Lead Agency: Ingham Great Start Collaborative
Partners: Islamic Society of Greater Lansing
Refugee Development Center
South Lansing Ministries
WKAR Public Media
This initiative focuses on increasing the understanding of early literacy and the law throughout mid-Michigan. According to Ingham County Kids’ Count data, 3rd graders reading proficiency on the English Language Arts Assessment shows 52% of 3rd graders in the Ingham Intermediate School District area are NOT proficient. Reading proficiency impacts high school graduation, college and career readiness, workforce development and socioeconomic outcomes, all of which are critical to our community. The low proficiency rate indicates there is a crisis throughout mid-Michigan and a collaborative effort across the community can address this issue. Numerous approaches will be undertaken in this collaborative: The EFEL will create awareness to mobilize the community on increasing reading proficiency and will focus on parents’ success as their child’s first teacher. Families will be empowered with materials and direct support services demonstrating how to help their child achieve proficiency standards in language and literacy skills and engage more deeply in the child’s education. To galvanize greater support around the reading crisis, a documentary illustrating its impacts will be produced and used to host community dialogs and public action forums for continued improvements.
Goal: To help children and youth succeed in life.
Outcomes: Parents/caregivers are successful as their child’s first educator and are informed, involved and engaged in their student’s learning. Parents increase their knowledge on how to help their child develop and learn by reading at home and volunteering in the classroom.
Education Collaborative #2:
Project PEACE (Providing Emotional Academic Cultural Excellence)
Lead Agency: Resolution Services of Central Michigan
Partners: Child and Family Charities
Communities In Schools of Michigan
Refugee Development Center
This four-agency collaborative will address the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children through “integrated student support services.” The goal is to keep children with a high risk of adverse childhood experiences (and who qualify as economically disadvantaged families), in school by addressing their socioeconomic roadblocks and providing supports that enable them to be ready to learn and lead a healthy lifestyle. Lansing School District children will successfully continue their education by addressing detrimental issues through conflict resolution, mental health counseling, individual/case management and basic needs assistance. Services will be provided to the entire school population and include specialized support for immigrant and refugee populations.
Goal: Help children and youth succeed in life.
Outcome: Children are ready to learn and thrive in kindergarten and beyond. Children will have access to basic need/school supplies and access to supportive services (language, counseling and conflict resolution), meet or exceed average days of attendance and meet or exceed expectations in social and emotional development based on the SEAD (social, emotional, academic development) assessment tool.
