Michigan, like all states, has a unique early childhood policy landscape that is shaped by economics, demographics, political history, coalitions, and other factors that create a state-specific environment for policy advocacy.
State early childhood policy progress is dependent both on the state’s environment and the numerous efforts—by the organizations listed on this page, other organizations, parents, policymakers, practitioners, and more—who work both independently and collaboratively to achieve wins for young children.
Research shows that family economic security is foundational to children’s overall wellbeing. Research also shows that widespread disparities in opportunity (especially by race) drive wide disparities in outcomes. States with policies that offer strong support to young children and their families are more likely to see 1) declining numbers of children in low-income households and 2) low racial disparity among those children.
Young Children in Low-Income Households: Declining
Approximately 40 percent (389,000) of the state’s children 0-8 live in households below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (2022). This number represents a decrease from 45 percent (453,000) in 2017.1
Racial Disparity Among Young Children Living in Low-Income Households: High
Black, Hispanic/Latino, and/or Native children aged 0-8 are significantly more likely to be living in households below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level than are Asian and non-Hispanic White children.2
State General Fund Appropriations: Increasing
In July of 2024, Michigan’s governor signed the state’s general omnibus budget and education budget. According to the Appropriations Conference report, total gross appropriations (including both general fund and education spending) are projected to be $82.52 billion in fiscal 2025, a 1.1 percent increase from the estimated fiscal 2024 level. Ongoing School Aid Fund appropriations are estimated at $20.37 billion in fiscal 2025 (a 1.1 percent increase from fiscal 2024), while ongoing General Fund/General Purpose appropriations are estimated at $13.70 billion (a 7.1 percent increase). Ongoing General Fund/General Purpose revenue is forecasted at $14.81 billion in fiscal 2025, a 0.5 percent increase from projected fiscal 2024 levels. The School Aid Fund is projected to have a year-end balance of $30.8 million, while the General Fund/General Purpose year-end balance is estimated at $319.3 million. The budget also includes a $50 million deposit into the Budget Stabilization Fund, bringing the grand total to nearly $2.2 billion by the end of fiscal 2025, and a $20 million deposit into the Disaster and Emergency Contingency Fund.3
Largest Per Capita Revenue Sources (after federal transfers):4
Michigan uses all major state and local taxes. Charges are public payments connected with a specific government service, such as tuition paid to a state university, payments to a public hospital, or highway tolls.
State Budget Rules:4
Michigan uses an annual budget. The legislature must pass a balanced budget, but it can carry a deficit over into the following year. Michigan also limits total authorized debt incurred by the state.
Political Alignment: Aligned
During the 2024 session, the state’s Senate and House were both Democrat controlled. The state’s Governor was also a Democrat.5
Types of Common Ballot Measures Available:6 Six
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Organizations Include:
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Multi-State Initiatives Include:7
Highlights from the state’s early childhood policy advocacy community include:8
The Think Babies Michigan coalition successfully advocated for a 15 percent increase in Child Care Scholarship (subsidy) rates in Michigan’s FY 25 budget, narrowing (but not eliminating) the gap between subsidy reimbursement rates and the true cost of care. Child care subsidy reimbursement rate increases was one of two priorities at the 2025 Early Childhood Capitol Day. Work continues to urge the Department of Michigan Lifelong Education, Achievement and Potential to change the child care subsidy rate setting process from one based exclusively on a market rate survey to one based on cost estimation. A new statewide advisory group on the state’s Child Care Scholarship’s payment structure is in place and we are hopeful that this advisory group will provide a forum to advance the idea of Michigan switching to a cost estimation model for determining child care subsidy rates.
Michigan has dedicated $20 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding in the FY 24 budget to expand prenatal and infant support through a guaranteed income program. The funding will support Flint’s Rx Kids and allow other Michigan communities to follow their lead as the nation’s first citywide prenatal and infant cash allowance program tailored to support families during the perinatal period and into the child’s first year of life with a $1,500 payment during pregnancy and $500/month for the first 12 months of an infant’s life—no strings attached. Local or philanthropic commitment is needed in this public-private partnership with TANF available for the prenatal and first three monthly payments. Early data about the impact of Rx Kids shows it is improving outcomes and Kalamazoo has already announced they will be enrolling families in early 2025.
In February 2024, Michigan joined most other states and finally eliminated the state requirement that families initiate a child support case against noncustodial parents to qualify for the Child Care Scholarship (subsidy) program. As anticipated, the number of infants and toddlers (< 2 years) receiving child care subsidies increased in the wake of this policy change.
Advocates helped secure $3.9 million in Michigan’s FY 25 budget for increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates and allowable visits for doulas (policy issued September 2024) and an additional $2.9 million in one-time funding for doula training and outreach. At the state level, to promote doula care, the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services has developed a Doula Initiative that includes scholarships for doulas to become certified, a Doula Advisory and public doula registry with information about which doulas accept Medicaid and the languages that each doula speaks, which supports families’ ability to find culturally congruent care.
Advocates worked with the governor’s administration and key legislators to secure $2.5 million in new state funding in the budget to expand CenteringPregnancy sites that provide group prenatal care. The new funding joins $5 million in funding added in FY 24 that allows Michigan to provide Medicaid reimbursement for group prenatal care (the policy was issued in September, 2024). Additionally, Senate bills 1127 and 1128 have been introduced to codify the Medicaid coverage and also require private insurers to cover group prenatal care.
Michigan’s FY 25 budget includes $3.72 million in new funding for home visiting programs. This includes a $3.3 million increase for the state’s Maternal Infant Health Program and $420,000 in one-time funding for the Nurse Family Partnership program. MCMCH lobbied the administration to include the funding in the Governor’s multi-year initiative—Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies—and worked to keep the funding in the budget through the appropriations process by showing how home visiting compliments other maternal and infant health strategies. We also engaged our grassroots partners with Think Babies Michigan, highlighting it as an advocacy priority during a webinar for coalition members held in February.
Our Early On Coalition made significant effort to increase funding for Michigan’s early intervention program. The Michigan House FY 25 Appropriations Education proposal did include a $17 million increase for Early On. However, this was eventually reduced to a $1.4 million increase in the final FY 25 state budget when legislators on the budget conference committee prioritized other early childhood initiatives—including PreK and a 15% increase in child care subsidies—in final negotiations with the Governor’s Office. The final version of the budget accommodates an estimated 5,300 additional children for PreK (GSRP).
The Alliance’s lead allies in Michigan are the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH) and the Michigan League for Public Policy. Established in 1983, MCMCH has a diverse membership comprised of large hospital systems, statewide organizations, local public health advocates and individuals with an interest in the advancement of maternal and child health. MCMCH uses a collective voice to advocate for access to care, prevention programs and adequate funding/reimbursement for providers, and educates policymakers on ways to improve maternal and child health outcomes while addressing Michigan’s high rates of Black maternal and infant mortality. The Michigan League for Public Policy has been working since 1912 to lift up Michiganders who have traditionally been left out of prosperity. MLPP uses data to educate, advocate and fight for policy solutions that undo historic and systemic racial and economic inequities by targeting issues like healthcare, housing, education, child care, and more.
Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health and the Michigan League for Public Policy are working to advance early childhood policies in several areas that align with the Alliance’s birth-through-eight policy framework:
Child Care
Maternal Health
Infant & Child Health
Early Intervention (Age 0-3)
Home Visiting
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Early Childhood Finance and Cost Modeling
Early Childhood Governance
Click here for more information on advocates’ policy agenda.
Rx Kids, the nation’s first citywide cash assistance program for families, started in Flint and is spreading across Michigan. Proponents across the political spectrum agree the program gives parents choices, builds trust, reduces stigma, and eliminates administrative barriers.
NOTES:
1 Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, January, 2024.
2National Center for Children in Poverty, Children Ages 0 through 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, October 2024, NCCP analysis of ACS 5-Year Estimates – Public Use Microdata Sample 2018-2022.
3 National Association of State Budget Officers, Proposed and Enacted Budgets, FY 2025.
4 Urban Institute, State Fiscal Briefs, June 2024.
5 National Conference of State Legislatures, 2024 State & Legislative Partisan Composition, April 29, 2024.
6 Ballotpedia, Ballot Measures by State, Kids Count Data Center, retrieved July, 2024.
7 Alliance for Early Success, Multi-State Initiatives for Early Childhood Policy Advocacy, July, 2024.
8 Alliance for Early Success, State-Wide Advocacy Highlights Survey, April-October, 2024; and 2024 Prenatal-to-3 Legislative Highlights, Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, July, 2024.
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