The Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) has released its 2022 Kids Count in Michigan Data Profiles which analyze data and identify state and county trends in four categories: economic security, education, health and safety, family and community.
Content excerpted and adapted from a Michigan League for Public Policy press release.
The Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) has released its 2022 Kids Count in Michigan Data Profiles which analyze data and identify state and county trends in four categories: economic security, education, health and safety, family and community.
The data profile for Michigan shows that the state has seen improvement in 10 of 14 key areas in the last decade, namely declines in rates of child poverty, births to teens and children placed in out-of-home care because of abuse or neglect. But other key areas, like prenatal care and preschool enrollment, see concerning declines or lack of movement. Looking at local data and county trends, there are wide differences between counties on some indicators, and much more room for improvement as all children and families do not have their needs met.
The League also compiles Kids Count Data Profiles for Detroit and Flint, and for the first time this year, Grand Rapids, thanks to the support of the Frey Foundation. These city profiles help identify the impact of local policy improvements and investments as well as the specific needs of metropolitan areas with some of the highest child populations in the state.
“Despite these challenging times, Michigan has seen new and significant investments in children in the last year, including the 2023 state budget passed earlier this month,” Kelsey Perdue, Kids Count in Michigan Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy said. “These data profiles show where we have been and where we should be going on policies to support kids and parents. We have certainly made some important progress, but there are still clear areas for improvement. We must make some COVID-era policy changes permanent, find revenue to sustain our efforts after federal relief dollars run out, and work to equitably meet the needs of all families.”
The rate of child poverty decreased by nearly 28% statewide between 2010 and 2020, and child poverty rates declined in 82 counties over the same decade. But while more residents can make ends meet compared to a decade ago, 1.5 million Michigan households still can’t afford necessities.
A number of COVID-era policy changes lifted children out of poverty and assisted young adults.
Federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment amounts were increased and extended to children in families with low or no earnings, and advance monthly payments were provided to increase income stability. These changes lifted 114,000 Michigan children out of poverty and benefited another 1,968,000 kids in the state. Federal and Michigan Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) were expanded to 571,000 working adults without children, including young adults ages 18-24 with low incomes.
The League continues to advocate for Congress to make these improvements to the federal CTC and EITC permanent. The League is working in partnership with CMF and more than 100 other business, advocacy, faith, and nonprofit organizations advocating for increasing the state EITC. The proposal has bipartisan support between the governor and Michigan Legislature, who collectively set aside $7 billion from the state budget to negotiate potential tax changes, including increasing the state EITC.
Increasing Michigan’s EITC from its current rate of 6% of the federal credit to 30% of the federal credit means a difference of $150 to $749 in credit to working people. This same change would contribute around $553 million to local economies and small businesses, as the EITC is often spent on necessities like child care, car repairs, new appliances, groceries and more. Increasing the state EITC is a two-generation policy that helps kids by helping their parents, and it has been proven to have myriad positive benefits on kids.
“Some of this year’s Kids Count policy recommendations may be more aspirational or longer-term, but others are more tangible, either continuations of positive improvements or policies being debated as we speak,” Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy said. “From the need for Congress to make the improvements to the federal CTC permanent to the governor and state Legislature working together to increase the state EITC, these tax credits are proven, bipartisan tools to combat child poverty and help working parents and need to be enacted now.”
Education
On the education front, the percentage of students graduating high school on time in Michigan is up from a decade ago at 81% in 2021 (from 76% in 2010). However, on-time graduation rates were as low as 40% for youth in foster care. Preschool enrollment is virtually flat, but the state continues to make historic investments in child care, preschool and early education. While 40,000 more children had internet at home in 2020 than in 2019, more than 30% of children still don’t have home internet access in some counties. Internet access continues to be a concern for kids–but also has been a key area of investment for federal and state policymakers.
Housing
Housing stability is also key to child well-being, but too many families are burdened by high-cost housing. Over a quarter of Michigan households pay over 30% of their income on housing costs and homeless students are twice as likely to be chronically absent from school. The state has funded the Housing and Community Development Fund for the first time since 2012 this year for affordable and “missing middle” home builds and ownership, but policymakers must identify a dedicated revenue stream to sustain investments in safe, affordable housing in opportunity-rich communities for families with low incomes.
2022 Kids Count in Michigan policy recommendations:
These 2022 data profiles are a companion piece to the League’s 2021 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book, now released biannually.
Want more?
View the Kids Count Data Profiles by county.
