The Bulletin

September 2023

Think Babies Michigan Adopts Paid Family & Medical Leave as a Policy Priority 

At its most recent meeting on September 11, the Think Babies Michigan Coalition’s Executive Committee added the creation of a state Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program to its list of policy priorities.

This decision follows Governor Whitmer’s August 30 announcement advocating for statewide PFML for working Michiganders and their families. Earlier in her administration, Governor Whitmer established a policy of up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for state employees. This new proposal would extend paid leave to workers outside state government. Michigan legislators are currently considering Senate Bill 332, which, if passed, would create a PFML program similar in design to one recently adopted in Minnesota. SB 332 was introduced by Senator Geiss in May and referred to the Housing and Human Services Committee.

A robust body of research highlights the positive impacts of paid parental leave policies on family economic security and maternal and child health. 

Some effects of paid parental leave policies include:

• Lower prenatal stress levels
• Fewer infant hospitalizations
• Lower risk of re-hospitalization after birth
• Increased parental involvement
• Positive maternal health outcomes such as reduced rates of perinatal maternal depression, increased exercise, lower blood pressure, and lower pain levels.

Emerging research also links paid parental leave policy to reduced rates of infant maltreatment.

Think Babies Michigan recognizes these benefits and supports PFML for all Michiganders.

Child Care Innovation Fund

Innovations from the Field: Home-Based Child Care Development in Rural Michigan

I

Did you know that 44% of Michigan families live where there are either no child care providers, or more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots? Learn more about how ECIC's Child Care Innovation Fund's recent grant recipient, Leelanau Early Childhood Development Commission was able to inspire a change in the state's child care regulations and successfully open six new infant and toddler child care facilities in a rural community. 

New Report from MI Chamber of Commerce: MI Untapped Potential

Almost $3 billion in economic activity is lost in Michigan every year due to insufficient child care.

A new eye-opening report, Untapped Potential in Michigan: How Child Care Impacts Michigan's Workforce Productivity and the State Economy, published by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce — in consultation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Grand Rapids Chamber and the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) — offers

Michigan-specific insights that prove the necessity of rebuilding and reinforcing our state’s child care infrastructure, and that affordable child care is a part of the foundation of Michigan's workforce.

Over 500 Michigan families with children aged 0-5 were surveyed for the report, which found that:

• 14% of MI parents left a job in the past six months due to insufficient child care.
• 52% of MI parents needed to make a significant adjustment to their school or work training due to child care issues in the past 12 months.

 “No Michigander should have to choose between being a good parent or being a good worker" said Dawne Bell, CEO ECIC. "When parents lose out on career advancement and educational opportunities, their kids lose out, too...at ECIC, we’re committed to working with collaborative partners, including families, from across the state to accelerate innovative child care solutions."

Think Babies Michigan Family and Parent Leader Spotlight

Think Babies Michigan (TBMI) is excited to share another Parent Spotlight – a series celebrating the parents leading the TBMI initiative and working to build a stronger, more inclusive prenatal-to-three system for Michigan’s youngest. This month, we are shining a light on Christian Ko, a devoted father of two helping lead the way for TBMI and advocating for parent voice in all decision-making spaces.

In Our Community: Get Involved 

A New Way of Working: Welcoming Families to the Table & Creating Meaningful Dialogue 

Thursday, September 21

Noon-2:00 p.m. ET

What can our early childhood

and K-12 systems learn from Parent Leaders? Join the National Center for Family and Parent Leadership’s panel of experts on September 21, Noon-2 p.m. ET for, A New Way of Working: Welcoming Families to the Table & Creating Meaningful Dialogue. This webinar will discuss strategies for organizations to build shared understanding and accessible opportunities for Parent Leaders. 

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is conducting two studies to update the state’s early childhood needs assessment, and they want to hear from partners at all levels of the early childhood system, from programs to families. The results will inform their Collective Early Childhood Action Plan, strengthen the system at large, and inform the MiLEAP transition. Please consider supporting our state partners at MDE in this effort.

MASP Opportunities

Many early childhood providers also educate schoolage children. We encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities from our partner, the Michigan After School Partnership (MASP).

Purposeful Orientation

Friday, September 15

10 a.m. ET

Join MASP as they cover some of the important items that should be in a program overview, understanding youth needs, the importance of knowing about program policies and procedures, and providing professional development opportunities. By providing a purposeful orientation for youth workers out-of-school, organizations can ensure that their staff members are

well-equipped to make a positive impact on the lives of the young people they serve. 

MAC Leadership Summit

Friday, October 13

8 a.m.-3 p.m. ET

Registration for the 2023 Michigan Afterschool Collaborative (MAC) Annual Conference is now open! The summit will be held October 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Crowne Plaza West in Lansing.

The theme for this year's summit is Energizing Leadership and is designed for CEO/Executive Directors, Program Directors, Administration staff, Executive teams, and Site Coordinators who work with K-12 youth in out-of-school time programs (i.e., before school, after school, summer, and camps).

Provider's Corner 

NEW! License Exempt Provider Facebook Group

Do you know license-exempt providers looking for a way to connect with other child care providers, share resources, and build community? Invite them to join our new License-Exempt Provider Facebook group! 

Please note that this group is specifically for current providers of family, friend, and neighbor care in Michigan.