Vision: A Great Start to ensure ALL children in Oakland County are safe, healthy, prepared, and eager to succeed in school and in life.

Mission: The purpose of the GSC-O is to assure a coordinated system of community resources and support whereby ALL Oakland County families have knowledge of and access to the services they need which will result in their children being prepared and eager to learn.

Great Start Collaborative-Oakland (GSC-O) began in Winter 2006 when Oakland Schools received a $70,000 capacity building grant from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) to prepare to develop a comprehensive early childhood system for the county.

For more information on the Michigan Great Start System and the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), click here.

The Great Start Collaborative-Oakland is the decision making body for the Great Start system at the local level.

The core responsibilities of the GSC-O include:

• Conduct a community needs assessment
  
• Adopt and enact a strategic plan for the development of a comprehensive system of early childhood services and supports, accessible to all children from birth to kindergarten and their families.
  
• Seek additional public and private funds to support the Great Start system locally.
  
• Provide a defined and accountable set of resources and services for children with disabilities, developmental delays, or special needs, or at risk of same, and their families.
  
• Coordinate existing early childhood programs.
  
• Expand high-quality child care capacity.
  
• Evaluate the system on the basis of expected outcomes.
  
• Engage parents, schools, businesses, faith-based organizations, and other community entities in the planning, implementation, and coordination of services for families with young children.
  
• Promote community awareness of early childhood issues.
  
• Advocate for quality early childhood programs and services.

Press Release
Oakland County collaborative receives $70,000 Great Start Collaborative grant
Early Childhood Investment Corporation grants focus on early childhood development and care
http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5458_7691_7752-137184--M_2006_2,00.html

What is a comprehensive early childhood system?
A single, interconnected and intertwined network of public and private services and supports, working together in a community to accomplish better results for young children and families. Essential system components are:

• Physical Health Care
  Comprehensive physical and child development services, such as assessment and intervention, for all young children, including those with special health care needs, as well as timely and appropriate referrals for children with developmental, behavioral, and psychosocial concerns
  
• Early childhood mental health
  Specialized child development and mental health services designed to promote the social-emotional well-being of all young children and address the needs of children at risk of developing mental health problems
  
• Early care and education
  Early care and education services that support children's early learning, health, and social-emotional well-being
  
• Parent education
  Supports for parents in the critical role they play in their child's overall development
  
• Family support
  Support the healthy development of children by addressing the stressors impairing the ability of families to nurture the well-being, safety, and overall development of their children

If you are interested in participating in the Great Start Collaborative-Oakland efforts, please contact Darlene Zimny at darlene.zimny@oakland.k12.mi.us.