The Great Beginnings Consortium in Marion County has operated as an autonomous coalition of early childhood professionals since 1998. Their mission is to provide a forum for professional networking and development; to recommend policies, priorities, strategies, and evidence-based practices to the Marion County Children and Families Commission; and to provide guidance for the development and implementation of the Early Childhood Plan for Marion County. See below for more information on the Early Childhood Plan. Click here to read the Great Beginnings Flyer.
Components of Marion County's Early Childhood Plan
Health’s Essential: Healthy social-emotional development of young children. Family’s Essential: Families are successful in meeting the needs of their infants and young children, ages 0-5. Early Learning’s Essential: Develop a professional and paraprofessional culturally proficient workforce. Community’s Essential: The community is engaged in supporting a comprehensive system of coordinated, effective, high quality early childhood services and supports. Court Partnership's Essential: Create a relational approach to all child welfare cases, ages 0-5.
Health’s Essential: Healthy social-emotional development of young children.
Family’s Essential: Families are successful in meeting the needs of their infants and young children, ages 0-5.
Early Learning’s Essential: Develop a professional and paraprofessional culturally proficient workforce.
Community’s Essential: The community is engaged in supporting a comprehensive system of coordinated, effective, high quality early childhood services and supports.
Court Partnership's Essential: Create a relational approach to all child welfare cases, ages 0-5.
The Great Beginnings Consortium meets from 8:00am - 10:00am, the 3rd Thursday of every month. Locations vary - Contact Department of Children and Families at 503/ 588-7975 to confirm meeting locations.Click here to see the Great Beginnings Consortium Roster.
The Great Beginnings Consortium publishes a list of early childhood parent resources and a list of parenting classes & supports.In 2003, the Consortium formalized their commitment to the Marion County Children & Families Commission by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (HTML | PDF).This agreement formalizes the mission, responsibilities and membership of the Consortium. Membership includes management-level representatives of any agency or organization in the early childhood system in Marion County, as well as “lay” people and community leaders with an interest in fostering the well-being of families with young children.