The Great Start to Quality Central Resource Center provides resources, supports and services for Mid-Michigan childcare providers/programs and families in Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Ingham, Isabella, Midland and Shiawassee Counties. Our services include but are not limited to:
Early Childhood Educators
- A team of highly experienced Quality Improvement Coaches to support Early Learning Childhood programs both home and center based, to provide high-quality care to children and families.
- Free on-site individual consultation.
- Navigating the Great Start to Quality Recognition and Improvement system.
- Creating, managing and completing quality improvement plans.
- Technical assistance with grants.
- Annual Infant Toddler Conference.
- Opportunities for childcare educators to network through various groups and trainings.
- Professional Development (training) offered through MiRegistry.org in various modalities: virtual, in person, hybrid, and correspondence and informal professional learning communities.
- Infant Toddler Specialist to support infant toddler care and facilitate the Infant- Toddler Learning Community (ITLC).
Families
- Assists families searching for high quality child care and preschool that best meets their needs and navigating greatstarttoquality.org.
- Connects families to information on Head Start and Great Start Readiness Programs (GSRP).
- Connects families to Child Development and Care (CDC) and low cost child care in Michigan.
- Partners with Great Start Collaboratives (GSC) and Three Literacy Hubs in the Central Region.
- Supports for License Exempt Providers (LEP) with registering for License Exempt Provider Preservice Training (LEPPT) and on-site Health and Safety Coaching. Our Quality Improvement Team assists in providing additional professional development to support required LEP level training and supports interested LEP through the licensing process.
Lending Library
The Lending Library is a free educational resource for you and your children! It is designed to encourage the learning experience at home, school, child care and preschool and is available to licensed child care providers, License Exempt Providers (LEP), parents, families and community members. The Lending Library includes:
- Theme based experience bins designed specifically to meet the different developmental needs of infants and toddlers, preschool and young school aged children.
- Story stretcher totes for infants, toddlers and preschoolers that engage extended learning through activities.
- Books, CD’s, DVD’s, and curriculum materials for early childhood educators to use in planning and implementing quality improvements in child care centers, group, and family child care homes.
Central Resource Center Staff
| Lansing Office | Midland Office |
| Barb Monroe, Program Director bmonroe@midlandesa.org 517-285-7720 | Kim Clark, Organizational Lead kclark@midlandesa.org 989-492-7700 |
| Ashley Wheat, QIC awheat@midlandesa.org 517-388-6382 | Brenda Boyce, QIC bboyce@midlandesa.org 989-492-7102 Cell: 989-859-6474 |
| Ashlee Salazar, QIC asalazar@midlandesa.org 517-285-6588 | Stefanie Shook, QIC sshook@midlandesa.org 989-492-7102 Cell: 989-488-7881 |
| Shelby Sandborn, QIS ssandborn@midlandesa.org 989-698-6003 | Michele Peregord, QIC/QIS mperegord@midlandesa.org 517-290-6362 |
Community Partners & Resources
We work with many people and organizations in the community to provide you, your family and your program with the resources you need to help your family and children succeed.
Professional Development
There are professional development trainings available throughout the state. You can search for a training near you or about a specific subject through MiRegistry.
Contact us!
If you have additional questions or need help, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Lansing Location
5700 Executive Drive Suite 2
Lansing, MI 48911
517-336-3785
877-614-7328 (toll free)
Midland Location
337 Lemke St.
Midland, MI 48642
989-492-7102
877-614-7328 (toll-free)
Effective February 25, 2024, Michigan has removed the requirement to work with the Office of Child Support to receive help paying for child care. Check to see if you are now eligible!