Healthy Living Together Series Highlights Early Childhood Development with “Talking is Teaching” Session

McKenzie Health System will continue its 2026 Healthy Living Together series with an engaging and informative session focused on early childhood development. The April event, titled “Talking is Teaching,” will be presented by Julia Albrecht, Director of the Great Start Collaborative.

The session will take place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This presentation will focus on the importance of early language development and how everyday interactions—such as talking, reading, and singing—can help build a strong foundation for a child’s learning and future success. Participants will gain practical tips and simple strategies to support language development in young children.

The Healthy Living Together series provides free, monthly educational opportunities designed to support the health and wellness of individuals and families in Sanilac County and beyond. Each session is offered in person from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the McKenzie Dining Room, with a virtual option available.

Below is the full 2026 Healthy Living Together schedule:

· April 15: Talking is Teaching Julia Albrecht, Director, Great Start Collaborative

· May 20: Fairy Garden Workshop Jen Gezequel, Community Member & Fairy Garden Expert

· June 17: Cooking with Kids Taryn Strausser from Mama's Mission

· July 15: Preserving MI Harvest: Preserving Summer Fruit Laurie Messing, Food Safety Educator, MSU Extension

· August 19: Digital Safety for Seniors – Avoiding Scams Thumb Bank & Trust: Kelly Gerstenberger, Market President; Holly Bonesteel, Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager; Tabitha Ellul, Business Development Specialist

· September 16: Stop the Bleed, Hands Only CPR, & Home Firearm Safety Morgan Fraley, BSN, RN, Stop the Bleed Specialist; Melissa Govea, American Heart Association CPR Instructor; Steve McKenney, Sandusky Chief of Police

· October 21: Aging Well – Staying Connected & Resilient Kelli Braun, Stonegate Village Assisted Living

· November 18: Estate Planning Basics – Wills, Power of Attorney, Trusts, Ladybird Deed, and More Michael Rolando, Attorney, Biddinger, Schrot & Rolando, PC

All sessions are open to the public and free to attend. For more information, visit www.McKenzieHealth.org/Healthy-Living or call 810-648-6127.

Healthy Living Together is a collaborative project developed by McKenzie Health System in partnership with the Sanilac County Health Department, MSU Extension, Great Start Collaborative Sanilac, and Sanilac County Community Mental Health. The series is designed to offer helpful tools, knowledge, and resources that support the health and wellness of individuals and families throughout Sanilac County.