LANSING, Mich., Nov. 16 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) celebrated the expansion of free or low-cost child care to include 105,000 more children. Earlier this year, lawmakers in Lansing passed a budget that lowered the eligibility criteria to include more working families. Families of four earning up to $49,000 will be eligible for free or low-cost child care under the new criteria, boosting Michigan’s economic momentum by helping parents go back to work, knowing that their kids are cared for.
“By lowering the cost of child care, we’re telling families that they no longer have to choose between their career and their children,” Puri said. “This burden, which has disproportionately fell on women, has stifled both the growth of our economy and our children for far too long. By expanding eligibility, we’ve made it so fewer families will have to sacrifice. And even if you don’t meet the criteria for direct aid, the package of bills we passed earlier in the year will reduce red tape and help ensure quality child care is more affordable for all families across the state. We’ve still got a way to go, but my Democratic colleagues and I are committed to ensuring every child gets the care they deserve.”
In addition to expanding eligibility, beginning immediately, family contributions (the amount parents receiving state child care support are required to pay toward the cost of care) are waived until Sept. 30, 2022. This lifts some of the financial burden on the nearly 40,000 families currently receiving state child care support.
Eligible families must apply to receive child care support through the Child Development & Care Program, commonly called the child care subsidy. Families must be income eligible, have a child under age 12 and have an eligible need, such as working or going to school, to qualify.
Families can visit NewMiBridges.Michigan.gov to apply today and visit GreatStarttoQuality.org to find child care that meets their needs.