Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative Loves Literacy!

Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative Loves Literacy!

By Melissa McCance

 

The Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative (HCGSC) is dedicated to ensuring that Hillsdale County children from birth to age eight have “access to a universal, comprehensive, and collaborative system of community-based early childhood programs, services, and supports.” The collaborative brings together family service agencies, parents, and other partners to achieve this goal.

 

A multi-dimensional approach is utilized in the HCGSC’s work. They:

·       Ask parents what they need and want

·       Engage community partners in the planning and coordination of services

·       Address the factors that influence a child’s success in school and life

·       Promote community awareness of early childhood issues

·       Advocate for quality early childhood programs and services

·       Invite parents into decision-making conversations

·       Collaborate with partner agencies to implement changes that will help families

 

Director Stefanie Rathburn and Family Liaison Wendy Playford are especially passionate about the reading-related initiatives and events the HCGSC provides. They want young children in Hillsdale County not only to have their own books but to be exposed to fun activities that will encourage them to be lifelong readers.

 

Although most people acknowledge that reading is a valuable activity, many do not realize the enormous difference early exposure to books and reading can make in the life of a child.

 

Studies have revealed that “the more words that are in a child’s language world, the more words they will learn, and the stronger their language skills are when they reach kindergarten, the more prepared they are to be able to read, and the better they read, the more likely they will graduate from high school” (PBS.org).

 

One reading initiative is the Little Free Library (LFL). These small “book houses” contain used books that are free to take. This resource is international in scope, with over 150,000 LFLs in 120 countries. The program slogan is, “Take a book, share a book,” because the idea is that people who take books will donate one or more in return.

 

There are currently seven LFLs in Hillsdale County, but the collaborative has received funding to double that number. Camden, Waldron, Litchfield, and Pittsford are the priority areas for the new libraries. Parent volunteers from the HCGSC’s Family Coalition steward the LFLs to ensure there’s a good selection of children’s books available. In addition, there are some units not connected with HCGSC that are maintained by private individuals.

 

Another literacy initiative is the Books for Babies bags. These are cooler bags containing a crinkle book, a board book, information about the Little Free Libraries and the county public libraries, a flip book with tips for parents on promoting literacy, and a Talking is Teaching burp cloth. The bags are given to all babies delivered at Hillsdale Hospital and are distributed through the WIC program.

 

Talking is Teaching became part of the HCGSC’s programs a few years ago. This is a national campaign that emphasizes the importance of talking, reading, and singing to children. The group has a number of great items that help parents implement this principle including book marks, placemats, burp cloths, bibs, towels, and blankets that are printed with ideas to start conversations with children. The idea is to make small moments meaningful and to give parents information about how important it is to interact verbally with their children to help make them ready for school.

 

Stefanie and Wendy want to spread the word about another initiative called Hillsdale County Kids Read. This is an opportunity for local businesses or agencies that have areas like waiting rooms where children might be spending some time. Free books are provided twice a year to the businesses which can then utilize them as they choose. A business might set up a reading area or give the books to children to take home. The program was launched last year and currently has 10 businesses participating; this year’s goal is to double that number.

 

One exciting and inventive reading event is the Storywalk which is held every August in conjunction with the farmers market in downtown Hillsdale. Each one is based around a single book, and families visit different stations to hear a portion of the book read aloud. Every child receives a book, a take-home activity, and a snack. Families are also given a free token worth $5.00 for fresh produce at the farmers market. (At the 2023 event, tokens were limited to the first 150 families who attended.)

 

Twice a year—spring and fall—there are literacy pop-ups. In 2023, one was held at The Udder Side in Jonesville and another at Reading Pizza Barn in Reading. The events run for two hours, but families can come and go as needed. Wendy says they are based around a book and the story is read several times during the event. “There are different tables with agencies that have activities and those usually go along with the theme of the book. So that’s another event where they can pick out a free book to take home and they hear a story read.”

 

All the literacy events held by the HCGSC include an opportunity to select a new book to take home. The events are free and there are no eligibility requirements. The only stipulation is that children must live in Hillsdale County.

 

Stefanie emphasizes that she and Wendy may be the only staff at HCGSC, but there is enormous support and help given by community agencies that partner with them. “For events like Storywalk, it’s not unusual to have a dozen different agencies that are partnering with us,” she explains.

 

You can learn more about the Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative and get the latest on programs and events by visiting their website at greatstarthillsdale.com and by following them on Facebook: Great Start Hillsdale County.