Child care is expensive! And unfortunately for Michigan, it’s only getting worse. The problems here are not simple, nor easily fixed. It’s going to take some sustained effort and focus if we’re going to get it done. But isn’t it one of those things that’s worth the effort? We think so!
Here are Five Fast Facts on Michigan’s broken childcare system:
- 👶The Landscape - During the pandemic, 14% of Michigan’s kids under age 5 lived in a family that had a job change due to childcare issues.
- 📈Job Instability - The number of kids living in families with no full-time year-round working parents has increased by 23%! Now almost ⅓ of families in the state are living this tough scenario!
- 😣Child Well-Being - One recent study of child well-being (including health, finances, education, and more) had Michigan in 32nd place, landing in the bottom half in every category in the study. This is not a great place to underachieve.
- 💰The Costs - The average cost for child care depends on where you are, of course, but it can range up to $1200 per month! There are federal programs to help with that, but they only reach about 10% of eligible kids in Michigan. That seems like a great place to start fixing!
- 💡Some Solutions - Some things that can be done to improve the situation include more investment at all levels of government to improve and encourage home-based child care, increasing access to startup and expansion funds, and expanding existing programs that help student parents.
🔥Bottom line: It costs more for child care than college in 34 states. This is a problem, not just for Michigan but for the entire country! The good news is that there are solutions, and this can be fixed. We just need to get it done.
What do you think about child care in Michigan?
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