While many child care facilities were able to welcome back students earlier this summer, some facilities across the state have remained closed, putting providers and Michigan families in challenging situations.
While many child care facilities were able to welcome back students earlier this summer, some facilities across the state have remained closed, putting providers and Michigan families in challenging situations. Even centers that have been open may still experience intermittent temporary closures for specific classrooms or their entire facility as confirmed COVID-19 cases surface and students and staff are quarantined for the safe and healthy of all.
The Brookings Institute released data on child care needs for working parents as the economy continues to reopen. Nationwide, 41 million families rely on school or child care while parents/guardians work. In Michigan, 16% to 25% of families say they are in need of child care while one or more parents work.
Child care needs are more prominent in areas with higher rates of poverty. In Saginaw, 18% of workers are school- or child care-dependent; of those, 41% live below 200% of the federal poverty line. In Niles, the numbers are even higher, at 20% and 45%, respectively.
The latest data from Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) shows that while more than 3,100 child care providers remain closed, nearly 3,000 child care providers are open across the state, including child care centers, family homes and group homes, serving over 8,700 children. Those that remain open are operating at or near 30% capacity to meet social distancing guidelines.
For those that are open challenges arise to keep children and staff safe.
“Challenges that child care providers are facing are multi-layered—from finances to HR to programmatic decisions to parent and family engagement to health and safety,” Dawne Bell, CEO of ECIC said. “Many child care providers are having challenges keeping up with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) needs. Most report facing extreme uncertainty about how to stay financially viable.”
According to Child Trends, the state continues to support child care facilities during the pandemic through the following means:
Paying child care providers who accept subsidies due to low attendance or closure.
Giving additional funding to child care facilities who care for children of essential workers.
Waiving or covering part of tuition costs for families who pay for child care.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) facilitates the Child Care Relief Fund, a grant program to support both open and closed child care providers in the state. The program has recently expanded to reduce the cost of care for families by 30% through the summer.
As child care providers and the families they serve continue to navigate tough times, Michigan foundations are at the forefront of not only supporting child care providers but also reimagining the future of child care in the state.
“From innovative emergency grant programs to hosting convenings to help ensure families’ and child care provider voices shape policy decisions, philanthropy is critical,” Bell said. “Philanthropic partners are already playing and can continue to play a pivotal role as thought leaders in movement nationally and here in Michigan to plan for the future. Out of crisis comes opportunity, and this is a moment to re-imagine child care and create a more equitable early childhood system.”
Want more?
Read The Brookings Institute’s data on working families and child care.
Read ECIC’s data on Michigan’s child care facilities.
Learn about Michigan’s Child Care Relief Fund.
