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Building Adult Capabilities to Improve Child Outcomes

This 5-minute video depicts the Frontiers of Innovation community’s theory of change for achieving breakthrough outcomes for vulnerable children and families. It describes the need to focus on building the capabilities of caregivers and strengthening the communities that together form the environment of relationships essential to children’s lifelong learning, health, and behavior.

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Michigan parents and children reach out to lawmakers in Lansing

State Sen. Coleman Young II was taking questions from Star Power attendees from his home district in Wayne County when the call came for one final question.

Standing up from his mother's side was a boy no more than 5. "Education can make you a job in life," he said in words strong and clear. And the crowd erupted in cheers as the effusive senator laughed and said, "I agree! That's early childhood at work right there."

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It’s Go Time for Star Power 2013!

Travel buses have been reserved, mountains of red T-shirts for attendees have been ordered, and plans are in the final stages for the most comprehensive legislative day for early childhood in Michigan. Star Power 2013 is upon us!

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Look Ma! No Cavities

Early Childhood Investment Corp. campaigns for infant dental care

Too many children in Michigan are losing their baby teeth to tooth decay, putting their future dental health, nutritional health and overall health, at risk. For this reason, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation has created a public service campaign urging parents to take their children to the dentist for a first visit by age one.

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Smart Start Conference 2013

Experts from Michigan once again will share their knowledge, skills and experiences at the National Smart Start Conference in Greensboro, N.C., the nation’s largest conference devoted to early childhood efforts.

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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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An independent, publicly owned nonprofit, the Investment Corporation helps Michigan rebuild its economy through effective early childhood development.

The Great Start Collaboratives give communities a strong voice in the effort to create an early childhood development system that works for local families. Serving all counties and providing a foundation for the statewide Great Start initiative, the collaboratives bring together parents, educators and community leaders to make real and lasting change.

More than 25,000 volunteers statewide provide their unique personal perspective about the needs, experiences and challenges involved in raising young children. These voices are used to guide Great Start Collaboratives in policy, structure and programmatic changes to ensure that children and their families are able to access and effectively use services they need to prepare children for kindergarten.

Great Start to Quality Resource Centers work to assure effective regional implementation of Great Start to Quality, Michigan's quality rating and improvement system for child care and preschool programs. The Resource Centers also help parents with resources to give all children a high quality early learning and care experience, and help providers and educators improve the quality of their care and programs.