Family & Children's Council

Kent County Family and Children's Coordinating Council

Kent County Administration Building
300 Monroe Avenue, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2206
(616) 632-7566

Mission Statement

"The Mission of the Council is to provide leadership to enhance the well being of children, youth, and families in Kent County so that they may achieve their greatest potential."

Family walking on beach About the Council

The Kent County Family & Children’s Coordinating Council was formed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners in 1991 to coordinate and improve services for children, youth, and families in Kent County. The Council is made up of the directors of the County and State departments that provide services to families in Kent County and representatives from education, business, private agencies, private funding organizations, consumers, and advocates. The primary service coordination work of the Council is done through its four committees, which are based on key stages in child development and the recognition that development takes place in the context of a family.

Children's Partner's Executive (birth to age 5), Meeting Schedule
Focus: Healthy early childhood development & school readiness
Service Coordination Goal: Develop a coordinated, integrated system of early childhood services that are voluntary, accessible, culturally competent, and universal, with broad community and legislative support for these services for all families.

School Age Services Committee (ages 5 to 10), Meeting Schedule
Focus: Quality education throughout childhood
Service Coordination Goal: Realign community health and human services to support student achievement, through the development of a collaborative, integrated, effective, and cost efficient education and human services delivery system.

Youth Connections Committee (ages 10 to 18), Meeting Schedule
Focus: Positive adult involvement in the adolescent years
Service Coordination Goal: Increase opportunities for positive adult involvement in the lives of at-risk adolescents and teenagers through strengthening existing mentorship programs and expanding mentorship opportunities.

Ongoing Family Support (the family as a whole), Meeting Schedule
Focus: Healthy functioning families
Service Coordination Goal: Prevent and reduce child abuse and neglect, improve family functioning, and keep children safe in their own homes by enhancing current efforts to identify and treat family substance abuse issues early.

Meeting Schedule

Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact us at kcfccc@kentcountymi.gov or (616) 632-7566 for up-to-date meeting information.

Council Meetings
12:00pm – 1:30pm, Kent/MSU Extension, 775 Ball Avenue, NE

NOTE: County Administrator’s Office provides light refreshments.

• January 10, 2006     • June 6, 2006
• February 7, 2006   • September 12, 2006*
• April 11, 2006*   • November 7, 2006

*Deviate from first Tuesday due to holiday or Spring Break.

Executive Committee Meetings:

Second Thursday of each month, 12:00pm – 1:30pm, Kent County Administration Building, 300 Monroe NW, Room 311

NOTE: County Administrator’s Office Orders Lunches.

• January 12, 2006     • July 13, 2006
• February 9, 2006   • August 10, 2006
• March 9, 2006   • September 14, 2006
• April 11, 2006   • October 12, 2006
• May 11, 2006   • November 9, 2006
• June 8, 2006   • December 14, 2006

Committee Meetings:

Children's Partner's Executive (ages birth to 5): First Monday of every month 3:00pm – 4:30pm, Kent ISD @ Early On

School Age Services Committee: Every 4th Wednesday of the Month from Noon to 1:30 at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. 161 Ottawa Ave, Suite 209-C.

*Lunch is provided while members bring $5 to cover the costs.

Youth Connections Committee; Every Other Month: TBD

* For Mentoring Collaborative meeting dates, contact Janelle Burden of Arbor Circle, (616) 451-3001.

Ongoing Family Support Committee (ages 18+): Third Thursday of every month, 3:00pm – 4:30pm, Arbor Circle 1115 Ball Ave NE

* Note: the OFS committee will not meet in December.

Get Involved

Click here to find out about, and apply for Board-appointed boards, committees, and commissions.

To find out more about joining a committee, contact us at kcfccc@kentcountymi.gov or (616) 336-2593.

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