A $22,500 grant received by the Great Start Collaborative of Charlevoix, Emmet and northern Antrim counties will support new and ongoing initiatives that bring literacy into the lives of area families with children.  The grant was awarded to the collaborative from the Birth to Five Literacy Support Network Hub, said Savanah Cool, Great Start Collaborative […]

Ground-level work being done by the Great Start Collaborative & Parent Coalition of Charlevoix, Emmet, and Northern Antrim Counties to reach and support families and young children continues to thrive thanks to funding support from the Frey Foundation. In 2020, the foundation granted Char-Em ISD with a three-year, $81,000 grant award as its work continues […]

A new year has brought a new director to the Great Start Collaborative & Parent Coalition that serves young children and families throughout Charlevoix, Emmet and Northern Antrim counties. Savanah Cool, of Boyne City, has taken on the director position after long-time director Maureen Hollocker stepped down at the end of December to take on […]

The Great Start Collaborative & Parent Coalition have had a busy summer 2021, expanding on the Talking is Teaching campaign in area parks and trails, grocery stores and more! On Aug. 13, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Talking is Teaching Nature Trail at the McCune Nature Trail in Emmet County, a […]

Char-Em ISD Early On services received $8,000 in GEER (Governor’s Emergency Education Relief) funding to purchase technology, equipment and materials in an effort to support families accessing Early On services remotely. Items purchased included: iPads with WIFI capability Tripods and iPad stands Specialized items such as: peanut balls, weighted lap pads, Bilibo seats, sensory chew […]

A new Core Communication Board has been installed at the playground at East Jordan Elementary School to provide visual support for students who struggle with communication to help them express their interests, needs and wants while on the playground.    Rachael Tisron, an assistant in the Char-Em ISD program classroom at East Jordan, led the […]

All children throughout Char-Em ISD preparing to start kindergarten in the fall of 2020 are eligible to receive a free Kindergarten Readiness Tote, filled with fun activities to help build excitement for starting their schooling years. The Kindergarten Readiness Totes are a project of the Great Start Collaborative & Parent Coalition, informed by the work […]

New Great Start Collaborative & Parent Coalition initiative encourages parents to engage children in everyday moments Everyday conversations with young children can have the power to boost their brain and vocabulary development through the simple act of talking. That is the premise behind a new initiative known as “Talking is Teaching,” which has launched in […]

Maureen Hollocker, Great Start Collaborative Director for Charlevoix, Emmet and northern Antrim counties, has been appointed to serve as the Lead Trainer for the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance. The alliance is a national organization that ensures all states have a strong and effective children’s trust or prevention fund capable of leading and investing in strategies, […]