By: Jack Bodle, Nutrition SpecialistAt Starfish Family Services, our Nutrition Specialists play a crucial role in ensuring the children in our care receive the nourishment they need to thrive. Working alongside our dedicated food service team, they carefully source ingredients, prepare nutritious meals, and distribute them daily to over 800 children. However, their impact goes far beyond serving meals. Supporting Every Child’s Unique Needs Nutrition Specialists at Starfish accommodate both medical and non-medical dietary needs, including allergies, intolerances, and religious or cultural food preferences. They develop menus aligned with USDA guidelines, closely monitor children’s growth and development, and ensure that food safety remains a top priority. This commitment means every child has access to balanced meals that meet their specific needs. The Power of Family-Style Dining At Starfish, mealtime is about more than just eating. Our Family-Style Dining approach … [Read more...]

Like most parents, Quosham and his wife Shaquria are doing everything they can to set their four young sons up for success. Understandably, they want to see their children thrive and they make intentional choices that will have the most positive impact. Quosham says that one of the best decisions they have made was to enroll their boys in a Starfish Family Services Early Childhood Education Center. When their oldest sons, Jay’Sham and Bray’Sham were three and two years old, Quosham and Shaquria were looking for opportunities for them outside of the home, to be around other children. Shaquria especially wanted something that would support them educationally. They enrolled the boys at our Hiveley location in Inkster, close to their home. Very quickly, they knew they had found even more than what they were looking for at Starfish. Each year through Starfish, 4,000 children, youth, and families are supported through integrated and holistic programs that focus on healthy families, … [Read more...]

The Kids Count Data book provides population data on all children across the United States from birth to age 17. Michigan is home to 650,317 children under the age of five. 20% of those children reside in Wayne County, the largest population of young children across the entire state. In the 2024 Kids Count report, which covers through 2022, there is striking data regarding Michigan’s youngest and most vulnerable children:  The statistics above demonstrate the critical need for diverse programming that supports infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families. The first five years of a child’s life are the most critical due to rapid brain development. These early years lay the foundation for future educational, relational, and life-long success. Early childhood professionals from all disciplines work tirelessly to educate, support, and empower families with young children to mitigate the risks and increase positive outcomes.   At Starfish, we support early … [Read more...]

By: Marisa Nicely, Chief Operating Officer My name is Maria Isabel Farinacci Musgrave, but most of you know me as Marisa Nicely. I’m proud to be a Latina and the Chief Operating Officer of Starfish Family Services. Today, I’d like to share a bit about my journey—from being an ESL student to becoming a leader at Starfish. It’s a story of identity, resilience, and the power of embracing one’s heritage. Celebrating National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month is a time to honor the rich traditions, diverse cultures, and lasting contributions of Latinx individuals in the U.S. This month, I want to offer a glimpse into my personal journey as a Puerto Rican woman navigating leadership and how my heritage has shaped who I am today. Embracing Two Worlds Moving to the U.S. as a young Puerto Rican came with its fair share of challenges and opportunities. I found myself walking a tightrope between two cultures—my Puerto Rican roots and the customs … [Read more...]