2024 Impact Report reveals support for economic development, small businesses and the workforce
Lansing, MI – December 12, 2024 – In just three years’ time, the Child Care Innovation Fund (CCIF) at the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) has become an innovative change agent for Michigan families, child care businesses and economic development. The CCIF released its 2024 Impact Report this week, detailing notable advancements in Michigan’s child care system. The Impact Report emphasizes the impact of statewide cross-sector collaboration to address child care infrastructure challenges.
The Innovation Fund’s 2024 Impact Report focuses on key areas of impact; The Regional Child Care Planning initiative, the Family Child Care Networks (FCCN) pilot, the design and scale out of Early Care and Education Registered Apprenticeships (ECE RAPs) and the early care and education Wages Pilot.
The Regional Child Care Planning initiative supported 16 Regional Child Care Planning Coalitions that assessed regional child care needs and infrastructure and created regional child care action plans. Over 60% of the Coalitions were led by economic development organizations. This innovative, cross-sector approach has resulted in a comprehensive understanding of specific regional child care needs. As a result, over 350 child care facilities opened or expanded and 11 of the 16 regions made changes to their local zoning to encourage child care supply in their communities, among other changes during this planning initiative.
The Family Child Care Networks (FCCN) pilot supported home-based child care business owners and providers by establishing Family Child Care Networks that enhance business sustainability and program quality resources. The FCCN pilot successfully established 22 networks across Michigan and served over 450 home-based child care providers.
The Early Care and Education Registered Apprenticeship Program (ECE RAP) initiative worked to design and scale ECE RAPs across Michigan. ECE RAPs provide early educators with a low-cost, paid pathway to earning nationally recognized credentials. Through partnerships with Michigan Works! Agencies and community organizations, ECE RAPs are now available in 80 counties across Michigan, with over 200 active ECE apprentices.
Early Care and Education Wages Pilot was an initiative to support fair and competitive wages for early educators. In partnership with TalentFirst, ECIC developed Michigan’s first ECE wage scale. The wage scale was piloted with two early childhood centers in Michigan, providing wage supplements to early educators. The nine-month pilot has evaluated the impact of wages on staff acquisition and retention. Early results and interviews show promising results.
“Every family deserves access to quality, affordable child care,” said Governor Whitmer. “I am proud of the work we have done to lower costs and improve access to child care since I took office, including opening or expanding 1,000 child care centers, upgrading child care facilities statewide, and increasing eligibility for free or low-cost care to tens of thousands more working families. Thanks to the ECIC Child Care Innovation Fund and so many partners who made it possible, we are making child care more affordable and accessible in all 83 counties. Let’s keep working together to drive down costs on this essential service that forms a pillar of our economy so we can help parents go to work knowing that their kids are safe and cared for.”
Alicia Guevara Warren, ECIC CEO stated, “When we bring together diverse stakeholders, we unlock innovative solutions that make quality child care accessible and affordable for all Michigan families. This cross-sector approach is essential for building a robust early childhood system that truly serves our youngest Michiganders and their families to set the foundation for a thriving future.”
The 2024 Impact Report underscores the importance of integrating child care into broader economic development strategies. By collaborating with economic development organizations, the public workforce system, child care businesses and non-profits, business leaders and local governments, these initiatives shifted the understanding to recognize the role of accessible, affordable and high quality child care in fostering economic growth. The report concludes with a call to action for continued collaboration among all sectors to ensure that child care is recognized not as a personal issue but as a critical component of Michigan’s economic and employment infrastructure.
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- The report can be found at the following link: ECIC Child Care Innovation Fund 2024 Impact Report
About ECIC
Created in 2005 to serve as a statewide leader in early childhood, ECIC collaborates to increase public and private investment in the earliest years of children’s lives, while elevating issues affecting young children and their families, to continuously improve Michigan’s comprehensive early childhood system. Our vision is to create a future where all young children in Michigan and their families thrive. Visit the ECIC website.
About the Child Care Innovation Fund
Established in 2021 with seed funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The CCIF is an innovative initiative at ECIC that supports systemic approaches to addressing the most pressing early child care needs in Michigan with scalable cross-sector solutions which are crucial for supporting both Michigan families and our economy.