Note: This blog post was originally featured in the Alpena News on May 15, 2019.
The Michigan League for Public Policy has produced the Kids Count in Michigan Data Book since 1992. And, while child well-being in Michigan has fluctuated during the last 27 years, a few things have been constant: the integrity of our data, the goal to generate policy change, and the intent to lift up the needs — and the potential — of all kids.
The Kids Count book reviews background and trend data to evaluate the well-being of children throughout communities in Michigan and identifies policy strategies that could improve outcomes. The report analyzes 16 key indicators across four domain : 1) economic security, 2) health and safety, 3) family and community, and 4) education.
Those domains and indicators enable us to get the full picture of how kids in Michigan and our counties are doing. What is their family’s economic situation like? Are they getting enough to eat at home and at school? Are they being kept healthy and safe beginning with prenatal care before they’re born and through adulthood? Are they being protected from abuse or neglect? How are they doing in school? And what can we do differently to help them?
As our name states, the Michigan League for Public Policy works on public policy, not data collection. All of that data is already being collected by thorough and well-respected entities like the U.S. Census Bureau, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Michigan Department of Education. We get our numbers from the original sources. The statistics are not subjective or biased. Our job is to compile the data, analyze it, and give it context. But, most importantly, our job is to put the data to work.
A vital section in the book is entitled “Data Into Action,” because that is the primary goal of the book—to lay out data to help illustrate the state of Michigan’s children and to be used as a tool to make informed policy decisions. Note that I said the data book is a tool. It is and has always been meant to be informative, not punitive.
The data book is designed to help lawmakers, local service providers and officials, community members, and parents understand and evaluate the needs of kids—including what policies and programs are working and where we need to focus our efforts. The book is intended to lift up progress and good news as well as continued areas of improvement that are needed for kids in our communities.
In examining education, the data book includes indicators that cover the breadth of each child’s academic career, from preschool to high school graduation. Three education indicators are based on standardized test results in third grade, eighth grade, and 11th grade. While there are certainly mixed opinions among parents and educators alike on standardized tests, we use them because, one, they are standardized and the same for all students around the state, and two, they are data being collected, used and made available by the state Department of Education.
We understand that not all high school students are college-bound and some will pursue skilled trades or head right into the workforce. But, with our job market and economy becoming more and more dependent on some type of college degree or certification, and the SAT being specifically designed to assess a student’s readiness for their next steps after high school, we still think it is an important indicator to examine as a part of many other measures of how children are doing.
Our kids are Michigan’s most valuable resource and they hold the keys to our future. The strategies for improving child well-being may vary for kids depending on their needs— which are identified through the data. However, one thing is clear: Everyone wants every child in our state to thrive, whether they’re in Alpena, Ann Arbor or Allendale.
State policymakers can either take the necessary steps to ensure adequate investments in our kids are made, or Michigan and its communities can continue to struggle while other states move ahead.
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.
