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Who We Are

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Michigan’s Children is a statewide, nonpartisan and nonprofit organization committed to speaking out for the well-being of children and their families at the federal, state and local levels of government.  Since 1992, Michigan’s Children has worked with lawmakers, business leaders and communities to create effective public policies to give all Michigan children the opportunity to thrive.

We believe in: 

  • Equal Opportunity - Racial and ethnic disparities must be reduced so that all children have equal opportunities to thrive.
  • Prevention - We can and must focus on preventing problems facing children and families, rather than intervening after children are harmed and families destroyed.  
  • Civic Engagement - The involvement of all stakeholders is critical, including community leaders, business and the private sector, parents, and youths.
  • Collaboration - We must form key partnerships at the neighborhood, community, and local levels to address the needs of children and families.
 

What We Do

Our strategic operating plan goals are to:
  • Improve laws and public policies for Michigan children
  • Expand community-based advocacy for children
  • Educate key stakeholders about the status of children and public policy solutions
  • Advance the well-being of children through effective partnerships

 

We do this through:

  • Advocacy - We work with legislators and other policymakers to ensure that the best interests of children and families are represented and protected. 
  • Information - We create and disseminate timely information and analyses to lawmakers, policymakers, other advocates, communities, media, and the public on legislation, policy, and budget issues affecting children and families. 
  • Training & Technical Assistance - We teach communities and youths to be effective advocates on thir own behalf in order to best influence public policy. 
  • Youth Forums - We bring young people and community members together with policymakers to discuss and seek solutions to problems facing children and families.

Accomplishments

Since 1992, Michigan's Children has become a recognized leader in the development of public policy, a source of reliable information on a wide range of issues affecting children and families, and a strong partner for communities. 

Key accomplishments include:

• Passage of legislation and appropriation of funding to promote subsidized guardianship in Michigan.
• Establishing a legislative mandate creating interdepartmental task forces addressing over-representation of African American children in the state's child welfare systems, and on services to at-risk youths in transition to adulthood. Recommendations of both task forces have translated into changes in public policies and practices.
• Expanded eligibility and funding for the Michigan School Readiness program (MSRP) and local Great Start Collaboratives.
• Preservation of Medicaid eligibility for 19- and 20-year-olds in Michigan, as well as low-income relatives caring for children who have been removed from their homes.
• Preservation of funding for community-based initiatives addressing high African American infant mortality rates.
• Assuring $90 million over a two year period in new funding for community-based prevention programs for children and families.
• Generating and later protecting a minimum of nearly $5 million annually in funding for children abuse and neglect prevention services for children ages 0-3.
• Ensuring public funding ($300,000 over three years) for the Michigan Ready to Succeed Partnership, one of the seeds for the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), the central focal point for education, technical assistance and information related to early childhood programs in Michigan.
• Restoring $900,000 for minority health grants.