We’re pleased to feature this blog co-written by Terrell Couch, Program Manager of Early Childhood Investment Corporation – Detroit Policy Initiative; Anne Kuhnen, Kids Count Policy Director of Michigan League for Public Policy; and Mariah McClain, Communications Manager of Early Childhood Investment Corporation. A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
Terrell Couch
Anne Kuhnen
Mariah McClain
A child’s early years are critical to their health, development, education and future success. Without the proper foundation of support and care they need in those critical early years, it can have an extremely harmful ripple effect on the rest of their life.
It was with that in mind that 300 parents, early childhood professionals, advocates and community members gathered together in Lansing to be a part of the 2024 Early Childhood Capitol Day last week–a day to urge lawmakers to prioritize early childhood in Michigan.
Throughout the day, state lawmakers heard directly from Michigan families about their concerns with the lack of high-quality, safe and affordable child care. They made it clear that child care can cost up to 30% to 40% of an average Michigan family’s household income–sometimes more than their monthly rent–and that investing more in early care and education needs to be a top priority in the state’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.
Participants also pushed for other changes in early childhood policies that will improve outcomes for families and kids. Among them, we heard a lot of rallying support for higher compensation for the early childhood workforce as well as paid family and medical leave.
Since the end of COVID-19 pandemic relief funding, Michigan providers have seen child care subsidy reimbursement rates slashed by 26%. This was a major financial outlet to sustain their businesses–including maintaining their workforce–and the end of that funding is estimated to force up to 1,200 child care businesses across Michigan to close unless lawmakers act now.
Much like the rest of the country, Michigan is in the midst of an early childhood workforce crisis that will not end without state support, and investments absolutely must include ensuring that early childhood professionals can earn a livable wage. Despite playing an integral part in nurturing, protecting and guiding babies and kids, child care workers are undervalued and are among the lowest paid workforces in Michigan, earning a median wage of less than $13 per hour or $26,960 annually. By addressing these wage issues, Michigan can help these essential workers stay in the workforce and continue to provide quality care to our state’s youngest residents, which will, in turn, help improve access to child care for families and improve outcomes for children across the state.
In Michigan, 67% of children ages birth to 5 have all parents in the labor force, underscoring the urgent need for child care in the state. Unfortunately, the number of providers in the state has declined steadily in the past decade, with 25% fewer providers than a decade ago. The state today has fewer than half the number of family child care homes that were seen 10 years ago. What’s worse is that subsidies aren’t reaching enough people, with only 8.4% of income-eligible children ages birth to 5 in the state receiving subsidized care. Meanwhile, the cost of care in the state has increased by 16% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
As Michigan families continue to grapple with limited options for child care and the high cost of child care, many advocates are urging the Michigan Legislature to join a chorus of states and the District of Columbia in providing paid family and medical leave for all. A paid leave program is vital to early childhood outcomes as it ensures that parents can maintain their jobs and continue to provide for their families, while taking needed time away when welcoming a new child or providing care during a time of serious illness. Paid family leave after childbirth also leads to many health benefits for infants, including a reduced risk of infant mortality, and mothers who receive paid family leave are less likely to experience symptoms of postpartum depression or report parenting stress.
As in past years, the 2024 Early Childhood Capitol Day put a finger on the pulse of families raising young children in our state today–shining a bright light on how they are faring and how they could be better supported to ensure the brightest outcomes for their kids. We are thankful for everyone who came out to let their voices be heard and we hope that lawmakers take to heart what they learned and take action to support early childhood in Michigan.
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.
