The Great Start Collaborative

Family celebrating baby's birthday helping blow out the candles on a cake.Group of preschoolers running across a lawn.Mom and dad with two young boys.

Every child deserves a great start.

Your child’s first 2,000 days matter more than you think. From birth to the first day of kindergarten, a child’s brain is growing at an amazing pace. By the time they start school, 85% of their brain will already be developed! These early years are a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a strong foundation for learning, behavior, and health.

Simple things like talking, reading, singing, playing, and giving love help shape a child’s brain and set them up for success. Good nutrition, nurturing relationships, and fun early learning experiences all make a huge difference.

You’re not just raising a child, you’re building a brain. And that’s powerful.

When we invest time and care in children early on, it leads to big rewards. Every cuddle, story, and healthy meal counts!

A focus on the strengths of families through the 5 Protective Factors helps provide a foundation of support and set families and children up for success.

  1. Parental Resilience: Showing their inner strengths.

  2. Social Connections: Making friends.

  3. Concrete Supports: Asking for help.

  4. Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development: Learning to be their child’s expert.

  5. Social and Emotional Competence of Children: Giving their child tools and words to express how they feel.

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