To the Editor,

Over a year ago I was invited to hear a speaker from North Carolina talk about the “economic impact of early childhood development.”  Being a board advisor to Communities In School of the Tecumseh Area, and volunteering with kids issues for several years, I was brought to a new level of understanding of what it actually meant to prepare children for life.

The message centered on making the kids of the community “tax payers” versus “tax consumers.”  I must say that I was really blown away with the studies presented that showed the impact of early childhood development on the future of a community especially given our economic picture in Lenawee County.  More importantly, how crucial the development in the first few years of life could actually increase the well being of a community some 20 years later.

I realized that day that I would be involved in some way to insure that early childhood development would happen in our community and we could reap the benefits long term by raising healthy, vital children that are prepared to learn when they reach school age.  This goal is becoming a reality with the development of the Lenawee Great Start Collaborative.  The collaborative is made up of committed people of this county to see that our children are raised with all the services they need to achieve success.  I encourage you to find out more about this initiative by contacting the Great Start office at 424-1000 or by visiting our website at www.lenaweegreatstart.org.

Thomas Pinard, DC
LGSC Vice-Chair