Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative - Battle Creek

03/10/2023

Stay safe and stay warm! 🧤

11/02/2022

VOCES kicked off their community conversations tonight to gather real time data to inform their decisions for a brand new bilingual and bicultural early learning center in Battle Creek.

10/26/2022

A special invitation from our strategic partner - Southwestern Michigan Urban League!

10/21/2022

Supporting Burma Center our partner in racial equity work!

08/31/2022

What a great news!

Did you know we now have an Associate Degree Grant? 🎓
30 participants around Battle Creek have been awarded a grant to work towards their Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Kellogg Community College.
Want to learn more? Contact us!
https://careerszero2five.org/contact/

07/01/2022

ELNC’s advocacy in our three impact communities -Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo- helped make these happen!! Thank you Governor Whitmer and 2022 Legislature.

Yesterday, the Governor Whitmer and the Legislature came to agreement on a bipartisan budget that will do big things for young kids and families. I’m passing along a few early childhood highlights.

Great Start Readiness Program – $34 million. This year’s budget allows us to serve over 50,000 four-year-olds and includes additional funding for the continued GSRP expansion. An increase in the per slot allotment to $9,150 – consistent with the K-12 foundation allowance.
Strong Beginnings Program - $2.2 million
Early On – Additional $7.1 million
Tri-Share - $2.5 million – now considered ongoing
Before & after school programs - $25 million one-time
Healthy moms, healthy babies - $1.2 million to expand access to doula care
Child & adolescent health centers – Additional $25 million to expand access to school-based physical and mental health care
And so. Much. More.

Also, some federal funds were reappropriated for child care funds to allow us to get more services to families before the federal spending deadline.

This includes:
Family co-pays – Extending waiver of parent copays through FY 23
Authorizing another round of grants for providers
Infant and early childhood mental health – Now $3 million ongoing
Subsidy reimbursement – Adding a 10% ongoing rate increase and shifting to three blocks so providers are reimbursed for full time, part time, or wraparound care.
For details, see HB 5783, FY 23 starts on page 120 and FY 22 starts on page 968.

https://www.house.mi.gov/hfa/PDF/Summaries/22h5783h2_GenGov_Summary_House_Passed_as_Amended.pdf

Stay tuned on implementation details.

We will keep fighting for our babies!! Early Childhood education matters!!

06/29/2022

Welcome Shawna!

ELNC- Kalamazoo partners are proud to announce that they have selected Ms. Shawna Smith as the ELNC-Kalamazoo’s Project Director!
A native of Kalamazoo, she is a gifted leader. She has a keen ability to rally people around important causes. She holds a BA in organizational development from Spring Arbor University and an MBA from Cornerstone University. In addition to that, she has over 100 credit hours in the field of education, as well as numerous years of experience working with children and youth from preschool to college age. Ms. Smith is the author of two children's books, “Little Like You,” and “Grandma’s Favorite,” where she describes the importance of family influences on the lives of Black children.

Shawna is active in her community and works with local police to create harmony amongst police departments and citizens. Shawna is a problem solver and always encourages others to think outside of the box. As such, her greatest mission in life is to ensure that young people have every opportunity to succeed in life.

Please welcome Shawna to the ELNC family!!

06/11/2022

2022 Preschool Graduation
Congratulations Catching the Dream Learning Center! We are very proud of you!

06/09/2022

What we do or say after an incident involving the Police matters a whole lot!!

In the months after a Grand Rapids police officer killed Patrick Lyoya, community members have come together to grieve, remember, march, protest, and demand justice. Much of it has unfolded in front of young children. “Children are aware of everything that is happening. They may not be able to art...