Coalitions
A community coalition is an alliance of diverse individuals, local organizations, businesses, and leaders who come together to address complex issues that no single group can solve alone. By combining their unique strengths, expertise, and resources, ranging from healthcare and education to grassroots advocacy and government support, coalitions build a unified network of care. Rather than working in isolation, members align their efforts around a shared mission, allowing them to coordinate services more efficiently, influence local policies, and drive sustainable, long-term change that directly reflects and serves the needs of their community.
Reach out to learn more about our work in the community
Healthy Babies Hosted by the Shaw Center
Healthy Babies is a collaborative network of social workers, medical professionals, and community advocates dedicated to uplifting and supporting under-resourced families. Since 2003, this group has served as a vital sounding board, bringing professionals together to share critical resources, forge meaningful professional connections, and strengthen the collective safety net for local families.
To better serve our network, Healthy Babies meets monthly in a fully virtual format, making collaboration and resource-sharing more accessible than ever. Each session highlights local initiatives, introduces emerging community resources, and highlights impactful work happening right here in our neighborhoods.
Missed a meeting? To ensure these valuable insights reach as many people as possible, all sessions are recorded and archived on the Shaw Center’s YouTube Page, expanding access to vital information and extending our collective impact far beyond the live meetings.
Head Start of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties Indiana
At the Shaw Center, we believe that foundational growth happens early, which is why we are incredibly proud to partner with the Head Start Program. As a federally funded school readiness initiative, Head Start provides vital cognitive, social, and emotional development skills to children from birth to age five. Through this collaboration, we help extend these crucial services to low-income families across Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, aligning closely with local school corporations—including Baugo, Concord, Elkhart, Goshen, John Glenn, Middlebury, Mishawaka, Penn-Harris-Madison, South Bend, Union North, and Wa-Nee. By mirroring the calendar of the school corporation in which each child resides, we ensure a seamless, predictable routine for both families and educators.
Prevent Child Abuse St. Joseph County Indiana
Our commitment to protecting the youngest members of our community is strengthened through our close collaboration with Prevent Child Abuse St. Joseph County (PCASJC). Established in 1993 as a charter member of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, PCASJC brings together a dedicated network of business professionals, social service workers, educators, foster parents, and volunteers. Together, we work toward a shared mission: stopping child abuse before it occurs by creating a community that deeply treasures and protects its children. Through targeted public awareness campaigns, education, and direct advocacy, this partnership allows us to champion the nurturing environments that local families need to thrive.
Ready to Grow St. Joe
Shaw is proud to be an active part of Ready to Grow St. Joe, a vibrant network of over 100 local agencies and early childhood stakeholders working collectively to ensure every child in St. Joseph County has the foundation to thrive. Originally sparked in 2014 by four champion organizations looking to reshape early childhood resources, this coalition acts as a powerful convener and connector in our community. Together, we are committed to a vital mission: coordinating a seamless system of support so that all children from birth to age eight can succeed in school, work, and life, regardless of their zip code or socio-economic circumstances.