Great Start Family Coalition
April Newsletter
Hello Families. My name is Kelli Stuifbergen and I am the new "Family Engagement Specialist" for Allegan County. I have been the Plainwell Family Coach for the past 5 years and I am so excited for this new opportunity, that will allow me to help more families within Allegan County. I believe the early years of a child's life are very important to their success in school and life. As parents, you are your child's first and most important teacher! I want to partner with you to support your parenting efforts.
If you wish to reach me, please feel free to email me at: kelli.stuifbergen2@alleganaesa.org
Registration is now open for our next Family Connected Event!
Allegan County's Great Start Collaborative (GSC)
co-hosts (4) monthly Talking is Teaching Play-and-Learns
with local libraries and elementary schools throughout Allegan County.
All Allegan County parents/guardians are invited to attend with their 0-5 year olds.
April's Theme is "Let's Talk About Nature"
Allegan County Play-and-Learn Locations:
Dorr Township Library- April 16th (0-5 year olds) @ 10:30am
Fennville Memorial Park- April 17th (0-5 year olds) @ 11:30am
*Weather permitting. Fennville District Library will be the backup location.
See Help Me Grow Allegan social media for updates on April 17th.
Ransom District Library- April 18th (0-5 year olds) @ 10:30am
Allegan District Library- April 23rd (0-2 year olds) & April 25th (3-5 year olds) @ 10:30am
Allegan Area ESA
- Allegan County Kindergarten Registration Events
- District Kindergarten Fliers
- Preschool Registration is Open for 2024- Allegan County families can enroll their children for preschool on Help Me Grow Allegan's website or call 512-7775 (hmgallegan.org).
Community Action of Allegan County
- Early Head Start-
- Spring Playgroups
- Wednesday, April 17 @ Tech Center 5:00-6:00
- Friday, April 19 @ Wayland - Henika Library 1:30-2:30
- Spring Parent Groups
- Tuesday, April 16 at 5:30 (Dinner at 5:00)- Challenging Conversations with Children *In person at 323 Water Street, Allegan. Childcare and dinner provided with RSVPs to 269-512-2011 or to your family’s Family Engagement Specialist or Home Based Educator.
- Spring Playgroups
- Diaper Bank- Alternative pick-up sites.
- Allegan County- CAAC (Allegan), Redemption Place of God (Allegan), New Life Essential Store (Wayland), St.Sephen's Diaper Bank (Plainwell)
Allegan County Health Department
Vision and Hearing Screenings & What Parent's Should Know
MSU Extension Parenting Workshops
These free online parenting workshops will provide guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, concerns, and joys of parenting. Participants may register for as few or as many workshops as they wish. The workshops are on Tuesday evenings from 8:00 to 9:30PM EST as follows:
- Class dates:
- April 2nd- Positive Discipline
- April 9th- Part 1 Parenting in the Digital Age, Children ages 0-8
- April 16: Importance of Outdoor Play
- April 23: Parenting in a Digital Age part 2, children 9-17
- April 30: Let's Talk: Parent and Provider Communication
- May 7: NO CLASS
- May 14: Unlock the Conversation: Gun Safety for Parents
- May 21: Mindfulness for Children
- May 28: ABC's of Early Literacy
- June 4: Together We Can: Co-Parenting
- June 11: Essential Skills for Learning and Life
- June 18: Introduction to Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences
- June 25: How Children Develop
- Class Times: 8:00PM to 9:30PM
- Registration: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YboL-GkQT522eCkEf_qxaQ#/registration
- For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
MSU Extension "The Parent Talk System"- The Parent Talk System, a workshop authored by Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman, is designed to improve communication and provide practical verbal strategies for raising confident, caring, responsible children. This class is meant for parents and caregivers of kids from toddlers to teens and will explore the following topics: Eliminating unwanted behavior, Setting limits,Teaching about consequences, Giving effective feedback, Promoting independence, Developing character
- Class dates: April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10
- Class times: 11:30am-1:00pm ET
- Registration: https://msu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAuf--srjIsGNAwr4vVeSqILNgKe-v5gvL1#/registration
- For more information, contact Courtney Aldrich, aldric82@msu.edu
MSU Extension "Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting" Are you wondering how to gain greater cooperation from your children? Struggling with chores or routines? Not sure how to handle discipline issues? Join us for this five-week parenting education series for parents with children of all ages will explore developing family routines, developing emotional control in your child, being a calm assertive parent, developing consistent rules and relationships, and learning from mistakes and developing empathy & the ability to be thankful as a result. Certificates of attendance are available.
- Class Dates: Mondays, April 1, 8, 15, 2024
- Class Times: 7:30pm - 9:00pm ET
- Registration- https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0VpZf3ks77yZZGu
- For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
MSU Extension "Parenting in the Digital Age" This workshop addresses the risks and challenges that today's youth face as they use technology and social media. The topics include Cyberbullying, Sexting, Online Predators/Human Trafficking, Digital Reputation, Cyber Crime Laws, and Privacy and Security. Parents will walk away with an increased awareness of youth online life and tips for supporting their children's well-being and online safety. Helpful resources will also be provided.
- Class Date: April 10th
- Class Times: 7:00PM-8:30PM
- Registration: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_msxyZuH0QeS9MsKaD_y7Tg#/registration
- For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
MSU Extension "Setting the Stage: Promoting Social-Emotional Health in Young Children" Social and emotional development, a critical aspect of overall brain development, begins at birth.
Social-emotional skills are nurtured through daily routine, language, and play. They are the
foundations of social competence that affect a child's ability to adapt in school and to form
successful relationships throughout life. This workshop on social and emotional health provides
parents and professionals tips and tools for helping children in these critical areas. This workshop is
designed for parents and professionals of children birth through kindergarten entry.
Pre-Registration is required for this event. Please make sure that each individual attending
registers separately.
- Class Date: April 18th
- Class Times: 7:00PM-8:30PM
- Registration: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aLmFlhzSSdyvnYO_BUl-Mg#/registration
- For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
MSU Extension "ABC’s Of Early Literacy" The ABCs of Early Literacy program helps professionals and caregivers give young children a jump-start on reading by helping them to develop valuable pre-reading skills that prepare them for learning to read. Early Childhood Professionals will learn simple ways to help children acquire these skills through playing, singing, listening, talking, and reading.
Each participant needs to be registered individually.
- Class Date: April 26th
- Class Times: 1:00PM-2:30PM
- Registration: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lEMoyn5NRxmro-PH5DnAxw#/registration
- For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
MSU Extension "Kinship Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting"- Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Parenting is a parenting series to help you explore ways that you can be highly effective in raising your kids to be successful in school and in life. This class is meant for parents of toddlers to teens and will explore: Developing family routines, Developing emotional control in your child, Being a calm assertive parent, Developing consistent rules and relationships, Learning from mistakes and developing empathy
- Class Dates: April 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20
- Class Times: 7:30PM-9:30pm
- Registration: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0VpZf3ks77yZZGu
- For more information contact Courtney Aldrich at aldric82@msu.edu
Allegan County United Way Imagination Library & Little Free Libraries
Sign up for Imagination Library! Each month, a FREE hard cover book will be delivered to your home. All Allegan County children ages 0-5 years old are eligible for this program.
NEW!!! Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is moving from United Way of Allegan to Allegan County Community Foundation! ACCF will continue to partner with AAESA to bring books to every child in Allegan County aged 0-5.
Did you know that Allegan County has many Little Free Libraries all over the county? You can take and leave books at these locations as often as your family would like to!
Help Me Grow Allegan
We are here to connect families to local agencies' resources, services and programs.
Please refer your families with children (ages 0-5 years old) to our Help Me Grow website or phone number (269-512-7775) for assistance.
Additional Online Family Resources
- Doulas serving Allegan County
- Women, Infants & Children website
- Mother to Baby website- https://mothertobaby.org MotherToBaby specializes in answering questions about the benefit/risk of exposures, such as medications, vaccines, chemicals, herbal products, substances of abuse, maternal health conditions and much more, during pregnancy or breastfeeding in both English and Spanish..
- Breath-4-Baby- Asthma support for pregnant mothers
- WIC Breastfeeding Hotline: 1(833) 649-4223. Available 7 days/week 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Postpartum Help- https://www.postpartum.net/
- Michigan Breastfeeding Network (www.mibreastfeeding.org): Statewide collaborative for advocacy, education and coalition building to create a supportive breastfeeding culture.
- InfantRisk Center Call Line (https://www.infantrisk.com/): Provides up-to-date evidence based information on use of medications during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Call 806-352-2519 Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM-3:00 PM.
- Free COVID Tests at Home- Covidtests.gov
- Infant Recalls: https://kidsindanger.org/
Email: kelli.stuifbergen2@alleganaesa.org
Website: https://www.hmgallegan.org/o/hmga/page/families-connected?ct=t%28July%202023%20Newsletter_COPY_01%29
Phone: 269-512-7775