Introduction: What they’ll inherit
One of the biggest responsibilities we all share as a state is to create a bright future where children can thrive.
The decisions we make today and the policies we adopt don’t just impact our world now, they determine what kind of world we are building for our kids.
Before we know it, the kids growing up in Michigan today will be our bus drivers, our doctors, our store managers and – if we’re lucky – our leaders. It’s up to us to ensure they get there.
A 2023 Detroit Regional Chamber survey asked 600 young adults ages 18 to 29 what would make Michigan a better place for them to live and work. The top responses included better infrastructure, better wages, and more affordable housing.¹ It’s time we listen.
A bright future for Michigan will include belonging for all kids and their families. It will offer family economic security, so young people are entering a robust job market where they earn fair wages and can afford to have their needs met.
This future will include a world-class education system that prepares all students to pursue meaningful careers. It will have access to health care for them and their loved ones. And perhaps most importantly, this future Michigan will provide thriving families and communities for kids to grow up in.
We have the power to build the world we want for our children.
A pro-kid agenda cannot focus only on home and school. Just like adults, kids are impacted by policy decisions in all areas of their lives – from water safety and transportation infrastructure to worker rights and health care access.
Policies addressing these and other needs have both short-term benefits and, in many cases, a positive return on investment for society in the long-term through lower poverty rates and higher levels of well-being. So as we invest in a world for kids growing up in Michigan today, we need to ask ourselves:
What kind of future will they inherit?
The Value of Data
As part of a national effort to measure the well-being of children at the state and local level, we at Kids Count in Michigan believe good policies are based on good evidence. But right now our public data sources are under threat.
Thousands of federal datasets exist to support research and policymaking on all manner of issues. For Kids Count in Michigan, these include the American Community Survey, the National Assessment for Educational Progress (sometimes called The Nation’s Report Card) and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, among others.
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey, for example, was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support programs improving adolescent health. Data from the survey helped researchers identify the growing youth mental health crisis and, perhaps more importantly, the disparities among students with LGBTQ+ identities. Compared to heterosexual and cisgender students, LGBTQ+ students were more likely to report feeling unsafe at school, being bullied or seriously considering suicide.
Schools have used this information to create and enforce anti-bullying policies and train staff to recognize and address bullying.² Failing to collect and report on this information or attempting to hide the role of sexual orientation and gender identity will not eliminate the disparities, but rather will make it more difficult for schools to address them.
So far in 2025, some of the threats we have seen to federal data products include proposed cuts to statistical programs, the paring down of certain data collection, cancellations of contracts, decreases in staffing and the termination of advisory committees. At the same time, the Department of Government Efficiency is attempting to gain access to sensitive data for nonstatistical purposes. Unauthorized access will make it more difficult to collect quality information if it undermines trust in statistical agencies.
We at Kids Count in Michigan will continue working to advance access to trustworthy and reliable public data so advocates and decision-makers will have the information they need to create policies that help kids in Michigan thrive.
A note on disaggregated data
Data disaggregation by race and ethnicity is critical to identifying pressing social concerns and developing effective, equitable policy solutions. The League strives to be as explicit as possible when discussing race and ethnicity, but often a lack of disaggregated data prevents us from knowing one’s identity. Many data sources omit certain races and ethnicities or collapse them into an “Other” category.
This renders these groups invisible and masks notable economic, social and health disparities both between and within them. This affects American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asians, people of Middle Eastern and North African descent, and Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians in particular. Throughout this report and as standard practice, we present disaggregated data whenever it is available, and we continue to advocate for disaggregation to the greatest extent possible by data collection and research entities.
Kids Count in Michigan Data Sources
Kids Count in Michigan collects data from multiple primary sources, considering their reliability, collection schedule, availability at the local level and validity. Data in the 2025 Data Book and data profiles are mostly from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Michigan’s Center for Educational Performance and Information, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Education, Early Childhood Investment Corporation, Feeding America and United for ALICE.
How the League uses language
To reflect the evolution of language and varied preferences among different communities, generations, cultures and regions, the League alternates between a variety of terms, including person-first and identity-first language as well as binary and non-binary language. In referencing specific data, the League uses the exact terminology from the original source.
Readers can explore information on these terms at www.mlpp.org/language.
End Notes
1 “Michigan Residents Under The Age of 30 Years Old.” Glengariff Group, Inc, August 2023. https://www.detroitchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FINAL_Glengariff-Group_DRC-BLM_Michigan-Residents-Under-30-Survey.pdf.
2 Michael F. Rice. “LGBTQ+ Students: Protections and Supports Memorandum.” Michigan Department of Education, February 13, 2025. https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Memos/2025/02/LGBTQ-Student-Guidance-Memo.pdf.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
