ECIC’s Child Care Innovation Fund Reports on Multiple Efforts to Improve Child Care Access in Michigan | |
|
ECIC’s Child Care Innovation Fund (CCIF) released three Impact Reports in November and early December 2024.
-
2024 Impact Report: Highlights CCIF's key initiatives in 2024, including:
- Regional Child Care Planning Initiative
- Pilot of Family Child Care Networks
- An expansion of Early Care and Education Apprenticeships
- A Wages Pilot program
"Every family deserves access to quality, affordable child care," said Governor Whitmer. "I am proud of the work we have done to lower costs and improve access to child care since I took office, including opening or expanding 1,000 child care centers, upgrading child care facilities statewide, and increasing eligibility for free or low-cost care to tens of thousands more working families. Thanks to the ECIC Child Care Innovation Fund and so many partners who made it possible, we are making child care more affordable and accessible in all 83 counties. Let's keep working together to drive down costs on this essential service that forms a pillar of our economy so we can help parents go to work knowing that their kids are safe and cared for."
To read the press release about the 2024 Impact Report, visit the ECIC website.
The reports collectively demonstrate ECIC’s multifaceted systems approach to tackling child care challenges in Michigan. Read more on the CCIF Impact webpage.
| |
ECIC Welcomes New Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy | |
|
The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) is excited to announce the hiring of Karenia Randle, MSA, as their new Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy. With a robust background in government relations and a passion for community service, Randle is poised to make a significant impact in her new role. Randle is an accomplished government relations professional, bringing extensive expertise from her previous positions. To learn more about Karenia, read the story here.
| |
Register Early: Every Family Counts: Inclusive Leadership for All Parent Voices | |
|
Celebrate the diverse tapestry of modern families and learn how to create truly inclusive parent leadership opportunities. This session will spotlight strategies for engaging and empowering a wide range of family structures, including single parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, LGBTQIA+ parents, and families from various cultural backgrounds. Gain insights on overcoming personal biases, bridging cultural gaps, and designing leadership programs that resonate with all types of families. Hear inspiring stories from non-traditional parent leaders who are making a significant impact in their communities.
| |
In Policy: Acting for Young Kids & Families | |
Michigan Lawmakers Move Several Bills Impacting Families and Children | |
|
Lawmakers in Michigan returned to Lansing following their hunting and Thanksgiving breaks with legislation quickly moving in both chambers ahead of 2025. Several bills that impact Michigan’s early childhood education system, economic support, and equitable access for families with young children have been moving through the legislature.
In the House Tax Policy Committee:
-
HB 5637 proposes requiring an annual inflationary adjustment to scholarship reimbursements made to child care providers under the CDC program using the Detroit Consumer Price Index (CPI) as the benchmark.
-
HB 5638 aims to streamline health and safety certification process for child care providers operating in school buildings, allowing superintendents to certify compliance instead of requiring separate inspections.
-
HB 5639 aims to create a formal appeal process for child care providers facing a licensing violation determination made by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential.
ECIC provided comments of support for the bill package, and the committee approved and sent them to the House floor for final consideration.
In the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee:
-
SB 836, 837 and 839 are the Senate companion bills to HB 5637, 5638 and 5639.
-
SB 838 creates a working parent tax credit that would provide a $5,500 credit for eligible working families with young children.
-
SB 332 and 333, also known as the Family Leave Optimal Coverage (FLOC) Plan, creates a universal paid family and medical leave program in Michigan. Allowing employees up to 15 weeks of paid, job-secure leave for a range of circumstance workers face when caring for their families.
Think Babies Michigan Coalition provided testimony in support of FLOC as one of the clearest impacts that public policy can have to help families support the healthy development of young children. While this legislation did get sent to the Senate floor for final consideration, amendments were accepted to reduce maximum annual leave allowance to 12 weeks and increase the size of businesses considered “small business.”
In the Senate Oversight Committee:
-
SB 958 creating new guidelines for demographic reporting that includes our Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) population was heard and approved by the committee. Think Babies Michigan in partnership with ACCESS has been active in raising awareness of the implications of this population not being explicitly identified under current reporting criteria.
| |
Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Appropriations Update | |
|
Congressional lawmakers have until Friday, December 20, 2024 to pass a federal budget in order to avert a federal shutdown heading into the holiday season. According to The Hill, outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has signaled both chambers will likely agree to another continuing resolution (CR) that will fund the government through 2025 – likely into early March, leaving the budget negotiations for the incoming Republican trifecta.
As quoted by The Hill, “We need to keep divisive and unnecessary provisions out of any government funding extension, or else it will get harder to pass a [continuing resolution] in time,” Schumer said. “For now, I’m pleased negotiations are on the right track, and I thank the appropriators in both chambers for their good work.”
If both chambers are unable to reach agreement by Dec. 20, the federal government will shutdown until either an agreement is reached, or the new Congress is seated in January.
| |
Early Childhood Advocates' Corner | |
Capitol Day Registration is Open | |
Registration is now open for 2025 Early Childhood Capitol Day in Lansing. Join the Think Babies Michigan Coalition (TBMI), the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (Michigan AEYC), Mothering Justice, and the Michigan Head Start Association (MHSA) on Wednesday, March 12, 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Lansing as we urge our elected officials to prioritize the needs of young Michiganders. | |
|
Legislative Visit at Children of the Rising Sun | |
|
On November 21, 2024, Children of the Rising Sun child care center located in Detroit welcomed Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate and his staff, along with representatives from ECIC. Speaker Tate joined early childhood leaders to discuss the importance of investing in early care and learning, including the importance of making sure that child care small business owners are informing policy change and helping to shape the understanding of the impacts of child care for families and communities. Read more about the visit here.
| |
Early Childhood Investment Corporation Bill Tracker Update | |
|
Michigan Lawmakers are quickly moving many bills across both chambers ahead of the conclusion of the 2023-2024 legislative session. Once both chambers adjourn, all business that has not been addressed will be dissolved, and efforts will be needed in the new legislative period to reintroduce those bills.
As of this month, lawmakers passed House Bill 5826 establishing the Doula Scholarship Program administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This scholarship would award up to $3,000 for providers of doula services to complete their training within six months of receiving the funds.
Additionally, the Michigan Momnibus Package (Senates Bills 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, and 825), largely championed by Senator Erika Geiss, has moved out of the Senate Chambers and is awaiting a committee hearing in the Michigan House of Representatives.
Continue to check our ECIC Bill Tracker for the latest updates and opportunities to engage with lawmakers on legislation that matters to you!
| |
Think Babies Michigan: Parent Leader Spotlight | |
|
Fierce is one word that describes Monique’s passion for supporting young children and families. Dedicated, unstoppable and leader are three more. She attributes her lived experiences with helping her find the resources needed to thrive but recognizes that advocacy is a skill she has intentionally developed over time.
While Monique’s confidence as an advocate grew gradually, she has always championed her own and her daughter’s needs. Raised in an urban environment that demanded resilience, Monique encountered significant challenges during her pregnancy. Learn about how Monique has dedicated her efforts to help families who need support and how she evolved her leadership skills to impact her ability to help families.
| |
Get Involved: In the Community | |
Supporting Home-Based Child Care: FCCN Pilot Insights and Future Opportunities Webinar | |
|
ECIC invites you to join a webinar release of the Family Child Care Network (FCCN) Pilot Implementation Report, developed in partnership with School Readiness Consulting. The webinar will review the key accomplishments of the FCCN Pilot, highlight key learnings and share the upcoming opportunity to expand FCCNs statewide.
We invite any organizations who are working in the child care space to learn about how the Innovation Fund and FCCN Hubs are supporting home-based child care through strategic business sustainability and program quality supports. We also encourage organizations interested in becoming an FCCN Hub to attend to learn more about the history of the project and the upcoming application opportunity. The webinar takes place December 18, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. and will offer translated closed captioning.
| |
MiAEYC is accepting Sponsor and Exhibitor Applications for the 2025 Annual Early Childhood Conference Registration for the conference open in January 2025. See the MiAEYC website for sponsorship opportunities and to find out more about the conference. | | | | |
