LANSING, Mich. – The following statement can be attributed to Alicia Guevara, CEO of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, on Gov. Whitmer’s final State of the State address:
“Under Governor Whitmer’s leadership, Michigan families and young children have seen increased support for early childhood programs and resources. We are heartened by her continued focus on literacy and know how critical investments in the earliest years of life are to ensure the success of these efforts to help every child read.
“There is no greater investment with a stronger or more proven return than early childhood. The data is continually clear: every dollar spent within the first five years of life not only generates an incredible return on investment of at least seven dollars over time, but also provides families with the strong foundation that they need to ensure lifelong beneficial outcomes emotionally, physically, and economically.
“Governor Whitmer has made prioritizing ‘kitchen table issues’ a pillar of her time in office. You won’t find a more pressing issue facing parents than the start of their parenthood journey and their child’s life.
“Parents are still facing economic uncertainty, mounting pressure from health care costs and workforce challenges, including a lack of access to reliable, quality child care and early learning. This is not a kitchen table issue left to be addressed in the quiet of our homes. Early childhood is a workforce issue. It’s an educational outcomes issue. It’s an economic issue. It is, simply put, a cross-sector issue in which everyone has a role and responsibility to uphold.
“We’re grateful for Governor Whitmer’s leadership in the early childhood space throughout her tenure as governor. We look forward to working alongside her and leaders in our legislature to ensure that progress continues in a meaningful way in her final year. Prioritizing investments in the earliest years is one of the smartest and most responsible choices Michigan can make for our state’s long-term economic, educational, and physical health.”