Great Parents, Great Start Program

At no cost, the Great Parents, Great Start Program offers developmental information and support to all Ingham County families with children up to kindergarten entry. Great Parents, Great Start is supported by funding from the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Great Start, in collaboration with the Ingham Intermediate School District and community partners.

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Certified Parent Educators

Certified Parent Educators use the Parents as Teachers model to provide services for families living in Ingham County:

  • Home visits focused on age-appropriate learning activities, child development, and family support. The current focus is primarily 3-year olds;
  • Developmental screenings for all children birth to kindergarten entry; 
  • Developmental learning activities, through Ingham Play & Learn Groups, for families with children birth to kindergarten entry;  
  • Connections to community resources, early childhood programs and services. Ingham Great Start links families to multiple services and activities in Ingham County.

Our services

  • Child development information birth to kindergarten entry; 
  • Methods to enhance family-child interaction, including encouraging reading 30 minutes per day;
  • Examples of learning opportunities promoting social, physical and intellectual growth;
  • Access to community services;
  • Promotion of healthy relationships.

Research-based, universal services, as well as more intensive services to a targeted population, are provided by staff trained in early child development and the Parents As Teachers model.  

Expected outcomes

  • Improve school readiness for all young children.
  • Increase care giver involvement in early education.
  • Foster the maintenance of stable families.
  • Reduce enrollments in special education.
  • Decrease retention of pupils in grade three.

To make a referral

Please complete all form fields then click send. If you have questions, call 517.244.1433

Great Parents Great Start Referral:
Do you need an interpreter?
Child Information:
MM/DD/YYYY
Child's Gender
Was the child premature?
Is child's address the same as the parent/guardian?
What topics are you most interested in learning about? (Choose all that apply.)
Parent/Legal Guardian Information:
What is your relationship to the child?
Preferred Contact Method
Parents, if you completed the sections above, proceed to the
Others Making a Referral:
Relationship to the Child
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Contact Us

Michelle Nicholson
Executive Director, Early Childhood Services
Michelle Sabo
Director, Early Childhood Special Education 0-3