{"id":64281,"date":"2025-07-25T14:49:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T18:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/?p=64281"},"modified":"2025-07-31T14:19:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T18:19:52","slug":"michigan-program-aims-expand-benefits-child-care-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/children-families\/michigan-program-aims-expand-benefits-child-care-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan program aims to expand benefits for child care workers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential announced $4.4 million to pilot the Nurture Benefits program<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Child care providers can enroll through the Small Business Association of Michigan for health, life and retirement benefits\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The program aims to address critical shortages in the child care industry\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Emma Knode is exactly the kind of worker Michigan needs more of.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She works at a child care center in Lansing and has a psychology degree with a focus in child development. At 26 years old, she\u2019s passionate and wants to make this a lifelong career \u2014 but she\u2019s not sure she can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She\u2019s no longer covered by her father\u2019s health insurance as of this year, and, like most child care workers in Michigan, her employer offers no benefits. She makes too much to receive Medicaid, but not enough to afford health insurance on her $15-an-hour salary while also paying off student loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The state is trying to change that for Knode and the thousands of child care workers in the state, many of whom receive no benefits and earned, on average, just&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/mcda\/reports\/childcare-industry-workforce-analysis-report\">61% of the state\u2019s average<\/a>&nbsp;annual income in 2023.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unable to attract workers, Michigan is facing a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/studies-raise-warnings-about-michigan-child-care-access-cost\">child care crisis<\/a>, with the understaffed industry unable to support the needs of all of thefamilies lining up for limited slots.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) recently announced a $4.4 million pilot program in collaboration with the Small Business Association of Michigan. The program, Nurture Benefits, will subsidize health, life and retirement benefits for Michigan\u2019s child care workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/business-watch\/lack-child-care-now-crisis-facing-michigans-workforce\"><strong>Lack of child care now a \u2018crisis\u2019 facing Michigan\u2019s workforce<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/studies-raise-warnings-about-michigan-child-care-access-cost\"><strong>Studies raise warnings about Michigan child care access, cost<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/children-families\/child-care-baby-costs-more-university-michigan\"><strong>Child care for this baby costs more than the University of Michigan<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Knode\u2019s employer has already said she will sign up for the pilot program so her workers have a shot at affordable health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat is something I&#8217;m really looking forward to, having that sense of stability and peace of mind,\u201d Knode said. \u201cI&#8217;m glad that I won&#8217;t \u2014 hopefully \u2014 have to make those hard decisions when it comes to financials, because that is definitely a hindrance, and I could see how that would affect people coming into the field and leaving the field, as well.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The funding comes from a $33 million federal&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/links-2.govdelivery.com\/CL0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.michigan.gov%2Fmileap%2Fpress-releases%2F2024%2F10%2F01%2Fmichigan-awarded-33m-to-expand-access-to-quality-affordable-child-care\/1\/01010197ef46c5cb-9b719d91-f0ac-4748-9927-892a48151554-000000\/VFd9cBTivw7LMAnpoIoApSJTtQHGeObSvYwpdWQyvko=413\">grant<\/a>&nbsp;awarded to Michigan last year by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Any licensed or license-exempt child care provider in Michigan working 30 or more hours per week will be eligible for the program. Child care employers will be able to enroll in the program starting this fall, with benefits available in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Small Business Association of Michigan is designing plans and benefits packages that child care employers will be able to purchase. They intend to offer three options for health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield, at varying price points.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat we&#8217;re approaching is a base offering, a medium, and then a richer plan benefit,\u201d said Michelle Beebe, SBAM\u2019s chief revenue officer. \u201cThe state is subsidizing the majority of the base plan, and then the employer, if they want to offer (a higher level of) benefits, either the employee or the employer could pay the difference.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Child care providers will be able to receive better rates and fees for 401(k) plans because they will be grouped together as one large employer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pricing for benefits packages will be finalized in the next few weeks, before the open enrollment period begins.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beebe said SBAM is working to ensure preventative benefits, including behavioral health benefits, are included in all of the health insurance plans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are committed to making sure that these benefits include behavioral health,\u201d Beebe said. \u201cThat&#8217;s been a very big thing that we&#8217;ve heard from the child care industry. The stress of this industry and the burnout is a big issue, and providers having access to behavioral health benefits is a really big deal and preventative, and so we&#8217;re making sure that, at the bare minimum, every plan has this in there and they have access to pharmacy benefits.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"667\" data-attachment-id=\"64285\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/children-families\/michigan-program-aims-expand-benefits-child-care-workers\/attachment\/250724-bridge-childcare-benefits0020-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?fit=1300%2C847&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1300,847\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020 (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?fit=300%2C195&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C667&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C667&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C667&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?resize=300%2C195&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?resize=768%2C500&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C782&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?resize=780%2C508&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?resize=400%2C261&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?resize=706%2C460&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1.jpg?w=1300&amp;ssl=1 1300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0020-1-1024x667.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kids play at Little Blessings daycare in Lansing. Quality child care early on in an individual\u2019s life has been shown to improve developmental skills. (Dale Young\/Bridge Michigan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-7102\/12\/12\/908\">2022 study<\/a>&nbsp;found that children in kindergarten through third grade who had access to high quality child care as infants demonstrated higher skills in letter and word identification, vocabulary, oral comprehension and math.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emily Laidlaw, deputy director of Early Education at MiLEAP, stressed the importance of quality child care in a young person\u2019s development.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cChildren have a better ability to learn and meet their milestones when they have a consistent teacher in those early years,\u201d Laidlaw said. \u201cWhen child care providers aren&#8217;t able to offer the basic benefits, it becomes incredibly difficult to keep staff, and that instability means fewer quality care options for families or teacher turnover for children in programs.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearly half of Michigan\u2019s children currently live in \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/cep.msu.edu\/projects\/child-care-mapping-project\/maps-and-charts\/child-care-desert-map\">child care deserts<\/a>,\u201d where there are three or more children for every available spot in child care centers, according to a Michigan State University study. Lack of access to child care has cost the state an estimated&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michamber.com\/news\/michigan-losing-out-on-2-88-billion-due-to-childcare\/\">$2.9 billion<\/a>, according to a Michigan Chamber of Commerce report.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis has become a top public policy issue of ours because the availability of child care makes the difference between whether or not people can reliably show up for work, and having reliable child care makes for good and dependable and experienced workers,\u201d SBAM President Brian Calley said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Nurture Benefits pilot program aims to address shortages by attracting more childcare workers and allowing them to stay in the profession. Since the state requires a 1:4 teacher-to-child ratio for infants and toddlers, additional staff allows daycares to offer more spots to children.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe underlying goal here is to address shortages of child care workers and we think the best way to do that is to provide strong retention tools, and benefit packages are at the heart of that,\u201d Calley said. \u201cWe know that employees need these kinds of benefits to be successful.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nationwide,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/pdf\/ebs2.pdf\">medical care benefits<\/a>&nbsp;were available to 72% of private industry workers in 2024, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. But, in an SBAM survey of more than 4,000 early education and childcare workers, only 21% said they were offered benefits from their employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many child care facilities are small businesses that can\u2019t afford or aren\u2019t eligible for the types of insurance that larger companies have. Calley said Nurture Benefits will allow childcare providers to group together and join a managed risk pool with the same rights that larger employers have.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"64284\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/children-families\/michigan-program-aims-expand-benefits-child-care-workers\/attachment\/250724-bridge-childcare-benefits0233-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?fit=1300%2C867&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1300,867\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233 (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-64284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?resize=780%2C520&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1.jpg?w=1300&amp;ssl=1 1300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250724-Bridge-Childcare-Benefits0233-1-1024x683.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Child care workers are often uninsured or on Medicaid because their employers aren\u2019t able to offer health care coverage. (Dale Young\/Bridge Michigan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Brittany Hartwell is the director of Little Blessings Learning Center in Lansing, which has eight staff members who are all uninsured or on Medicaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hartwell and her 7-year-old daughter are on Medicaid, which still has copayments that she sometimes can\u2019t afford. She\u2019s concerned for herself and her employees with the uncertainty of Medicaid cuts as a result of the federal&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/trump-gets-his-big-beautiful-bill-what-it-means-michigan\">\u201cbig, beautiful bill\u201d<\/a>&nbsp;signed into law this month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt definitely is a damper to not&nbsp; \u2026 be able to provide insurance or different benefits, because we know as working families that&#8217;s important,\u201d Hartwell said. \u201cIf I need to take my kids to the dentist or the doctor, I can&#8217;t be paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket. In the past, I&#8217;ve had people turn down the job offer simply because we weren&#8217;t able to offer benefits.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jacqueline Taylor, owner of Little Dreamers Early Learning Center, has also lost educators who went on to work in different careers because of the low pay and lack of benefits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTrying to get medical treatments without insurance was just really difficult for all of us, and I&#8217;ve even experienced that as well as an owner, needing to go to the doctor and having to pay out of pocket,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cMiLEAP coming out with Nurture Benefits has just been an answered prayer \u2026&nbsp; to see that the state is listening and that they really are trying to figure out ways to collaborate with us to help lift up the industry of early education.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Nurture Benefits program will be available for the next two years, but Laidlaw said MiLEAP hopes to seek funding to continue the program if it is successful. The department will be looking at enrollment numbers and collecting feedback from child care providers to continually improve and meet their needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur aim with this initial pilot is to test the model, gather data and refine,\u201d&nbsp; Laidlaw said. \u201cWe&#8217;re always looking for ways to make successful programs permanent, but first we need to get started with our pilot program and see how it works.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Little Dreamers, Taylor hopes the pilot program will continue so Knode can keep working with her and her business can continue to grow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe state has no idea what we can do with a properly funded team,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cI believe that they&#8217;ll be really shocked at how this has been the missing piece that I think the economy has needed (and) is really just ensuring that our youngest learners are all set.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly four out of five child care workers in Michigan don\u2019t receive benefits. A $4.4 million pilot program from the state hopes to change that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1846,"featured_media":64286,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[2439],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[4218],"class_list":["post-64281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-children-families","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Michigan program aims to expand benefits for child care workers - Bridge Michigan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/children-families\/michigan-program-aims-expand-benefits-child-care-workers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Michigan program aims to expand benefits for child care workers - Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nearly four out of five child care workers in Michigan don\u2019t receive benefits. 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Michigan\u2019s child care crisis is crimping family budgets and hobbling Michigan businesses.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Different toys on table in playroom. 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You bet!","author":"Greg VanWoerkom","date":"July 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A pilot program offers an innovative way to help families afford child care, and employers help retain workers struggling with costs.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guest Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guest Commentary","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/guest-commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Greg VanWoerkom, Cheryl Bergman","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ipiccy_image.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ipiccy_image.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ipiccy_image.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ipiccy_image.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ipiccy_image.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4364,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/home-based-preschool-hits-roadblock-michigan-budget-talks\/","url_meta":{"origin":64281,"position":2},"title":"Home-based preschool hits roadblock in Michigan budget talks","author":"Koby Levin, Chalkbeat","date":"May 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Michigan has a financial cushion thanks to federal stimulus funds and stronger-than-expected recovery from the economic shock of COVID-19. But education spending is a sticking point.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"child care","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/child-care-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/child-care-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/child-care-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/child-care-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/child-care-shutterstock.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":69590,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/talent-education\/enrollment-in-michigans-free-pre-k-program-for-4-year-olds-reaches-new-high\/","url_meta":{"origin":64281,"position":3},"title":"Enrollment in Michigan\u2019s free pre-K program for 4-year-olds reaches new high","author":"Isabel Lohman","date":"November 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"State officials are touting the free pre-K program for 4-year-olds. Across the state, about 51,000 students are enrolled.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Talent &amp; Education&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Talent &amp; Education","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/talent-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A teacher points to an illustration in a book as pre-schoolers seated around her look on","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SCHOOL-COURTESY-KENTISD-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SCHOOL-COURTESY-KENTISD-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SCHOOL-COURTESY-KENTISD-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SCHOOL-COURTESY-KENTISD-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/SCHOOL-COURTESY-KENTISD-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5845,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/guest-commentary\/opinion-child-care-costs-hobble-michigan-families-heres-one-suggestion\/","url_meta":{"origin":64281,"position":4},"title":"Opinion | Child care costs hobble Michigan families. Here\u2019s one suggestion","author":"Greg VanWoerkom","date":"February 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"State Rep. Greg Van Woerkom suggests workers, companies and the state share the cost of child care. Pilot programs will begin soon.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Guest Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Guest Commentary","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/guest-commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Greg VanWoerkom","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/VAN-WOERKOM.jpg?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1125,"url":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-health-watch\/desperate-child-social-workers-michigan-tries-new-tack-20k-college\/","url_meta":{"origin":64281,"position":5},"title":"Desperate for child social workers, Michigan tries new tack: $20K for college","author":"Robin Erb","date":"July 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Social work students who promise to work in child welfare can get $5,000 a semester \u2014 up to $20,000 \u2014 under a new state program aimed at luring new child welfare workers. Unlike tuition loan forgiveness programs to recruit workers, the student decides how to spend the money.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Michigan Health Watch&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Michigan Health Watch","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/category\/michigan-health-watch\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mccollum.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mccollum.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mccollum.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mccollum.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mccollum.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1846"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64281"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64288,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64281\/revisions\/64288"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64281"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=64281"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=64281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}