Barry County Great Start Collaborative

Barry County Great Start Collaborative Our goal is that all children in Barry County have a GREAT START in life!

Through our programs, we ensure the following four Michigan Office of Great Start outcomes:
- children are born heatlhy
- children are healthy, thriving, and developmentally on track, from birth to age eight
- children are developmentally ready to succeed in school at time of school entry
- children are prepared to succeed in fourth grade and beyond by reading proficiently by the end of the third

grade. (These materials were developed under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education).

The sign over State Street is incorrect. The Very Barry Family Event is taking place on Saturday, June 6 from 9-Noon. Pl...
05/31/2026

The sign over State Street is incorrect. The Very Barry Family Event is taking place on Saturday, June 6 from 9-Noon. Please share widely!

05/12/2026

Make family memories all summer long with Summer Family Flicks 2026 at GQT Movies! Join us Tuesday–Thursday at 10 AM from June through August for your favorite family films on the big screen for just $2 per person.

Plus, take advantage of our Kid’s Combo for just $5 from open to 12 PM on play dates. 🍿🥤
🎟️ Learn more and purchase tickets at: www.gqtmovies.com/summerflicks

05/04/2026
04/22/2026

The weather is improving and things are staring to bloom! Join Pierce Cedar Creek Institute and the Library for Science Storytime on Friday, May 1 at 10:30am! We will be exploring flowers and growing things through books, rhymes, activities, and more! Keep your fingers crossed for good weather as we will meet across the street from the Library at Riverside Pocket Park (if it is raining, meet in the Library). We hope you'll join us for this fun and colorful storytime!

04/16/2026

Free preschool is a great option—but it’s not built for every family.
Most programs run limited hours, follow the school calendar, and only offer Monday–Thursday care.
We’re different.
✔ Full-day Pre-K
✔ Monday–Friday
✔ Year-round care
Designed for working families—and focused on strong kindergarten readiness.
Because your child deserves more than part-time care—they deserve to be fully prepared to succeed.

04/16/2026
04/01/2026

The Very Barry Family Event organizers are looking for volunteers! If you love being part of the community and want to help us make this day a success, we’d love for you to join us on Saturday, June 6.

The Details:
📅 When: Saturday, June 6, 2026
📍 Where: Tyden Park, Hastings
⏰ Event Time: 9:00am-12:00pm (volunteers should plan to arrive at 8:30am)

Ready to lend a hand? Tap the link below to sign up! 👇
https://forms.gle/D2PLbd8wQmYQkEuE6

03/26/2026

Family Support Services Workshop: What's The Benefit? SSDI/SSI, Medicaid, and Medicare
April 2, 2026
12:00 - 2:00 pm

In this workshop, you will learn the basics of:
Applying for Social Security and DHS benefits
What your young adult might qualify for
Earned income and the effects on those benefits
How benefits can change in the transition between childhood and adulthood
The difference between and qualifications for the various benefits categories

Attendance is limited to 15 - register today! https://buff.ly/wpBVBAX

Please note that this is a repeat of the February workshop.

If you would like to attend virtually, contact [email protected] for more information!
Questions? Contact Chloe Bayer at [email protected] or call 616-949-1100

Address

231 S. Broadway Street
Hastings, MI
49058

Website

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