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Free Preschool Opportunities for Oakland County Families
Great Start Collaborative Oakland partners with local schools and organizations to provide free preschool programs that prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond. Our programs focus on early learning, social development, and fostering a love of education in a nurturing environment.
Inspiring Stories, Real Impact
"Being a new mother and having a more difficult child, I felt so lonely and lost for the first few months. I remember explaining this to my pediatrician and they referred me to Care House for their home visiting program. I then met Maria! We had meetings every week for about an hour to two depending on the day. I can say confidently that it has positively made a difference in my families life. Not only was it nice to have company at least one day a week, it was personal as well- it was also one of the programs that focused on benefitting the mother so I could be the best for my son."
Heida Williams, Home Visiting LLG Parent Leader
"We have started (child's name)'s evaluation through Holly Schools and we actually meet with the OT tomorrow. We've already had two meetings with their speech-language pathologist and psychologist too. Thank you SO much for your help in leading us in the right direction! You are the reason why we're in this position now, on the road to getting him the services he needs! I'm SO glad I reached out, and I'm thankful you had so much helpful information readily accessible on your site. It's such an easy process taking the ASQs online and then a quick turn around connecting with you after for the results, next steps, and resources!"
Katelyn Narlock
"I connected with Lamphere regarding educational programs available for my 3.5 year old. They referred me to Oakland County's Help me Grow program. After submitting an online application for the 4-year old GSRP PreK, Cheryl Fuller at the County office reached out to me. She was super helpful with providing all the information and clarifying the specifics of enrolling in the program. We were waitlisted at our local PreK school. Cheryl patiently and timely answered all my questions and helped me explore alternatives. The entire process was simple and straightforward for me as a parent. All in all, the county office was supportive in fulfilling my child's educational needs"
Divya Loranger
Frequently Asked Questions
Find tools, guides, and support to help you navigate your child's early years.
I have to take parenting classes for the court or CPS. Do yours work?
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Contact your caseworker to see if a specific class meets requirements. Often, classes need to be in person to satisfy that. In Oakland County, there are two classes from the Friends of the Court.
https://www.oakgov.com/government/courts/friend-of-the-court/programs-services. Otherwise, classes from CARE https://www.careofsem.com/parenting-services/classes/ can be a great fit.
How much do home visits cost?
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Home visits are free.
How often do home visits happen?
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Depending on your needs and the home visiting program you're enrolled in, home visits can happen as often as every week or twice a month. Home visits usually last between 30 minutes to 1 hour, but may change depending on your needs. Your home visitor will work closely with you to schedule a home visit for a day and time that works well for you.
Who provides home visits?
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Home visitors have extensive training in helping families. Some may be nurses, some may be social workers, and some may be early childhood educators. Home visitors usually know a lot about the community and are aware of other services that may benefit your family.
Who can enroll in Home Visiting?
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Eligibility for home visiting depends on the program. Some programs begin as early as pregnancy, while others serve only first-time parents or families with infants under one year. Certain programs continue until your child is five years old. To find a program that fits your needs, contact us at 844-456-5437.
What is Home Visiting?
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A home visit is a planned meeting with a trained and supportive home visitor. A home visitor usually comes to your home but can meet you someplace that works for you. During a home visit, you can talk with your visitor about things that are going well and things you may be concerned about. Your home visitor will be helpful and supportive, provide information, and connect you to community resources.
What is the process for enrollment?
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Phase 1: Complete the online application in MiECC and upload the required documents (proof of income, address, and a copy of the child's birth certificate). Once a care coordinator verifies documents, they will send a referral to your preferred program.
Phase 2: The program will contact you with the next steps for enrollment and provide you with a start date.
What are the program requirements for becoming a GSRP program? Is it just a daycare?
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Each Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) picks a curriculum from the approved list... No matter which curriculum is chosen, teaching teams create fair and meaningful learning experiences using a child-centered, hands-on curriculum model. This approach is recommended for PreK and supported by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Is there a cost associated with GSRP? Do I make too much money? Why do you need to collect income documentation?
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There are no current income guidelines for GSRP. Income is used to determine when your child can enroll in a program. All age-eligible children can qualify for GSRP.
How do I know if my child is eligible for the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)?
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Children must turn four years old on or before September 1. However, a provision exists for families requesting early enrollment for children who will turn 4 after September 1, but on or before December 1.
What are your parenting classes?
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We host some parent workshops, and we would love to connect you with others in the community based on what would fit you. See our calendar or contact a care coordinator.
What is the Family Coalition? Can I join?
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The Family Coalition is a group of parents and caregivers working together to support early childhood programs and resources in the community. Yes! Any parent or caregiver with a child under 12 can join.
Still have questions?
Find tools, guides, and support to help you navigate your child's early years.
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