FLINT EARLY
CHILDHOOD COLLABORATIVE
Decades of research and practice in early childhood development affirm one powerful truth: the experiences children have in their first five years of life shape their brains and bodies in lasting ways. Despite our increased understanding of what children need to thrive, economic, social, and demographic factors present significant barriers for low-income parents in meeting those needs. If unaddressed, this opportunity gap can devolve into an achievement gap. Fortunately, the Flint Early Childhood Collaborative has committed to partnering with families, schools, funders, and community-based organizations to ensure that income does not determine Flint kids' destinies.
WHAT WE DO
The Flint Early Childhood Collaborative is a diverse group of motivated partners supporting new opportunities for Flint’s youngest children and their families. It comprises an experienced, cross-sector group of institutions committed to improving equity in education and health services, including the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Flint Center for Educational Excellence, Flint Community Schools, and Genesee Intermediate School District.
Our core priorities work together to build strategies that increase Flint residents’ access to a sustainable and equitable high-quality early education and care system. They include:
High-Quality Teaching & Learning
Model as a framework for high-quality teaching and learning. Our partners collaborate to implement the model at two school sites—Educare Flint and Cummings Great Expectations—which serve 400 Flint children and their families and serve as “hubs” to address unmet quality improvement needs for early childhood professionals in Flint.
Intensive Family Engagement
We believe that when families are healthy, stable, and well-supported, their children can succeed well into adulthood. Our intensive family engagement strategies take a two-generational approach that understands the important link between the well-being of parents and the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of their children.
Enhanced Professional Development
We elevate the standard for early childhood educators by improving their teaching practices through advanced professional development opportunities. Alongside our partners, we offer specific coaching and developmental support to help early childhood educators continually enhance their skills and the quality of their classrooms.
Research & Advocacy
We use an integrated data system to understand the needs of families and children and to demonstrate the benefits of high-quality early childhood education. Our partners collaborate with researchers, families, schools, and system leaders to advocate for policy changes ensuring access to evidence-based early education for all children.
Coordinated Systems
We are creating a seamless and connected early childhood system from birth to grade 3 in Flint by aligning efforts within and between the early childhood and elementary education sectors.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
Our Impact
We understand that children growing up in poverty face significant challenges that can hinder their healthy development. Research shows that a gap in vocabulary development between children from low-income families and their higher-income peers emerges as early as 18 months and can have lasting effects on academic success.
To address this, our programming begins supporting children from infancy, providing essential care and early learning experiences that set the foundation for success in kindergarten and beyond. By offering these critical supports early on, we help ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
