The Bulletin

February 2023

Our hearts are broken with the Michigan State University community following Monday night’s tragic shooting. At the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, we know that many parents and caregivers may be struggling with how to talk with young children about gun violence. Here are resources from the National Association of School Psychologists (available in multiple languages) and PBS to support you. Community resources are also available through SAMHSA's Distress Helpline. They offer crisis counseling and support 24/7, 365 days a year for those experiencing emotional distress related to triggering events or community violence. You can call or text 1-800-985-5990, or visit DisasterDistress.samhsa.gov. Spanish language support is also available by pressing "2."

In the News: State Executive Budget Proposal

On February 8, 2023, Governor Whitmer presented her Administration's recommendations for the next budget year, which begins on October 1, 2023 and ends on September 30, 2024 (FY2024). In the address before a joint session of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the Governor touted that the plan that will lower costs, grow Michigan’s economy, and build a brighter future for anyone who wants to call Michigan home.  

Here are a few highlights on how young children and their families are prioritized: 

• Early Care and Education 
• $73.5 million for child care to maintain subsidy eligibility at 200% of the federal poverty level, continue pay by enrollment policies, and support the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program. 
• $24 million to create a Child Care Educators Income Tax Credit of up to $3,000 per year for eligible workers.
• $7.5 million for Great Start Collaboratives and $2 million for home visiting (Great Start Early Childhood Grants). 
• $257.3 million to achieve universal pre-k through a phased in approach that expands the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), Michigan’s state funded 4-year-old preschool program. 
• $18 million over three years for the GSRP 3-year-old preschool pilot program. 

• Maternal and Child Health 
• $57.9 million to expand Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiatives. 



• Early Intervention
• $1 million to increase funding for Early On. 
• 
  
• Cross-Sector Workforce
• $50 million to strengthen the early childhood workforce by assessing the needs, updating and promoting career pathways, piloting training and credentialing programs, and to increase recruitment efforts. 

Join ECIC's Child Care Innovation Fund, the Michigan Department of Education, and other early care and education apprenticeship partners for An ECE Registered Apprenticeship Roundtable on May 23, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

This webinar is for people and organizations who are interested in learning more about: 

• How the work toward creating sustainable policy and funding for early care and education (ECE) apprenticeship is going.
• Where ECE registered apprenticeships will be placed on the MiRegistry Career Pathway for Early Childhood and School Age Professionals. 
• What MI’s current ECE apprenticeship sponsoring agencies and their employer, workforce, and wrap-around supports partners are learning.
• How partners in MI are responding to CDA challenges being experienced by early educators and their employers. 
• Future opportunities for funding. 

Click here to register today! 

To read more about ECIC's Child Care Innovation Fund, including an update about future funding opportunities, and to stay informed, click here.

Grant Opportunity: Michigan Nonprofit Relief Activation Fund

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) in partnership with the Michigan Nonprofit Assocation will be releasing information on the Michigan Nonprofit Relief Activation Fund in the coming weeks.

This is a grant opportunity is open to small Michigan nonprofits with revenue under $2 million, negatively impacted by the pandemic, to allow them to continue to expand programming in categories of housing assistance, child care assistance, assistance to adopt high speed interest and other workforce barrier elimination, or similar services allowed through the American Rescue Plan that help people under the ALICE threshold. LEO and the MNA are currently establishing the requirements of this grant program.

The BUILD Initiative hosted a webinar which featured a presentation by Nellie Tsai of the Michigan Nonprofit Association regarding the grant opportunity. You can find the webinar recording here and the PowerPoint deck here.

Be on the lookout for this grant announcement by signing up for e-mail alerts here. The BUILD Initiative will also send out the announcement as soon as it is released. 

In Policy: Acting for Young Kids & Families

Lifting Our Voices: Michele Corey Child Advocacy Sumit

Registration is now open for the inaugural Michele Corey Child Advocacy Summit, presented by Michigan’s Children, and targeted to honor grassroots advocates and activists working to make Michigan a more equitable place for children, youth and families. The day-long program takes place on April 27, 2023 at the Lansing Radisson Hotel.  

Titled “Lifting our Voices,” this first-time policy and advocacy event was designed to validate and honor the work of unsung community she-roes and heroes, and provide a place for learning and networking, said Michigan’s Children President & CEO Matt Gillard.  Advocates, program providers, caregivers, and career professionals seeking to better engage the voices of youth and families are invited to attend. The event is being offered at no cost to individuals, but space is capped at 200 participants. 

The Summit is inspired by the life of Michele Corey, a nationally recognized advocate and public policy expert who committed her life to teaching others how to share their experiences with decision-makers to improve public policies and programs. Joining Michigan’s Children early in her career, Michele rose to the rank of vice president, helping to lead the nonprofit for over two decades. She passed away two years ago. 

“As we looked at ways to honor Michele’s legacy, we decided nothing would have pleased her more than to bring together other passionate advocates, and help empower them in their pursuits,” Gillard added. 

The event, which runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature speakers, presentations, a KidSpeak, and break-out sessions designed to bolster the advocacy muscle of individuals and advocacy groups. 

State Policy: Lowering MI Costs Initiatives

A major priority for the Governor and the new Legislature led by Democrats is the expansion of the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, or the Working Families Tax Credit. As a part of her Lowering MI Costs Plan, the Governor’s budget proposal included a boost to the credit to 30% of the federal EITC, which could benefit 700,000 families with nearly 1 million children in the state. Currently the legislation (HB 4001) needed to make the change is on the Senate floor awaiting action. 

Federal Policy: Budget

Recently, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reintroduced legislation, Child Care for Every Community (CCEC) Act while other members of Congress also continue to lead the call for investments in early care education. Advocates are working tirelessly to educate Congress about the need for additional investments in early childhood, particularly as federal COVID-relief funds begin to expire and debt ceiling negotiations continue with potential cuts for federal early care and learning programs. The President’s budget proposal for the next year is expected to be released on March 9th. Stay tuned for how you can take action. 

Federal Policy: Congressional Dads Caucus

Recently, U.S. Representatives Jimmy Gomez, Rashida Tlaib, Joaquin Castro, Andy Kim, Jamaal Bowman, Rob Menendez, Dan Goldman, Joe Neguse, and advocates from Paid Leave for All, National Alliance for Caregiving, and MomsRising held a press conference to launch the Congressional Dads Caucus. 

The Congressional Dads Caucus will provide a forum for Members of Congress to advocate for legislation that supports working families. Caucus members believe in policy solutions that help working families thrive, including, paid family and medical leave policies for all parents, expanding the Child Tax Credit, increasing access to childcare, and other policies that reduce poverty and ease the burden on working parents. 

In addition to supporting legislation that advances these solutions, the Caucus will host briefings and events designed to educate and inform Members of Congress and the public about the needs of working parents, including a national paid family and medical leave program and affordable childcare. These events will allow Members to interact with children and families directly to hear the stories of the challenges and opportunities they experience. 

Read more

In our Community 

Get Involved 

Provider's Corner 

First Steps Kent - Equity Talks Video Series

First Steps Kent seeks to dismantle structural racism and improve the outcomes for people of color. This video series provides tools to guide future educators and parents when having discussions about race and bias. Learn more.