Early On
Early On® is an IDEA mandated initiative designed to provide unduplicated, comprehensive services to eligible infants and toddlers and their families. RESA collaborates with Local Districts and other Wayne County human service agencies in the delivery of services and acts as the fiscal agent for the nearly $5.2 million in Early On® funds.
Be a Game Changer
Parents are the MVP in their child’s life, be a game changer and call us if you have a concern for your child’s development. Early On is here to coach parents and caregivers to support their child’s learning in everyday routines. View our additional videos further down this page.
Making a Referral
To make a referral for Early On, please use one of the following methods:
- Call the Wayne RESA Referral Hotline: (734) 334-1393 or 1-800-EARLYON.
- Email: adamss@resa.net
- Online: Visit the state referral website using the button below.
Help Me Grow(opens in new window): A network of Wayne County community partners committed to ensuring ALL children under the age of 5 receive routine developmental screenings.
Help Me Grow is for families of all children (prenatal to age 5) who may need support with:
- Behavior concerns
- Parenting questions
- Preschool (free or tuition-based)
- Childcare
- Basic needs, such as diapers or formula
- Home visiting
- Developmental screening
- Early On or Build Up referrals
When you fill out an inquiry form, a consultant from Help Me Grow will contact you. You can also contact Help Me Grow Wayne County at (313) 410-4588.
Early On® Overview for Providers and Parents
Discover how families and early-intervention teams work together through Early On Michigan to support infants and toddlers with developmental delays from birth to age 3.
Early On® Additional Parent Testimonials
Watch this video to learn how Early On has helped families of children from birth to age three become powerful opportunities for young children’s development, with support from Early On Michigan.
PDF Downloads Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) Membership Roster and Schedule
Early On Agencies
Cathy Liesman, CEO
17321 Telegraph
Detroit, MI 48219
(313) 255-0900
(313) 255-5681 – fax
cliesman@develctrs.org
Beth Stanley, Early On Manager
ICC Executive Board Secretary
Early Childhood & Family Services
17321 Telegraph
Detroit, MI 48219
(313) 255-0900 ext. 2125
(313) 591-4168
(313) 255-3594 – fax
bstanley@develctrs.org
Pam Weaver, MI Early Years Director
Early Childhood & Family Services
(313) 255-0900 ext. 2114
pweaver@devlctrs.org
Chitter Chatter, PC
Suha Farhoud
23663 Park Street
Dearborn, MI 48124
(313) 689-5188
(313) 778-5188
sfarhoud@chitterchatterpc.com
Jacqueline Jaber, CEO
23663 Park Street
Dearborn, MI 48124
(917) 535-2525
jjaber@chitterchatterpc.com
School Districts
Detroit Public Schools Community District
Lohren Nzoma, Assistant Superintendent
Exceptional Student Education (ESE)
Fisher Building- 9th Floor-West
3011 W. Grand Blvd., Suite 900
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 873-7740
(313) 494-0998 - fax
Shari Kelly, Intake Coordinator
Early Intervention Diagnostic Center
4555 John C Lodge
Detroit, Michigan 48201
(313) 263-2862
(313) 494-0998 – fax
Shari.kelly@detroitk12.org
Dr. Kyana Smith, ESE Lead Administrator (Birth-5)
Early Intervention Diagnostic Center
4555 John C Lodge
Detroit, Michigan 48201
(313) 509-6150
(313) 494-0998 - fax
donna.payne@detroitk12.org
Darlene Byrd, Intake Coordinator
Early Intervention Diagnostic Center
4555 John C Lodge
Detroit, Michigan 48201
(313) 263-2863
(313) 494-0998 - fax
Darlene.byrd@detroitk12.org
Ericka Davis, Supervisor
Early Intervention Diagnostic Center
4555 John C Lodge
Detroit MI 48201
Ericka.davis@detroitk12.org
Livonia Public Schools
Maegan Sprow, Special Education Director
15125 Farmington Road
Livonia, MI 48154
(734) 744-2615
(734) 744-2574 – fax
msprow@livoniapublicschools.org
Katie Dodge, Supervisor
Jackson Early Childhood Center
32025 Lyndon
Livonia, MI 48154
(734) 744-2813 ext. 22990
(734) 744-2814 - fax
kdodge@livoniapublicschools.org
Lisa Schwartz, Early On Coordinator
32025 Lyndon
Livonia MI 48154
(734) 306-1388
Lschwart4@livoniapublicschools.org
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Stefanie Hayes, Executive Director
454 S. Harvey
Plymouth, MI 48170
(734) 582-6807
stefanie.hayes@pccsk12.com
Milestones Early On
Kitty Hjelmroth, Supervisor
11100 N. Haggerty
Plymouth, MI 48170
(734) 582-6974
kitty.hjelmroth@pccsk12.com
Grosse Pointe Public School System
Kristen P. Boucher, Early Intervention Specialist
20090 Morningside
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
(313) 432-5561
bouchek@gpschools.org
Milestones Early On
Lisa Dougherty, Special Education Supervisor
20090 Morningside
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
(313)432-5670
(313)432-3852 – fax
doughel@gpschools.org
Redford Union Schools DHH
Redford Union Schools DHH
Robyn Stern, Supervisor
27100 Bennett Rd.
Redford MI 48240
(313) 242-3510
rstern@redfordu.k12.mi.us
Redford Union Schools DHH
Julie Touchberry, TC for the Hearing Impaired
(313) 242-3525
(313) 242-3510
touchbj@redfordu.k12.mi.us
Wayne-Westland Community Schools
Mona Mallad, Sr Exec Director of Special Education
Wayne Memorial High School
3001 Fourth Street
Wayne, MI 48184
(734) 419-2071
malladm@wwcsd.net
Deborah Sullivan, Early On Intake – ICC Chair
3001 Fourth St.
Wayne, MI 48184
(734) 419-2646
(734) 595-2629 – fax
sullivand@wwcsd.net
Dennis McBride, Director of Special Education
Wayne Memorial High School Annex
3001 Fourth Street
Wayne MI 48184
mcbridd@wwcsd.net
Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Trenton Public Schools
Andrea Thorn, Director of Special Education
2601 Charleton
Trenton MI 48183
(734) 676-3515
thorna@trentonschools.com
Melissa Behnan, DHH Director
2601 Charlton
Trenton MI 48183
(734) 682-4581
Behnanm@trentonschools.com
Woodhaven-Brownstown School District
Matt Salah, Special Services Director
22650 Sibley Road
Brownstown, MI 48193
(734) 783-3322
(734) 281-3761 – fax
salahm@wbsdweb.com
Irene Miekis, Supervisor
22650 Sibley Road
Brownstown, MI 48193
(734) 783-3322
miekisi@wbsdweb.com
Jennie Everet, Intake Coordinator
(734) 558-9653
everetj@wbsdweb.com
Parent Representatives
Carol Matthews, ICC Parent Representative
uofmatthews@yahoo.com
Jacqueline Golden
Jmreed17@gmail.com
Muzna Sarwar, ICC Parent Representative
Muzna.sarwar@gmail.com
Rolonda Blackmon
Rolondablack92@gmail.com
Sabrina Claude McGahee
sabrinamcgahee@gmail.com
Emily Spotts
emjohn@umich.edu
Salina Mann
mssalinamann@gmail.com
Rebecca Reilly
Rebecca.levergood.reilly@gmail.com
Community Representatives
Courtney Barnes, Michigan Alliance for Families
(734) 363-8220
courtney.b@michiganallianceforfamilies.org
Dara Wilson, Michigan Alliance for Families
(313) 355-3610
dara@michiganallianceforfamilies.org
Khalilah Montgomery, The ARC NW Wayne County
(313) 532-7915 x 200
kmotgomery@thearcnw.org
Dr. LaShorage Shaffer, University of Michigan Dearborn
(313) 593-5092
lshaffe@umich.edu
Matrix Head Start Program
Cristal Claussen, Children Services Director
1400 Woodbridge
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 962-5255 ext. 1620
cclaussen@matrixhs.org
Marisol Hermosillo, Disability Supervisor
(313) 962-5255 ext. 1690
(313) 717-5112
Ruby Jones, Assistant Disability Supervisor
(313) 962-5255 ext. 1695
(313) 854-2438
rjones@matrixhs.org
Rhonda Newson, MSM/Disability/Mental Health Mgr & Trauma Smart Facilitation
(313) 308-8030 ext. 2323
rnewson@matrixhs.org
The Order of the Fisherman Ministry Head Start
Shinia Malloy, Education/Disability Manager
10047 Grand River
Detroit, MI 48204
(313) 933-0300 ext. 140
Shinia.malloy@tofmhs.org
Tameka Dwyer, Exec Director
(313)-933-0300 ext. 110
Tameka.dwyer@tofmhs.org
Starfish Family Services
Lindsey Lockhart, Infant and Early Childhood Developmental Services Manager
30000 Hiveley St.
Inkster, MI 48141
(517) 599-0090
lbigs@sfish.org
Jennifer Jonika (Alt Rep)
30000 Hiveley St.
Inkster MI 48141
jjonika@sfish.org
United Children and Family Head Start
Angela Dunklin, Early Childhood Education/Disability Service Specialist
9641 Harper Avenue
Detroit, MI 48213
(313) 432-1000 x228
jweathers@ucfhs.org
Yvette Sharpley, Health/Mental Service Specialist
(313) 432-1000
Ysharpley@ucfhs.org
Kimberly Ogletree, Site Operations Manager
(313) 613-7944
The Guidance Center
Michele Lopez, Early Head Start/Disability Specialist
18800 Walnut Street
Southgate, MI 48195
(734) 785-7705 x 7157
(734) 282-5546 – fax
mlopez@iamtgc.net
Genie Lewis, Infant Mental Health
2200 Dalsas Ave
Royal Oak MI 48067
(734) 237-5760
glewis@iamtgc.net
Great Start Collaborative-Wayne
Laketa Thompson, Director
7445 Allen Road, Suite 160
Allen Park, MI 48101
(313) 437-1622
(734) 283-3725 – fax
laketa@everybodyready.org
Help Me Grow Detroit - Wayne
Kaela Wright, Project Manager
(313) 410-4588
kaela@greatstartwayne.org
Amber Anderson, Systems and Technology Lead
(313) 410-4588
Amber@greatstartwayne.org
Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency
Whole Family Early OnWanda Oputa, Mental Health/Disability Manager
19258 Kelly
Harper Woods, MI 48225
(313) 202-0320
(313) 521-3560 – fax
woputa@waynemetro.org
Marnise Henry, Mental Health/Disability Coordinator
(313) 998-0665
mhenry@waynemetro.org
Patricia Ulman, EECD Assistant Director
4671 Parker St.
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125
(313) 203-1623
pulman@waynemetro.org
Elise Mitchell, Referral Coordinator
(313) 203-1631
emitchell@waynemetro.org
Wayne County Health Department
Catharine Oliver
33030 Van Born Road
Wayne, MI 48184
(734) 727-7046
coliver@waynecounty.com
JoAnn Wall
(734) 727-7046
jwall@waynecounty.com
Focus: HOPE Early Learning
Jordan Ervin
1550 Oakman Blvd
Detroit MI 48238
(313) 334-1243
Jordan.ervin@focushope.edu
Michigan Hands and Voices
Muzna Sarwar
muzna@mihandsandvoices.org
Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC)
Michigan Alliance for Families Resources
The Michigan Alliance for Families created six videos titled, "Making the Most of Early On." These short videos are specifically designed to help parents understand and navigate the supports and services available for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.
- What is Early On?(Video, opens in new window)
- Natural Environments(Video, opens in new window)
- Parent to Parent Advice(Video, opens in new window)
- Transition from Early On(Video, opens in new window)
- Preschool(Video, opens in new window)
- About Michigan Alliance for Families(Video, opens in new window)
Each video includes closed captions in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Michigan Alliance for Families (more information)
Each video topic includes closed captions in English, Spanish, and Arabic. In addition to the videos, families can find more early intervention resources at michiganallianceforfamilies.org/babies-and-toddlers(opens in new window).
Parents and professionals can view the video collection via:
- YouTube Channel: youtube.com/michiganalliance(Video, opens in new window)
- Direct Website Access: michiganallianceforfamilies.org/videos/(opens in new window)
Michigan Alliance for Families provides free information, referrals, and mentoring regarding special education. Families seeking assistance with early intervention or special education matters can connect with a Parent Mentor in their region by calling 1-800-552-4821 or emailing info@michiganallianceforfamilies.org.
Michigan Alliance for Families is a Michigan Department of Education Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Grant Funded Initiative, supported by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). As Michigan’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center, they provide support and education for families of children (birth through age 26) who receive or may be eligible for special education services.
