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SPRING2012GREATSTARTSHERE11yourVOICEInthedecades-oldstruggletomaximizethestatex19searlychildhooddevelopmentsystemadvocatesearnedanimportantwininLansinglastmonth.BothstateLegislativechambersfollowedGov.RickSnyderx19scalltoadopta12.5millionsupplementalbillthatprovidesimmediatefundingfortwoimportantassessmentandimprovementtools.Thesupplementalprovides9.25milliontofuelMichiganx19sGreatStarttoQualitytieredqualityratingandimprovementsystemforallearlylearningprogramschildcareHeadStartandGreatStartReadinessProgramand3.25millionforastatewidekindergartenstatusassessment.BothinitiativessupporteffortstogetconcretedataaboutreturnonearlychildhoodinvestmentinMichigan.TheGovernorhasstronglysupportedaMichiganbuiltondataandmeasurement.Moreoverhehasexpressedavisionforeducationthatisseamlessandintegratedstartingbeforebirthandcontinuingtoage20.OtherbrightspotsintheGovernorx19sFY2013budgetA34millionrequesttophaseinexpansionoftheHealthyKidsDentalProgramsothatmorechildrenreceivingMedicaidwillbeabletogetdentalcareaswellasa25millionincreasetoexpandMedicaidandMiChildcoveragetoincludethetreatmentofautismforchildrenunder6.ApartfromthosewelcomedboostsfundingforotherearlychildhoodprogramsincludingMichiganx19spreschoolinitiativeGreatStartReadinessProgramandlocalcommunitysupportsremainx1batfornextyearinGovernorSnyderx19sproposal.Legislatorsbeganbudgettalkswiththestatebudgetofx1aceandstatedepartmentsinlateFebruary.DiscussionsandhearingsfortheFY2013budgetwhichbeginsOctober1arewellunderway.Unlikeprioryearsthebudgetprocessishappeningsimultaneouslyinbothchambers.Withelectionsintheofx1angthereistalkoftheFY2013budgetbeingcompletedbyJune.capitolCORNERBYTERIBANASWhenparentsspeakpeoplelisten.ItisaperspectiveintegraltobuildingacomprehensiveearlychildhoodsysteminMichiganas25000parentsandcountingwithinMichiganx19sstatewideGreatStartnetworkocommunityleadersandamiliesgivevoicetotheneedsoyoungchildrenandcommunities.Tohelpthemassumestrongdecision-makingrolesintheircommunitiestheEarlyChildhoodInvestmentCorporationhasbeenworkingwithparentsacrossthestateinax1cParentsPartneringorChangex1dprogramtailoredorparentsparticipatingonGreatStartCollaboratives.Michiganx19s54localGreatStartCollaborativeswithsupportromtheirGreatStartParentCoalitionsidentiyneedsoyoungchildrenwithincommunitiesandimplementplanstoaddressthem.Communityleadersandorganizationsinvolvedinearlychildhooddevelopmentmakeupeachcollaborativeandmaintain20percentparentmembers.x1cParentmembersbringthecustomerperspectiveandeedbacktotheworkresultinginmoreimpactuldecision-makingx1dsaidHollyWingardwhoworkswithGreatStartparentsacrossMichigan.x1cInthetrainingweaddresscoreskillsthatsupportparentsinleadershiprolesthathelpthembecomemoreinvolvedindecisionmaking.x1dMonicaBihar-NatzkeoMacombCountythemotherosixchildrenages2to8saidthetraininggaveherpracticaladviceonworkingeectivelywithothersstartingwithidentiyingherowncommunicationandleadershipstyle.x1cOneothemainpurposesistofndoutwhatkindoleaderyouareandhowtoadapttootherpeoplex19spersonalitiesandqualitiesx1dBihar-Natzkesaid.x1cByknowingyourselbetteryoucaninteractwithothersbetter.Thetrainingwasreallyin-depthandexploredthingsyoudonx19tnormallythinkabout.x1dBihar-Natzkesaidshex19semotionalx1cwhenitcomestomykidsx1dbutshelearnedemotionalargumentsalonewillnotbepersuasivewithschoolofcials.Anattempttopersuadeschoolofcialstoprovidehereldestdaughterwithadditionalspeechtherapyinitiallywasunsuccessul.x1cTheyknewmydaughterwashavingonehourospeechtherapyaterschoolbutIknewitwasnx19tenoughx1dshesaid.InsteadoemotionalargumentsBihard-Natzkepresentedactualknowledgeodistrictproceduresallowingorschool-daytherapieswhileaddingthatinvestinginchildrenearlyondecreasesthecostsointerventionlater.Sheultimatelyprevailed.Thetrainingalsohasbeenavailabletoleadersothemorethan70GreatStartParentCoalitions.ItwasadaptedromparentleadersworkingwiththeMichiganPublicHealthInstitute.BrynFortunedirectorforParentingLeadershipfortheInvestmentCorporationwasamemberotheoriginalstate-levelworkgroupthatidentifedcoreleadershipskillsinparents.Theeortwasinspiredbyparentsochildrenwithdisabilities.x1cThiseortispartoalong-standinginitiativetosupportthedevelopmentostrongparentvoiceandleadershipx1dFortunesaid.x1cInanyqualityworkweneedtounderstandtheuniqueexpertiseparentsbring.Theyarenotonlythecustomersbutthekeydecision-makersorallprogramsandservicestheirchildrenpartakeopriortocomingtoschool.x1cWecanhavethebesthigh-qualityprogramintheworldbutitwonx19thaveanimpactonachildx19searlydevelopmentithekeydecision-makerstheparentsdonx19twantthatprogramx1dsheadded.x1cWehavetobeveryclear.Theparentsmakethedecisionsabouttheirchildren.Thatx19swhytheirvoiceandparentleadershiptrainingissocriticalorbestoutcomesorchildren.x1d