising young children know how quickly essentials like diapers can run out, and how expensive they can be. If you’re a Livingston County parent or caregiver enrolled in UnitedHealthcare Community Plan –...
Events/ Family Coalition/ Low Cost / Free Family Fun/ Parent Coalition
Family Fun on a Budget: May Family Coalition Meeting Recap
🎉 What Happens When You Bring Families Together to Share Real-Life Ideas? You get a room full of laughter, creativity, and the kind of connection that makes our community stronger. Our May 2025 Family Coalition Meeting focused on Family Fun on a Budget—a night...
Community events/ Community Partner/ Family Coalition/ Family Engagement/ Literacy/ Low Cost / Free Family Fun/ Newsletters
Make the Most of May with Great Start Livingston!
Make the Most of May with Great Start Livingston! Read our FULL MAY 2025 NEWSLETTER here: https://conta.cc/3EJa7GS Livingston County families, this month is bursting with opportunities to learn, play, and grow together—without spending a dime. Whether you’re looking for creative ways to connect with...
Family Coalition/ Low Cost / Free Family Fun/ Parent Coalition/ Play/ Playdates
🌞 Free Summer Playdates for Families with Young Children – Great Start Livingston 2025
Looking for screen-free summer fun that supports your child’s development and connects you with other local families? You’re in the right place! Great Start Livingston is hosting five FREE Summer Playdates for families with children ages 0–8 and you’re invited. Each event includes playful...
