Help Me Grow is a service of the Cass Great Start Collaborative. We believe that all children should be able to grow, develop, and thrive to reach their full potential.

Whether a parent has a concern, or just wants to know more about their child’s development, Help Me Grow Cass is here to help. Connect with us!

Help Me Grow Cass is here to help families find:

  • Child development
  • Parent resources
  • Preschool and Childcare
  • Home visiting programs
  • Community services

The Great Start Collaborative of Cass County is a partnership of community leaders, business owners, charitable and faith-based organizations, health and human service agencies, educators, and parents. Together, these groups work to provide a network of resources that help families obtain services that will allow their children to succeed in every facet of their lives. The Collaborative offers families a one-stop resource, where all of Cass County’s programs and services have been researched and can be matched to your family’s needs.

The Cass Great Start Parent Coalition is a group of parents and caregivers who get together to connect and learn with other families. The Parent Coalition works to raise awareness and support for early childhood programming in the community and gives parents a voice in shaping programs and services used by young children and their families in Cass County. We have a wide mix of ways to be involved.

To learn more about the Cass Great Start Parent Coalition or how to join CLICK HERE.

Heritage Southwest ISD

The Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District (ISD) is incorporated in the state of Michigan. ISDs function as regional service centers to provide special education, instructional services, and career technical education coordination for local school districts.  

Heritage Southwest ISD currently employs more than 175 persons. Its geographic coverage encompasses approximately 487 square miles and includes most of Cass County and small portions of Berrien, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties in lower southwest Michigan. Four local school districts: Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, and Marcellus, as well as the county’s private and parochial schools, depend on the Heritage Southwest ISD for the provision and coordination of general and specialized services.

Almost 8,000 students, enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grades, represent the primary consumers that the ISD incorporates into its strategic education plan.

Mission Statement

“Learning for All…Whatever It Takes”

All in all, Heritage Southwest ISD’s mission and purpose is SERVICE! We serve as a liaison between the local school districts and the Michigan Department of Education and as your educational service agency “helping Cass County Schools help kids.”

Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District (HSISD) provides significant leadership in the oversight of Great Start funding, strategic planning, and annual work plans. HERITAGE SOUTHWEST ISD is Great Start’s fiscal agent performing accounting and financial management.