Advocacy Training

ADVOCACY TRAINING

TUESDAY APRIL 24 - 6:00-7:30

Grace Christian Fellowship 300 Timothy Drive  Sturgis, Michigan 49091 

Kids: 5:30-7:30  Creative Gymnastics

900 B. West Chicago Rd.  Sturgis, MI 49091 

CALL ANASTASIA FOR CARPOOLING OPTIONS

PAT Play Group

Book theme-based groups are held throughout the county on a monthly basis. All Cass County families with children birth to five-years-old are invited to attend. Activity stations give parents hands-on ideas on how to use play to teach their child. Every child leaves with the featured book of the month. Additionally, these meetings provide opportunities for parents to learn from each other, share common experiences and concerns, develop friendships and form new support networks.

 For more information, contact Beth McLoughlin-269-445-6239

1 in 3 Michigan Children Live in Jobless Homes

According to the 22nd Annual Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 36 percent of children in Michigan are living in a family in which neither parent has a full-time, year-round job. Only two other states, Kentucky at 38 percent and Mississippi at 39 percent, had more children living in unemployed households.

Just as staggering as the number of children living in poverty is the rate in which it increased: over the past decade, the number of children in Michigan living in poverty has increased by 64 percent. In 2009, 23 percent of Michigan’s children were living in poverty, in 2008 it was 18 percent and in 2000 only 14 percent.

For more information and to read the full report, visit the Kids Count Data Book webpage.
 

Nominate a Family Friendly Business

Help us promote local businesses who are fun for the whole family

We're on the look out for local businesses who put family first and we need your help.  If you've visited or work for a Cass Countybusiness who celebrates family, we want to know about it. 

See the Currently Nominated Businesses

Please take a moment to download our nomination form and submit it to

Parent Liaison
Cass County Great Start Parent Coalition
Lewis Cass ISD
61682 Dailey Road
Cassopolis, MI 49031

Letters to the Community

Sharing our Strategic Plan and Action Agenda

We're eager to share with you all the details about what we're up to.  Below please find our Strategic Plan Document which details our strategis analysis findings, our goals, strategies and our Action Agenda. 

The strategic plan was carefully designed in an effort to offer resiliency and long term success in leadership, economics, and stability, it is necessary to do all that we can for children ages 0-5 and their families. The plan assures support in physical health, social emotional health, early care and education, basic needs and safety. 

We also are providing a Community Report entitled "Status of Young Children in Cass County" in which you may be interested.