Ionia County Great Start Collaborative Strategic Planning Reviewing trends from new information & data Setting Priorities for Goals & Strategies

 Census Data: fewer children in county population, but more (higher percentage) of children are in poverty, and/or receiving a public assistance benefit indicating trouble meeting economic basic needs. (More on SNAP, TANF, MA/MI child; free or reduce cost lunch in school)  TANF- Because of the high percentage of TANF families in Ionia, the 2012 TANF benefit limits added by DHS and then the state legislature had a big impact in Ionia. MLPP data ranks Ionia County with the highest percentage drop in FIP cases from 2 nd 2011 to 2 nd quarter 2012 of all Michigan counties (with a 48% percent drop) Updated Data Highlights

 County has seen a decrease in teen parent population for first time in many years – with repeat teen births down by 4%  County seeing a dramatic increase in number of children ages 0-5 where there is substantiated child abuse and neglect. Up from 18.25%to 25.6% in most recent reported years, and above state average of 13.8%  2.8% Increase in mothers without or only late prenatal care  Percentage of WIC children reported overweight or “at risk” of being overweight is down from 2011 Updated Data Highlights & Trends – from GSC 2012 Annual Report

Updated Data Highlights & Trends – from Kindergarten Round up

Updated Data Highlights & Trends – from Spend a Buck (Priority Setting)

Updated Data Highlights & Trends – from EIGHTCap Inc. Head Start

Café Conversation Trends- What struck participants as important

 What has changed?  What is new?  What is not showing up as a priority that might surprise you? What trends from Data & Café Conversations related to Strategic Goal Setting?

 6 Goals:  Establish and maintain the infrastructure of the ICGS Collaborative  Birth to five children and their families are physically healthy  Birth to five children and their families are socially and emotionally healthy  Families support and guide the learning of their children ages birth to five  Children in Ionia County are preapred to succeed in school  Families of birth to five children are safe and economically stable Current Goals in Strategic Plan

Strongest Areas  Intentional Systems Change Actions  Effective Partnership  Parent Leadership Areas to Target Improvement  Strong Relational Networks  Interdependent Organizations  Active Constituents 2012 Evaluation on Goal Progress by membership survey

 Are there any goals want to drop?  Because goal is completed?  No longer a high priority to parents?  Someone else is now the lead in handling? Updating Strategic Goals

 Of remaining Strategic Goals- which might need to be modified?  Based on what learned from Café Conversations?  Changing local needs or priorities?  Someone else is now the lead entity in handling?  Any new strategic Goals that need to add? Updating Strategic Goals

 What do you think is no longer a priority?  What needs to be modified?  Of the remaining list – what is the top priority strategy For each Goal’s set of Strategies

1.Diversity in Board membership 2.Improve engagement & effectiveness of Board 3.Support parent engagement in Board and in activities 4.Educate parents, faith based organizations and policymakers on Great Start mission and vision 5.Increase blended funding 6.Develop coordinated message and brand Goal 1–Establish & Maintain the Great Start Infrastructure

1.Improve public awareness on importance of breastfeeding and increase support 2.Help reduce childhood obesity through nutrition and activity 3.Improve oral health for young children 4.Reduce smoking during pregnancy 5.Have easy local access to prenatal care 6.Maintain immunization rates for 0-5 children 7.Have social/emotional health supports through primary care for 0-5 parents Goal 2: Birth to 5 year old children and families are physically healthy

1.Enhance support for early childhood providers regarding social emotional health interventions for 0-5 children 2.Enhance supports for families regarding social emotional health interventions 3.Increase the availability of mental health services for families with children age Maintain home visiting support for families with children age 0-5 Goal 3: Birth to age 5 children and families are socially and emotionally healthy

 Expand the number of family support opportunities  Increase opportunities for free or low cost options for families to meet basic needs Goal 4: Families support and guide the learning of their children

1.Promote quality preschool experiences in county 2.Increase number of low cost or free quality preschool opportunities available to all children 3.Have universal preschool opportunities in county 4.Increase training opportunities for child care providers 5.Identify and promote common messaging on brain development and literacy readiness connections 6.Increase the number of early childhood programs with quality care 7.Increase preschool economic investment awareness Goal 5: Children in Ionia County are prepared to succeed in school

1.Increase community awareness of early childhood programs and resources 2.Increase awareness and use by community partners of family friendly practices 3.Increase the knowledge and awareness by families to increase access to programs and services 4.Strengthen collaboration between referral sources 5.Support early childhood service provider collaboration Goal 6: Families with children age 0-5 are safe and economically stable