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"I have autism, but autism doesn't have me"

Actress and autism-rights activist Holly Robinson Peete stirred and charmed a large crowd at the “Living with Autism Workshop” in Troy with her compelling personal story of raising a child with autism when few knew what to make of the disorder.

“It was a really difficult, dark time,” she said upon learning of her son’s diagnosis in the late ‘90s. R.J., the eldest son of her four children with former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, is now 14. “Yes, your son has autism,” she recalled her pediatrician saying. “And here’s a whole list of things your son will never do.”

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Disadvantaged from the beginning: Too many babies don’t get the ‘Right Start’

LANSING -- Too many babies born in Michigan are not getting the “Right Start” in life, a new report concludes, with dramatic disadvantages for children in some areas of the state as well as those born to African American and Hispanic mothers.

The report, released today by the Michigan League for Human Services’ Kids Count in Michigan project, looks at eight maternal and infant health measures. It also provides an overall ranking for 81 of the 83 counties.

"These data are early indicators of how successful our next generation will be -- and in turn how successful our state will be,'' said Kids Count in Michigan Project Director Jane Zehnder-Merrell. "We know we won't have a well-educated and healthy citizenry without giving children the foundation they need.''

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Early Ed Saves $40K Per At-Risk Child

Early childhood education saves taxpayers $39,500 per at-risk child in Michigan -- and $100,000 for those in Detroit -- according to a study released this week.

The savings come from kids starting school ready to learn as a result of effective early education beginning at birth. For Detroit, the higher savings largely reflects lifetime cost differences in education, social service and criminal justice expenditures.

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Michigan asked again to share early childhood expertise at Smart Start

By Brenda Brissette-Mata

When organizers of the nation’s largest conference devoted to building early childhood systems look for cutting edge activities and ideas to showcase, they turn to Michigan.

This year is no different. Michigan’s early childhood leaders have been asked to return once again to the National Smart Start Conference in Greensboro, N.C. and share with early childhood advocates from across the country, the innovative ideas and plans being put to work in this state.

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Democracy is not a spectator sport

Summit urges businesses to recognize the benefit in early childhood investment

Mid-Michigan business leaders were charged to “be excited, challenged and inspired” at the opening of the first Great Lakes Bay Regional Early Childhood Business Summit in Midland.

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Click to watch 42 one-minute videos on making learning experiences for kids out of everyday events and objects.

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The Early Childhood Investment Corporation was founded in 2005 to be the state's focal point for information and investment in early childhood in Michigan and to build a state-wide system of programs and supports for young children and their families.

Fifty-five Great Start Collaboratives serve as the local infrastructure for the Great Start system. Their members are the state’s knowledge leaders and change agents for young children and their families.

Seventy Great Start Parent Coalitions serve as the passionate local volunteers who provide education to community and state leaders about the importance of investing in young children.

Nine Regional Resource Centers anchor the Great Start Child Care Quality Project for Michigan. In addition, CONNECT is Michigan’s online Early Learning Resource for key information about quality child care and child development including licensed child care provider search.