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MiFamily Engagement Center Region 2 announces grant awards to support family engagement and literacy

Region 2 includes Char-Em ISD, Manistee ISD, Northwest Education Services, and Wexford-Missaukee ISD

MiFamily Engagement Center Region 2 has awarded $164,000 in its first grant cycle, supporting 15 projects focused on building strong family relationships and enhancing parent education around literacy throughout Northwest Michigan.

MiFamily Engagement Centers are a new state-level initiative that serve as a nexus for resource development and capacity-building for those supporting educators, providing educational programs, linking families to community resources, and reaching out to families to better equip them in becoming partners in their child’s education. The centers serve as a system of support (not a physical location) and are administered by intermediate school districts with funding from MiLEAP.

Carolyn Beltz, Region 2 Coordinator, said the grant opportunities were designed to foster authentic family engagement by supporting initiatives that align with the “MiFamily: Michigan’s Family Engagement Framework” and implement high-impact strategies.

“A highly competitive application process yielded numerous compelling proposals, making the selection of awardees a challenging task,” said Beltz. “The review process carefully considered various factors, including alignment with the MiFamily Framework and the potential for high-impact outcomes.”

The 15 awarded projects span a range of initiatives, with individual grant amounts ranging from $1,395 to $31,675. These projects address diverse needs throughout Region 2 – Char-Em ISD, Manistee ISD, Northwest Education Services, and Wexford-Missaukee ISD – and implement strategies designed to strengthen home-school-community partnerships and ultimately improve student outcomes, Beltz noted.

Grantees include: Great Start Collaborative and Family Coalition Traverse Bay, Northwest Education Services; East Jordan and Boyne City’s preschool program, Strong Beginnings; Benzie Public Schools; Kingsley Branch Library; Communities in Schools of Northwest Michigan; Northern Blooms Montessori; Compass After School Program: Petoskey United Methodist Church; Alliance for Economic Success; Mesick Consolidated Schools; PoWeR! Book Bags; Communities in Schools of Northwest Michigan and Central Lake Early Opportunities; East Jordan Public Schools; Healing Private Wounds; and Cadillac Area Public Schools.

“These projects represent innovative and impactful approaches to family engagement, particularly in the critical areas of building relationships and literacy development. We are confident that these initiatives will make a significant difference in the lives of families and children across the region,” said Beltz.

The MiFamily Engagement Center, Region 2 is committed to leading and effectively supporting intermediate school districts (ISDs) and local districts as they establish and implement high-impact family engagement practices. The Center strives to foster strong home-school-community partnerships that contribute to improved student outcomes.

For more information about the MiFamily Engagement Center, Region 2 and its initiatives, including details on the funded projects and to sign up to receive updates, please visit: www.charemisd.org/parent-educator-resources/mifamily-engagement-center.