Michigan's Children

06/24/2026

The Clairmount House is a Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless or at-risk LGBTQ youth. I’sha Schultz-Spradlin shares how it provides safety and a learning environment to LGBTQ+ youth. To learn more about the work of the Ruth Ellis Center, click the link in the caption to watch the full episode.

https://youtu.be/J8CjepLdcHA?si=EujCDXH6yrEKJpMg

06/19/2026

Michigan’s Children celebrates this holiday each year - marking the date of June 19, 1865, when Union troops finally arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The newly freed people named the day ‘Juneteenth’ and it has been celebrated every year since as a symbol of freedom and delayed justice.

For a fun family activity and to learn more about the Juneteenth flag, visit the link in the caption.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/sites/default/files/images/juneteethflagactivity.pdf

06/18/2026

I’sha Schultz-Spradlin, Associate Director at the Ruth Ellis Center, shares how Ruth Ellis was doing the work of supporting LGBTQ+ youth long before it was common or widely accepted. To learn more about Ruth Ellis’s legacy and the important work the Center continues today, click the link in the caption to watch the full episode.

https://youtu.be/J8CjepLdcHA?si=Nt8p-V8a9fgMRrzH

06/17/2026

Pulse at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research is partnering with leaders from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Bipartisan Policy Center, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential and Bronson Healthcare to launch The Michigan Employer Roadmap to Child Care Solutions, a four-part webinar series focused on helping employers better understand child care as a workforce strategy. Sessions will be held from 2:30–4 p.m. ET.

June 24 | Policies and Benefits That Work
July 15 | Financing Solution
August 12 | Building the Child Care Ecosystem

Register Here: https://www.upjohn.org/pulse-michigan-business-leaders-take-child-care-new-webinar-series

06/17/2026

Metro Detroit, are you ready for the August Primary Elections?

We are hosting a Youth Driven candidate forum on June 27th from 12-3pm at the Williams Recreation Center located at 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit, MI, with our fabulous partners at 482Forward, ACCESS, Teen HYPE, The Children's Center of Wayne County, and Congress of Communities.

Hope to see you there.

06/16/2026

On June 15, 1982, the Supreme Court affirmed in Plyler v. Doe that all children—regardless of immigration status—have the right to access a free public education.

Exactly 44 years later, that promise remains deeply connected to whether students feel safe enough to learn. Today, we recognize the anniversary of this landmark decision and honor The López Family and the families who helped make this ruling possible.

As we recognize the anniversary of Plyler v. Doe, we are reminded that protecting access to education also means protecting a student’s sense of safety, belonging, and opportunity.

06/15/2026

The Senators and House members in the first graphic are likely to be on a conference committee to negotiate with the Governor’s office to pass a final state budget, which should pass by July 1 (or shortly thereafter, we hope). That means now is the time to raise your voice for child care, Early On, Mental Health Consultation, Rx Kids, and other essential early childhood programs.

Please share this policy advocacy resources document with child care providers, other early childhood professionals, parents, and advocates who live in the districts of the lawmakers below.

https://www.michiganschildren.org/act-now/

06/15/2026

The Flint Cultural Center will be hosting free events and entertainment on Saturday, June 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The 2026 Juneteenth Celebration @ Flint Cultural Center will be located along East Kearsley Street, Flint, which will be closed off for the event. The annual event will include kids' activities and crafts, local vendors, live music on the main stage, and a Freedom March at noon led by Hamady High School's marching band.

For more information on the event visit the link: https://sloanlongway.org/events/juneteenth/

06/12/2026

Michigan’s Children, in partnership with The Children's Center of Wayne County, Teen HYPE, ACCESS, 482Forward, and Congress of Communities, is excited to announce an upcoming youth-led Candidate Forum.
The forum will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Joseph Walker Williams Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit, MI 48206.

Featured races include:

U.S. Senate

U.S. House District 13

State Senate Districts 1, 2, 3, and 10

State House Districts 4 and 9

Advocates and community members who reside in these districts are encouraged to attend. This event will be conducted as a nonpartisan candidate forum, not a debate. The sponsoring organizations do not endorse any candidates. Participating candidates will be given equal time to introduce themselves and respond to questions developed and asked by young people from the partnering organizations.

Drawing from their lived experiences and the issues affecting their families and communities, youth participants will ask candidates about topics including early childhood education, K-12 education, mental health, disability rights, and other issues impacting children and families throughout Detroit and surrounding communities.

For more info: https://www.michiganschildren.org/2026-candidate-forum/

06/12/2026

When it comes to early investments, no age yields higher returns than the earliest years of life. The Child Development & Care (CDC) Scholarship program offers scholarships for child care to qualifying low-income families, reducing the financial burden of accessing child care and, therefore, the workforce.

Despite no proposed changes in the Governor and Senate FY27 budget proposals, Michigan’s House has suggested reducing CDC funding by $19.5 million by reimbursing child care businesses based on child attendance rather than enrollment.

Paying businesses based on enrollment is a well-established, common and best practice, as it supports financial stability for businesses when children have inevitable and occasional absences.

Reduced program funding and reverting to attendance-based payments will set Michigan back in its progress to stabilize the child care industry and increase early learning and literacy opportunities for our youngest learners.

Sustained CDC Scholarship investments will support Michigan’s struggling child care industry, which is the workforce that enables a broader workforce, and ensure families have access to stable and reliable care.
Send Your Lawmakers a Message

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has launched Our Strong Start (OSS)! OSS offers a team of trained navigators who will connect child care entrepreneurs with grant opportunities and work with potential child care entrepreneurs to troubleshoot any concerns they may ha...