Now is the time to ensure lawmakers hear from you on why they must prioritize Michigan’s youngest children in their decision-making on state investments. Michigan’s state budget process continues to move forward with the House and Senate beginning to approve their versions of the FY25 budget. These budgets will have major implications for our state’s early childhood system. Think Babies Michigan urges you to take action and share your stories now on the early childhood issues below. 

Take Action: Contact your state legislators via phone, email, and office visits and urge them to prioritize the following investments to support young children and families in Michigan.

1 Oppose proposed changes in the House School Aid and Education budget that would prevent community-based organizations and child care providers from operating GSRP and receiving expansion funds as a part of PreK for All. If adopted, these budget provisions will have unintended consequences for children, families, and the stability of Michigan’s mixed delivery child care system. The proposed changes counter Gov. Whitmer's PreK for All Roadmap, and will cause severe negative impacts on community-based organizations, like Head Start, and child care providers and their ability to stay open to serve families.

2 Include $130 million to restore the 26% cut to child care subsidy/scholarship rates. Last fall, providers experienced a reduction in rates when federal ARPA child care stabilization funds ended. The immediate restoration of these funds is essential to prevent the closure of essential child care businesses across the state and will serve as a first step toward funding the state’s early care and education system at the true cost of care. 

3 Invest $36.5 million to continue funding Infant Toddler Quality Improvement Pilot grants or an alternative contract mechanism to address the state’s imminent infant/toddler care supply crisis. This would also help bring the state into compliance with the new federal CCDF Rule requiring states to provide some contracts and/or grants to child care providers serving infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children in underserved geographic areas in the child care subsidy system. 

4 Support the Governor’s $60 million budget request for financial assistance to child care workers to help offset the cost of child care for their own children and expand the benefit to also include the Early On and home visiting workforce. This investment will provide critical support for the cross-sector early childhood workforce, which is experiencing a statewide shortage. 

5 Support the House budget proposal that would increase Early On (54d) funding by $17 million. Early On is Michigan’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. The program emphasizes early identification and referral to minimize delays and maximize developmental outcomes.

6 Support the Governor’s proposal for $2.5 million to expand the number of CenteringPregnancy sites across the state where expecting mothers can engage in group-based dialogue with peers and health care providers. CenteringPregnancy is an evidence-based prenatal care model that brings together women with common due dates to receive group care led by a physician, resulting in proven positive outcomes in the health of both moms and babies.

7 Support the Governor’s request for $4.9 million to continue support for Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies doula services. This includes $2 million for increases in Medicaid reimbursement for doula care, and $2.9 million for doula training and continuing education supports. Doulas are trained birth professionals that provide non-clinical emotional, physical, and informational support to pregnant people and their families before, during, and after birth. Doula services positively impact the social determinants of health, support birth equity, and decrease existing health and racial disparities.

8 Support the Governor’s proposed increases for MiLEAP administered Home Visiting and MIHP Home Visiting and increase investments in the rural home visiting program by $2.25 million. Specifically, the Governor proposed a $1 million increase for MILEAP administered 32p(4) HV programs and a $3.3 million increase for Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) HV program. Funding for rural home visiting has not increased in a decade.