The Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) and the Think Babies Michigan coalition are gathering information from candidates seeking public office in Michigan about their perspectives on early childhood policy. Our goal is education, not endorsement. ECIC does not endorse, oppose, or rate candidates for public office.
We are collecting responses so that families, early childhood service providers, and community members across Michigan can better understand how candidates think about the needs of children from birth through age five and the families and professionals who care for them. Responses from candidates are published as received, without editing or commentary. Candidates have agreed that their responses may be reproduced and attributed to them in ECIC and Think Babies Michigan communications, including newsletters, social media, websites, and materials shared with coalition partners.
The following responses are from Brenda Carter, Democratic candidate for Michigan House of Representatives District 53.
What do you see as the most pressing early childhood challenge facing the district or communities you seek to represent?
Families need access to affordable, high-quality childcare close to where they live and work. In communities like Pontiac and Waterford, this is not simply a childcare issue—it is also a workforce, family stability, health, and economic opportunity issue. When parents cannot find dependable care, they may be unable to work, pursue education, or maintain financial stability. I believe we must strengthen the entire early childhood system while making sure that children in historically underserved communities are not left behind.
Michigan families in many parts of the state live in areas with far fewer licensed child care slots than there are children who need them, and the shortage is most severe for infants and toddlers. What is your view of this issue, and what approaches would you consider if elected?
Michigan must increase the supply of quality childcare, particularly infant and toddler care. I would consider approaches that help existing providers remain open, encourage responsible expansion into underserved communities, strengthen the early childhood workforce, and reduce unnecessary barriers to creating additional licensed capacity. We should also examine partnerships with employers, schools, community organizations, and other trusted local institutions. Any expansion should maintain strong health, safety, and quality standards.
What is your perspective on the cost of child care for Michigan families, and on the tools available to state or federal policymakers to address affordability?
Childcare has become unaffordable for too many working families. State and federal policymakers should examine a combination of direct assistance to eligible families, support for providers, tax policy, employer partnerships, and investments that expand the supply of quality care. We also need to recognize that affordability and availability are connected. Helping families pay for childcare does little good if there is no provider with an available space nearby.
Early childhood educators are among the lowest paid workers in Michigan, and turnover in the field is high. How do you think about compensation, benefits, and working conditions in this profession?
We cannot build a strong early childhood system on an unstable workforce. Early childhood professionals perform demanding and important work during some of the most consequential years of a child’s development. Compensation, access to benefits, professional development, career pathways, and safe working conditions should reflect that responsibility. At the same time, solutions must recognize that many childcare providers operate on very narrow margins. We need policies that improve compensation without simply transferring additional costs to parents.
Michigan has dedicated funding for many critical services, but nothing specifically focused on the needs of families with young children. Advocates have proposed a dedicated, sustainable state revenue stream for early childhood, separate from the annual general fund appropriations process. What is your perspective on that idea?
I am open to examining a dedicated and sustainable funding mechanism for early childhood. Programs serving young children and families benefit from stability and predictability rather than uncertainty from year to year. Before establishing a new dedicated revenue stream, I would want to examine the funding source, long-term sustainability, accountability requirements, interaction with existing programs, and measurable outcomes for children and families.
If you were setting priorities within a constrained early childhood budget, what would you prioritize first, and why?
I would prioritize the areas where early intervention can have the greatest long-term impact: maternal and infant health, access to quality infant and toddler care, developmental screening and early intervention, and support for families facing the greatest barriers. I would also protect the workforce necessary to deliver these services. Investing early can help identify problems before they become crises and can improve health, educational, and economic outcomes later in life.
Michigan has made significant strides to promote maternal and infant health, though federal policy changes put many of these programs at risk. How would you work to preserve and expand access to important programs that promote maternal and infant health including Medicaid?
Maternal and infant health must remain a priority. I support protecting access to Medicaid and other programs that provide prenatal, postpartum, infant, and preventive care. We should work across state agencies and with health care providers and community organizations to maximize available federal resources, reduce unnecessary barriers to enrollment and continuity of care, and identify state-level solutions when federal changes threaten essential services. Healthy children begin with healthy mothers and healthy pregnancies.
Think Babies supports more funding for programs that support nurturing relationships and well-being for babies and caregivers — like home visiting, consultation, and intervention services —to help address and prevent stress and trauma before they become a crisis. How familiar are you with these kinds of programs, and would you support increased funding for them if elected?
I am familiar with the importance of home visiting, early intervention, behavioral health supports, and other programs that help families during pregnancy and a child’s earliest years. I support evidence-based investments that demonstrate positive outcomes for children and caregivers. Early assistance can identify developmental, health, and family needs before they escalate and can connect parents with resources when intervention can make the greatest difference.
The Early On Coalition — which is part of Think Babies — has advocated for increased funding to support families with infants and toddlers who have disabilities and developmental delays to make sure they get the individualized early intervention services they are entitled to. What is your perspective on increasing funding for Early On?
I support ensuring that Early On has the resources necessary to provide timely, individualized early intervention services to eligible infants and toddlers and their families. A developmental delay identified and addressed early can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Funding should support timely evaluations, appropriate services, qualified professionals, family participation, and equitable access regardless of a family’s ZIP code or financial circumstances.
If elected, how would you gather input from parents, caregivers, and early childhood professionals in your district when making decisions that affect them?
I believe public policy should be informed by the people who experience its consequences. I would continue meeting directly with parents, caregivers, educators, providers, health professionals, advocates, and community organizations. I also believe in bringing stakeholders together rather than hearing from them only after legislation has been written. Constituent meetings, community conversations, site visits, professional input, and direct communication with my office all help ensure that policy reflects real-world experience.
Is there anything else you would like Michigan families, early childhood professionals, and advocates to know about your approach to young children and their families?
My approach is centered on prevention, opportunity, and strong families. Government cannot replace parents or caregivers, but it can help remove barriers that make it unnecessarily difficult for families to succeed. Early childhood policy also cannot exist in isolation. Housing stability, health care, food security, transportation, safe neighborhoods, quality education, and economic opportunity all affect a child’s development. I believe our policies should recognize those connections while respecting families and supporting their ability to make decisions for their children.
Are there early childhood issues you believe are being overlooked in the current policy conversation in Michigan?
I believe we need greater attention to the connection between early childhood and the broader conditions surrounding a family. Housing instability, maternal health, transportation barriers, exposure to violence and trauma, behavioral health needs, environmental hazards, and economic insecurity can affect children long before they enter kindergarten.
I am also concerned about ensuring that early childhood systems identify developmental delays and disabilities quickly and connect families to services without unnecessary administrative barriers. Finally, we should pay close attention to whether programs are actually reaching families in underserved communities. Creating a program is only the first step; families must be able to find it, qualify for it, reach it, and use it.