Branch County Great Start Collaborative

In this Section

• Branch County Parent Coalition
• Child Care
• Child Health
• Preschool
• Early Education Resources
• Preschool Scholarship Applications
• Kindergarten

Early Education Resources

We have pulled this great list of Early Education parent resources and information from the Branch ISD website.

For any information about health and human services in the community, dial 211. This new service in Branch County provides a one-stop service for vital information, and is also a good place to learn how to give help through volunteering or making a donation to a community project or agency.

• Branch County Community Health Center
• Bridges 4 Kids

  Building Partnerships Between Families, Schools, and Communities

• Children and the Media
• Coordinated Community Child Care Resources
• Department of Human Services
• Early On Public Awareness
• Everyday Parenting

  A variety of resources for parents.

• Family Services Network
• Zero to Three

  For parents of children from birth to three.

• General Information for Families

  A variety of resources from Hawaii Center on the Family addressing many relevant family issues.

• Helping Your Preschool Child

  Published by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Communication and Outreach and is a valuable resource for parents with children under the age of 5. The comprehensive booklet offers parents a list of activities designed to be fun for both the parent and child as well as to help the child gain the skills needed to get ready for school. A Ready-for-School checklist is also included at the end.

• Immunization Information for the State of Michigan

  From the State of Michigan Department of Community Health: Since 1978, state law has required that each student entering kindergarten or a new school district in grades 1-12 have a certificate of immunization at the time of registration or not later than the first day of school. Before a child can be permitted to enter or attend school, parents or guardians must present documentation that their child has received all required vaccines and is waiting to receive the subsequent doses at the appropriate time intervals. There are three (3) circumstances in which a required vaccine may be waived or delayed: 1. Valid medical contraindication exists to receiving the vaccine. This waiver must be completed and signed by the child's physician stating the contraindication, the vaccine or vaccines involved, and the time period during which the child should not receive the vaccine or vaccines. 2. The parents or guardians hold religious or philosophical beliefs against receiving a vaccination. This waiver must be signed by the parent or guardian. 3. The child has received at least one dose of each immunizing agent and the next dose or doses are not yet due.

• Information for families on the H1N1 Influenza
• Kids Health.org
• Michigan Department of Education
• MSU Extension
• Parent to Parent of Southwest Michigan
• Pines Behavioral Health
• Safe and Healthy Families

  A wealth of information for families of young children.

• The National Head Start Association (NHSA)
• The Value of Play

  How play in the preschool years leads to success in elementary school.