State Child Care Below Standards

Michigan’s child care program falls far short in ensuring high-quality child care that is so essential to kids, their parents and state businesses, according to a new report from a welfare advocacy group in Michigan. The Michigan League for Public Policy says the report shows Michigan is far behind other states in offering child care reimbursements that are designed to help working parents with very low incomes stay on the job and off public assistance. The report also says state-subsidized child care has dropped by more than 70 percent since 2005 – from $479 million to $136 million. The group admits that some of the reduction was undoubtedly due to high unemployment, but they also note that Michigan’s child care eligibility levels are among the lowest in the country, and the state has too few inspectors.