For Immediate Release
June 14, 2023
Contact:
Laura Ross
lauramr@mlpp.org
517-281-1084
Michigan ranks 32nd in child well-being, challenges for families exacerbated by inaccessible and unaffordable child care
Annie E. Casey Foundation reports that 13% of children nationwide and 14% in Michigan live in families that made job changes as a direct result of child care problems and affordability
LANSING, MI — Michigan continues to be among the bottom half of states for child well-being, according to the 2023 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how children and families are faring. This year’s Data Book highlights how the lack of affordable and accessible child care throughout the country has caused parents in all states, including Michigan, to frequently miss work or even quit their jobs, while those who can find care are paying dearly for it. These child care challenges are costing the American economy billions of dollars a year, while also hindering women professionally and causing working families to struggle financially.
The numbers in this year’s Data Book show that there has been a 23% increase in the percent of Michigan children living in families where no parent had full-time, year-round employment, with the state figure jumping from 26% (556,000 children) in 2019 to 32% (680,000 children) in 2021. The data also shows that 18% of Michigan children (377,000) were living in poverty in 2021 – a number that stayed relatively flat from 2019.
“Too many families are continuing to struggle to make ends meet here in Michigan, which has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a child care system that has pushed workers, especially women, out of the workforce and has had a direct impact on the well-being of children at a critical time in their development,” said Anne Kuhnen, Kids Count in Michigan Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy. “We must do more to support families that are struggling to find affordable, accessible child care, so that they can continue to work, pay their rent and buy life’s necessities, such as food, diapers and clothes.”
The Data Book reports too many parents cannot secure child care that is compatible with work schedules and commutes. In 2020–21, 14% of Michigan children 5 and under lived in families in which someone quit, changed or refused a job because of problems with child care, which is slightly above the national average of 13%. Additionally, women are five to eight times more likely than men to experience negative employment consequences related to caregiving.
Even if parents can find an opening at child care near their home, they often can’t pay for it. Michigan’s average cost of center-based child care for a toddler in 2021 was $11,309, 11% of a married couple’s median income and 37% of a single mother’s median income in the state. The share of a single mother’s income that goes to center-based child care in Michigan is higher than 38 other states, highlighting the significant burden particularly for single working mothers in the state to be able to make ends meet for their families.
While the cost of care burdens families, child care workers are paid worse than 98% of professions. Median national pay for child care workers was $28,520 per year or $13.71 an hour in 2022, less than the wage for retail ($14.26) and customer service ($18.16) workers. Paying child care workers low wages worsens disparities for women, who comprise virtually all of the workforce, and women of color, who are disproportionately represented. The failings of the child care market also affect the current and future health of the American economy, costing $122 billion a year in lost earnings, productivity and tax revenue, according to one study. All of these challenges put parents under tremendous stress to meet the dual responsibilities of providing for their families and ensuring their children are safe and nurtured.
Each year, the Data Book presents national and state data from 16 indicators in four domains — economic well-being, education, health and family and community factors — and ranks the states according to how children are faring overall. For the 2023 national Data Book, Michigan was ranked 32nd in the nation overall for child well-being.
Within the domains, Michigan was ranked 30th in family and community factors, 32nd in economic well-being and 42nd in education, which was, once again, the state’s lowest ranking. Michigan’s best national rank in the four domains was 26th in health, and the state was, once again, fourth-best in the country for children without health insurance. Another bright spot for Michigan was the teen birth rate, which has dropped by 59 percent from 2010 to 2021.
“While we saw some positive trends in this year’s Data Book from a teen birth rate and health insurance perspective, there is certainly more that can be done to improve children’s health. That is why we are continuing to advocate for positive policy decisions here in Michigan, including using the Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act (ICHIA) option to waive the five-year waiting period for health care coverage for lawfully residing children and pregnant people,” said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “Our poor education ranking is also top of mind, which is why we are also continuing to advocate for a better weighted school funding formula based on student need.”
In addition to the national KIDS COUNT Data Book released today, the Michigan League for Public Policy will release its 2023 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book and Profiles in August to identify state and local trends in four domains: economic security, education, health and safety, and family and community. Michigan policymakers and child advocates can use the important national, state and local data found in both of these resources to evaluate past policy and investment decisions and identify ongoing areas of need for Michigan kids and families.
On the child care front, the Annie E. Casey Foundation is calling on federal, state and local governments as well as public and private leaders and Congress to be a part of transitioning the country’s faltering child care system to a flourishing one through new thinking and investments. An executive order issued by President Biden in April is aimed at expanding access, lowering costs and raising wages, which could prove to be a helpful framework, but more is needed:
- Federal, state and local governments should invest more in child care. State and local governments should maximize remaining pandemic recovery act dollars to fund needed child care services and capacity. Congress should reauthorize and strengthen the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, and increase funding for public pre-kindergarten and Head Start.
- Michigan lawmakers should enact policies supported by the Think Babies Michigan collaborative, including those that focus on increasing access and affordability of child care, ensuring child care subsidies are fully utilized by families and providers and growing the critical work force needed by thousands of Michigan families by making child care an in-demand career path.
- Public and private leaders should work together to improve the infrastructure for home-based child care, beginning with lowering the barriers to entry for potential providers by increasing access to start-up and expansion capital.
- To help young parents, Congress should expand the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, which serves student parents.
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RELEASE INFORMATION
The 2023 KIDS COUNT® Data Book will be available at www.aecf.org. Additional information is available at www.aecf.org/databook. Journalists interested in creating maps, graphs and rankings in stories about the Data Book can use the KIDS COUNT Data Center at datacenter.aecf.org.
The Michigan League for Public Policy, https://mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on opportunity for all. Its mission is to advance economic security, racial equity, health and well-being for all people in Michigan through policy change. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation creates a brighter future for the nation’s young people by developing solutions to strengthen families, build paths to economic opportunity and transform struggling communities into safer and healthier places to live, work and grow. For more information, visit www.aecf.org. KIDS COUNT® is a registered trademark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
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.
