(March 14, 2024) Kae Dubay’s son Lee couldn’t speak until he was 2 years old, the result of a speech and language delay, and the child also battled with a sensory processing disorder. Fortunately, Lee and his family received supportive home visits and services from Early On, Michigan’s early intervention system for infants and toddlers... The post Making the Case for a $15 Million Increase in <em>Early On</em> State Support Next Year appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

(Feb. 14, 2024) Cynthia Wilbanks said she was intrigued when she first learned of efforts to establish a new, first-of-its-kind, nonpartisan child advocacy organization for Michigan. The year was 1992 and the effort was led by The Skillman Foundation’s president, attorney Leonard W. Smith. At the start of what became Voices for Michigan’s Children, later... The post A Major Influencer of his Time, the Founding Father of Michigan’s Children had a Vision to Change Public Policy for Kids in Michigan appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

My name is Lindsay Huddleston and I’m a policy and program associate for Michigan’s Children. Today, I’m here to share about what I would like to call my “Introduction to Kinship . . . and A Call to Action.” Presently, I’m the Michigan’s Children representative on the Michigan Kinship Coalition. This month the Coalition hosted... The post My Introduction to Kinship . . . and a Call to Action appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

(11.20.23) A new report released by President Biden on the return on investment (ROI) of pandemic child care funding provides a window for state lawmakers and Michiganders into the economic advantages of government investments in child care. The report found that the $1.4 billion of federal relief that Michigan child care providers received through the... The post The ROI on Child Care Investments is a Winner – new Federal Report Finds appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

(October 20, 2023) This year, in a year of historic funding surplus, direct benefits for underserved children, youth, and families, received some critical increases, but only after waiting for over one billions dollars in corporate giveaways to be sent out the door first. Now, across the state, our team is seeing more child advocates than... The post Challenge Lawmakers to Do More With What They Have appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

(August 4, 2023) – Two and a half years ago, I was hired onto Michigan’s Children staff to essentially deal with all things outreach-related. At that time, it was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This part is particularly significant because I had a 2-year-old son who would frequently join me to “help” as I... The post When Child Care Providers are an Extension of Your Home Life, Saying Goodbye is a Tough Conversation appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

(May 4, 2023) Last month the Livingston Great Start Parent Coalition hosted a dynamic Q&A in Howell to learn about their lawmakers’ priorities and educate them about how families experience the early childhood system in Livingston County. State Reps. Anne Bollin and Jennifer Conlin attended along with Katy Michalski from U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s office.... The post Increasing Access to Early On and Child Care Top Concerns of Young Families at Livingston Forum appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

Hundreds of early childhood advocates urged their lawmakers to “Think Babies” during a Capitol Day in Lansing hosted by Think Babies Michigan and the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MiAEYC) on March 15, 2023. They came together to raise up the policy priorities that the Think Babies Michigan coalition has championed, and... The post Hundreds Use their Voices for Early Childhood at Capital Day appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the Detroit-based afterschool program, Teen HYPE, as youth hosted stakeholders from across the city for a special brainstorming session. The gathering was an opportunity to learn more about a new cross-sector collaboration for developing a city-wide standard for youth programs. Before joining Michigan’s Children,... The post Expanding Opportunities for Detroit Teens; Youth Voice Leads the Way appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more

Attending college, particularly a large university like Michigan State University (MSU), is filled with exciting first-time experiences for new college-goers, but also challenges that could be hard to overcome without the support of strong family ties. Image trying to balance academic and complex financial aid responsibilities as a 19-year-old on your own? Last month I... The post College Students from Foster Care – Why On-Campus Mentoring Makes a Difference appeared first on Michigan's Children ..read more