MiFamily Engagement Center Region 2 announces second round of grant awards to support family engagement and literacy
Region 2 includes Char-Em ISD, Manistee ISD, Northwest Education Services, and Wexford-Missaukee ISD
A family is pictured after winning a raffle prize during a family engagement water safety event at Richardi Park in Bellaire, hosted by Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay, which received a grant during the 2024-25 cycle.
Celebrating National Family Engagement Month, MiFamily Engagement Center Region 2 has awarded $206,000 in its second grant cycle to support 20 community projects across Northwest Michigan.
These funds will foster partnerships through family engagement to positively impact student learning and healthy outcomes, said Carolyn Beltz, Region 2 Coordinator.
“This second round was so inspiring,” said Beltz. “These mini-grants are more than just money; they’re a direct investment in the creativity and passion of people in our communities. By putting the resources in the hands of the people doing the work, we support the kind of targeted, local projects that truly build stronger relationships and create lasting change for everyone.”
MiFamily Engagement Centers are a state-level initiative focused on resource development and building the capacity of educators and families to ensure they are meaningful partners in their child’s learning journey. The centers serve as a system of support (not a physical location) and are administered by intermediate school districts with funding from MiLEAP.
The second round of grant opportunities was designed to foster authentic family engagement by supporting initiatives that align with “MiFamily: Michigan’s Family Engagement Framework.” These mini-grants are a flexible and effective tool because they empower recipients to design projects that directly address their community’s unique needs, Beltz noted.
This highly competitive funding cycle resulted in awards ranging from $1,776 to $32,000.
Grantees include: Petoskey District Library; Boyne District Library; Suttons Bay Elementary; Compass After-School Program; Manistee Intermediate School District; East Jordan Public Schools; NoMi Forest Explorers nonprofit; Great Lakes Children’s Museum; Interlochen Public Library; Cadillac Area YMCA; The National Writers Series; Boyne City Public Schools; Grand Traverse Conservation District; Kaleva Norman Dickson Elementary; PoWeR! Book Bags; Northwest Education Services Early Childhood Department; Child & Family Services of Northwestern MI; Cadillac Area Public Schools; Great Lakes Center for the Arts; Communities In Schools NW MI.
“The work doesn’t stop here,” Beltz said. “We plan to keep partnering with these groups to make sure the practices have lasting success in our community.”
The MiFamily Engagement Center, Region 2 is committed to leading and effectively supporting implementation of high-impact family engagement practices. Beltz said 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, visit:
www.charemisd.org/parent-educator-resources/mifamily-engagement-center.