Community Partners
Great Start Collaborative partners with many services and organizations throughout Oakland County, the state of Michigan and nationally.
Thank you to all of our community partners for the difference you are making in the lives of Oakland County families.
- Community Partners
- Help Me Grow Partners
- Local Libraries
- Local Leadership Group
- Social Emotional
- Great Start to Quality
Community Partners
A huge thank you to our community partners!
Oakland County Child Care Council
Oakland County Health Division
United Way for Southeastern Michigan/RRC
Department of Health and Human Services
Kidz 1st
Oakland Family Services
Macomb CHAP
Jewish Family Services
United Health Care
OLHSA
Oakland Schools
Women Infant Children (WIC) Oakland County
Positive Images MIHP
Oakland Community Health Network
Early On Oakland
CARE House of Oakland County
Salvation Army – Southeast Michigan
Easter Seals Michigan
Great Start to Quality
Oakland University
Oakland County Youth Assistance
Partnership for Dads
Catholic Services of Oakland County
Help Me Grow Partners
State Level Participation
State Level Participation
The Help Me Grow system builds on existing resources to ensure communities identify vulnerable children and link families to community-based programs and services through the implementation of four Core Components.
Four Core Components
- Child Health Care Provider Outreach to support early detection and intervention
- Family/Community Outreach to promote use of Help Me Grow and to provide networking opportunities among families and service providers
- A Centralized Access Point serves as the hub to link children and their families to community based services and supports, while providing seamless care coordination.
- Data Collection and Analysis to understand all aspects of the Help Me Grow system, including the identification of gaps and barriers
Current State Affiliate Members
- Allegan County
- Genesee County
- Kent County
- Lapeer County
- Lenawee County
- Macomb County
- Oakland County
- Ottawa County
- Wayne County
Interested in developing a systematic approach to connecting families to available services in your community?
Connect with Help Me Grow by becoming a state affiliate. Learn more about Help Me Grow National or contact Veronica Pechumer.
Local Level Participation
Local Level Participation
Oakland County utilizes the Help Me Grow system through many avenues.
Call the Parent Information Line 844-456-5437
Master’s level care coordinators assist parents and providers with a robust knowledge of local early childhood and family resources.
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
Researched based, parent friendly, developmental screening tool, is available to the families in the general community. Parents who complete the ASQ receive the results, connecting them to fun learning activities, local resources in the community and referral opportunities if necessary.
The ASQ is also supported through local community partners (family service networks, child care providers, pediatricians).
If interested in incorporating the ASQ into your program or to learn more about becoming a Help Me Grow Partner in Oakland contact Tricha Hughes.
Local Libraries
The GSC partners with local libraries to provide all Oakland County residents with free, high quality learning opportunities.
We often refer our families to their local libraries for story times, activities, and programs, so please share any new and exciting programs with us! Our care coordinators visit select library story times to offer free developmental screenings for the families in attendance. Free preschool, developmental screening, and parenting phone line resources are also available to place in your libraries.
The GSC also has several new initiatives in the works through our Literacy Workgroup that we would love to share with you.
Our Sing. Say. Point. Play. campaign is in full swing. We have resources for your library. Reach out to Christine Hodge to partner with us.
Schedule a library visit!
If you would like us to visit your library or would like resources, please call us at 844.456.5437.
Local Leadership Group
Social Emotional
When should you be concerned?
Educators: indicators that a child may be struggling.
Community Resources for Social and Emotional Support
Please feel free to pass this document on to anyone you feel would benefit. Review these resources carefully to determine which ones best suit the needs of your family, agency and/or program participants.
Programs, resources, and services above are neither specifically recommended nor endorsed by Great Start-Oakland.
Great Start to Quality
Learn how to become a Great Start to Quality star-rated provider.
Great Start to Quality helps you get the tools and child care provider resources you need to succeed. The goal is to make sure every young child in Michigan has a high-quality learning experience.