Early Childhood Connections is a collaboration of individuals, schools, programs, agencies, and businesses that work together to provide supports and services to families with children birth to school entry. ECC collaborates to provide some specific projects and resources. These include the Welcome Every Baby Bag that is available to all newborns in the county, early childhood literacy opportunities for families, parent education opportunities, Toddler Time literacy-based parent-child activity times, the eatongreatstart.org website, and a list serve of interested individuals.

Description:
Early Childhood Connections works as the Great Start Collaborative for early childhood in Eaton County. Working together we can assist families with finding the most appropriate resources for their needs; promote early childhood education and care within the community; and reduce the duplication and waste of local resources and scarce public dollars.

History:
Although many of the partners that make up ECC have been working together an extended period of time, ECC was formally established in 2001 under the auspices of a state grant. As state and local resources have become more scarce, money that was once available to support the collaborative efforts have diminished. Despite the economy, the partners of ECC have dedicated themselves to the mission and vision of early childhood, and a community that values its youngest and most vulnerable citizens. With the Great Start Collaborative grant from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, ECC is able to continue with the collaborative efforts that have been well established in Eaton County.

Contact people:

Ronda Rucker, Great Start Collaborative Coordinator, (phone), (email) Cindy VanNeste, Community Coordinator, (email) D'Lynn Smith, Community Coordinator, (email)

Office fax number: (517) 543-8016

Address:

311 W. First Street Charlotte, MI 48813 (See a map)

Web Site: http://eatongreatstart.org

Directions:

I-69 to M-50 exit (Meijer exit). If coming from the Lansing area, turn right into Charlotte. Go through the red light, proceed to the first four-way stop. Turn left. Go one block. We are located. . . (more)