Kalamazoo Great Start Collaborative

The Kalamazoo County Great Start Collaborative (GSC) is a partnership of local organizations and parents who are working to improve our early childhood system for every family in the community.
Our Vision
A Great Start for every child in Kalamazoo County: safe, healthy and successful in school and life.​
Our Mission
The purpose of the Great Start Collaborative is to ensure a coordinated system of community resources and family supports in Kalamazoo County.
We focus on the strengths of each family by building upon their Protective Factors:
Parental Resilience: Show your inner strengths.
Social Connections: Make a friend.
Concrete Supports: Ask for help.
Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development: Learn to be your child’s expert.
Social and Emotional Competence of Children: Give your child tools and words to express how she feels.

Offering trainings to staff at local agencies.

Hosting meetings between local entities in order to better share resources.

Inviting parents into the decision-making conversations.

Asking parents what they need and want.

Working with organizations and people to implement changes that will help families.

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We focus on issues facing families, beginning with preconception through the age of 8. This work includes: encouraging families to pursue quality preschool, partnering with local businesses to support nursing moms, building a trauma-responsive community, teaching young parents about attachment and brain development, and more.