What's in the State Budget Deal for Early Childhood? | |
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At the end of June, Michigan lawmakers approved a record $81.7 billion state budget for FY24, now on its way to Governor Whitmer for her signature.
ECIC and Think Babies Michigan Coalition partners helped to shape several priorities in the final budget deal, including:
- Increased funding for Great Start Collaboratives and Family Coalitions, evidence-based home visiting programs, early childhood literacy programs, Early On Special education services, and more.
- New funding to waive the five-year waiting period for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility for children under 21 who are legally residing immigrants.
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Increased and new funding to expand free pre-K, a step toward Pre-K for All, including funding to encourage providers (both school-based and community-based) to offer 5-day, 36-week programming.
- The removal of a proposed new school-based pre-K program outside of, and in competition with, the existing Great Start Readiness Program, forcing providers to compete for funding. Special thanks to Think Babies MI coalition members, the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children, and the hundreds of providers, businesses, and families who made their voices heard by signing on to oppose this proposal.
Learn more about the state Budget's impact on early childhood issues in our full summary.
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Lawmakers are moving quickly to advance the budget deal, and Governor Whitmer is expected to sign the deal into law.
Take action and thank your elected officials: Call or email Governor Whitmer, your state representative and state senator to thank them for acting and investing in Michigan’s young children, their families, and the early childhood workforce.
Get ready to take more action soon: There are areas in the state budget deal where early childhood advocates wanted lawmakers to do more, such as increased funding for child care provider rates which can help fund competitive wages for the early care and education workforce.
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Child Care Innovation Fund
Family Child Care Networks Announced
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ECIC’s Child Care Innovation Fund is excited to announce the recipients of the Family Child Care Networks pilot grants, a groundbreaking initiative that is part of Caring for MI Future. This grant opportunity is funded by the $12.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, awarded by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) as part of the Caring for MI Future initiative. Caring for MI Future is a $100 million investment that will help more Michigan families find quality, affordable child care in their community by opening 1,000 new, or expanded, child care programs by the end of 2024.
A total of $3,650,000 in grants will support nine outstanding Hubs across our state, who will co-lead with home-based child care providers to form Family Child Care Networks. These networks will work together to deliver high quality education and care, to run sustainable businesses, and to connect young children, families, and provider members to a range of services that enhance their mental, physical, and social well-being. Congratulations to the awardees. We thank them for their dedication and leadership to ensuring all young children and their families in Michigan thrive.
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These projects are supported by funding provided from the Michigan Department of Education utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. | |
In Policy: Acting for Young Kids & Families | |
Federal Policy: Strolling Thunder 2023 | |
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Christina Kuhn and her daughter, Mara, along with other families from across the nation gathered in Washington, D.C. in June for Zero to Three’s Strolling Thunder! The Kuhn family advocated for the Child Care for Working Families Act, a bill proposing three solutions to the current child care crisis:
- The Birth Through Five Child Care and Early Learning Program, a Federal-State Partnership, to ensure all working families have access to high-quality, affordable child care;
- The Building an Affordable System for Early Education (BASE) Grants to ensure every State receives funding to support child care providers, increase worker pay, and improve access for families; and
- The Universal Preschool Program to expand access to high quality preschool programs.
The bill also provides funding for Head Start agencies to provide full school year and full school day services, and to ensure child care providers receive a living wage. The CCWFA aims to create enough affordable child care that no family spends more than 7% of their income on child care, families earning under 85% of the state median income receive free child care, and expands access to high quality preschool and early learning programs.
Christina and her family met with the offices of three Congress members and received verbal commitments from each one to support the Child Care for Working Families Act.
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State Policy: ICYMI: Governor Whitmer Announces New Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential
Yesterday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order establishing the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, or MiLEAP. The new department aims to add capacity in early learning, prioritizing partnerships with community, regional, and state stakeholders.
To learn more about MiLEAP, read the Governor’s press release here.
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State Policy: Shape Michigan's Pre-K for All Plan
Governor Whitmer wants to hear from you! The recently passed state budget will expand Pre-K access for up to 5,600 kids, making high quality care more accessible and affordable for Michigan families. As the administration continues to plan Pre-K for All, your voice helps our legislators meet the needs of providers and families across Michigan.
Take the Pre-K for All survey to share your thoughts today!
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Local Policy: Detroit City Planning Commission discusses child care zoning restrictions | |
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The Detroit City Planning Commission held a public hearing in late June to consider a Zoning Ordinance text amendment that would expand capacity for home-based child care providers. Chapter 50 of the 2019 Detroit City Code limits where home-based providers can operate, how many children they can care for, and how many parking spaces must be accessible to staff and families. Proponents of the zoning change spoke at the hearing to advocate for increased capacity, citing these zoning restrictions as a contributor to the lack of accessible child care in Detroit.
The City Planning Commission will vote on the zoning changes before presentation to City Council.
Read more.
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In Our Community: Get Involved | |
30 Days of Wishes: National Kinship Care Month | |
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What is kinship care? Kinship care is the full-time care of children by relatives, members of their tribes or clans, godparents, stepparents, or others who are close to the youth and their families. This September, MDHHS and the Kinship Care Resource Center will celebrate exceptional kinship families by fulfilling 30 families’ wishes during the 30 days in September. Selected families will receive an Amazon gift card to be used to purchase a wish.
The deadline for nominations is August 1—learn more about who qualifies and nominate a family today!
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Think Babies Michigan Family and Parent Leader Spotlight | |
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Think Babies Michigan is excited to share our third Parent Spotlight – a new series celebrating the parents leading the Think Babies Michigan initiative and working to build a stronger, more inclusive prenatal-to-three system for Michigan’s youngest. This month, we're shining a light on Blair Cole, a single mother of four, ages five to nine, who brings valuable first-hand perspectives on policy changes Michigan needs to increase funding for child care providers and families.
Read Blair's story.
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Pritzker Children’s Initiative Parent and Family Engagement Fellowship | |
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In their ongoing efforts to center the voices of those with lived experience, Pritzker Children's Initiative (PCI) has announced their first Parent and Family Engagement Fellowship, to begin Fall 2023. The Fellow will work closely with PCI to promote parent and family involvement, receiving professional support from PCI along the way.
This Fellowship is a paid opportunity. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more about the Fellowship here.
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MASP Summer Learning Program Visits
Interested in having Michigan Afterschool Partnership visit your schoolage care summer program? You'll be entered into a raffle for an end-of-summer appreciation lunch for your team!
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