Power of Partnerships: Parent Voices and System Building in Livingston County
Power of Partnerships: From Ideas to Action
We were honored to participate in the Human Services Collaborative Body (HSCB) Annual Meeting, where this year’s theme—Power of Partnerships: From Ideas to Action—came to life through connection, reflection, and parent voice.
This meeting brought together community partners, agencies, leaders, and families to celebrate progress from the past year and strengthen collaboration moving forward.
Partnerships in action—sharing impact and coordination across Livingston County.
The Great Start Livingston & Help Me Grow team with Parent Leaders. Together, we are building aligned, family-centered systems that support all families in Livingston County.
Reflecting on a Year of Impact
The morning brought together partners across sectors to reflect on progress made over the past year and the importance of coordination over duplication. When organizations collaborate instead of operating in silos, families experience a stronger, more responsive system.
Parent Voices at the Center
One of the most meaningful moments of the morning was hearing from three parents from our Great Start Family Coalition—Hayley Province, Lisa Makuri, and Kathryn Tuck—each in a different stage of their parenting journey.
They shared how isolation turned into connection. They shared how learning about developmental milestones and positive discipline gave them a new perspective and practical tools. They shared how Help Me Grow helped them understand where to turn when concerns came up—and how follow-up and navigation made the difference.
When parents are at the table, partnerships become stronger and solutions become more impactful.
Families are strongest when they have protective factors: social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete support in times of need, and resilience. Parenting was never meant to be done alone.
Parent voices shaping our future—real experiences, real impact.
Family Coalition parent leaders: Hayley Province, Lisa Makuri, and Kathryn Tuck.
Power of Partnerships
We were grateful to have many community partners and leaders in attendance, including Senator Lana Theis, Representative Ann Bollin, and Representative Jennifer Conlin.
When families, service providers, and policymakers unite across sectors, we move from ideas to action—and that’s where real change begins.
