From its inception, Gr8t Beginnings in Elkhart County continues to work toward ensuring the Collective Impact model is utilized as the core framework of each active work group. Gr8t Beginnings is a county collaboration that works to ensure high-quality developmental opportunities and promote social-emotional well-being for all young children in our community. There is an emphasis on parent engagement as County Coalition stakeholders work diligently to ensure the continuum of embedded resources from school to home. Nearly 40% of Elkhart County families are ALICE families (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed). These families are hardworking individuals looking to obtain high-quality child care resources for their children but are not at the income level to equate to self-sufficiency. Gr8t Beginnings utilizes the stakeholder engagement process to bring businesses, city and state officials, and community organizations to the table to offset the cost and increase the community knowledge base of quality Early Childhood Education. As action groups are formulated to continue to move the Gr8t Beginnings mission forward, the visitation of the “wheel” is imperative. This wheel is utilized to ensure we have the right people at the table committed to the work and creates a platform for stakeholders to “liberate” themselves when the work they have committed to is accomplished and a plan for sustainability is in place.
Early Childhood Coalition Director, Gr8t Beginnings in Elkhart County
I am a current resident of Goshen Indiana, a small town increasing in diversity, surrounded by Amish country. I am the Early Childhood Coalition Director in Elkhart County.
