About 5toONE
5toONE and The Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay are here for you. There is a clear path to a brighter economic future, and it depends on how we raise our youngest children. From the very beginning, a child is at the center of a web or network of relationships that contribute to her/his optimal development.
The mission of the Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay and Great Start Parents is to make this the best place in the world to raise a child—by ensuring that a strong system of resources is available to all families and the most vulnerable children receive the supports they need to succeed.
Early Childhood, Make it Count!
- Early childhood matters because experiences early in life can have a lasting impact on later learning, behavior, and health.
- All of society benefits from investments in early childhood programs.
- Early life experiences actually get under the skin and into the body, with lifelong effects on adult physical and mental health.
A Timeline
Regional Efforts in Support of Early Childhood
| 2005 | The Great Start initiative is created by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. |
| 2008 | The Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay is formed and leadership seated. |
| 2013 | A regional survey is conducted. Parents want: connections to resources and fun things to do with kids. |
| 2014 | 5toONE is created by the Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay, to bring regional efforts into one network of early childhood partners, families, and regional champions. |
5toONE Project Goals
- Kindergarten Readiness: Children healthy, thriving and developmentally ready to succeed in school and life
- Childcare: Access to affordable, high quality early care and learning
- Strengthen Families: Reduce incidence of child abuse and neglect
Please Join us!
TBAISD, Great Start, 5toONE and the greater early childhood community is here for you and would love to have you involved!Here are some easy ways:
- Like our page: facebook.com/5toONEneighborhoodnetwork
- Come play at one of our playgroups!
- Join one or more of our parent advisory groups
- Donate time or energy to early childhood
- Become a representative on the Great Start Collaborative!
If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact us at 231-922-6437or email: hello@5toone.org
Members & Partners
- Avenue ISR
- Benzie County Human Services Collaborative
- Benzie/Manistee Department of Health & Human Services
- Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department
- Betsie Valley Elementary School/5toONE Neighborhood Center
- Born to Read
- Buckley Community Schools GSRP Program/5toONE Neighborhood Center
- Centra Wellness
- Consumers Energy
- COGNiTion Science & Discovery Center
- District 10 Health Department
- DTE Energy
- Elk Rapids School District
- Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools
- Grand Traverse Baby Pantry
- Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians/Benodjenh Center
- Grand Traverse Bay YMCA
- Grand Traverse County Health Department
- Grand Traverse County Collaborative
- Grand Traverse/Kalkaska/Leelanau Department of Health & Human Services
- Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
- Great Lakes Children’s Museum/5toONE Neighborhood Center
- Great Start to Quality NW Resource Center
- Grow Benzie/5toONE Neighborhood Center
- Health Department of Northwest Michigan
- Healthy Futures
- Incredible Mo’s/5toONE Neighborhood Center
- Interlochen Public Library/5toONE Neighborhood Center
- James Rowlett, Community Member
- Kalkaska County Collaborative
- Kalkaska County Library/5toONE Neighborhood Center
- Kalkaska Public Schools
- Lake Ann United Methodist Church/5toONE Neighborhood Center
- Leelanau Children’s Center
- Leelanau County Family Coordinating Council
- Leelanau Early Childhood Development Commission
- Mancelona Public Schools
- Michigan State University Extension
- Munson Health Care
- Northern Lakes Community Mental Health
- NorthSky NonProfit
- Northwest Michigan
- Community Action Agency/Head Start, Early Head Start
- Northwest Michigan HealthServices
- Northwestern Michigan College
- Parenting Communities
- PNC Bank
- PoWeR Bookbags
- Rotary Charities of Traverse City
- The Children’s House
- The Honorable Nancy Kida, retired
- Traverse Area Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic
- Traverse Bay Area Children’s Advocacy Center
- Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District
- Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce
- Traverse City Area Public Schools
- TraverseCONNECT
- United Way of Northwest Michigan
- Venture North Funding & Development
- Parents Residing in:
- Antrim County
- Benzie County
- Grand Traverse County
- Kalkaska County
- Leelanau County
- Supporters:
- Cherry Capital Foods
- Grand Traverse League of Women Voters
- Leelanau League of Women Voters
- Norte Youth Cycling