MCCTF Minutes 030100

MCCTF March 1, 2000
Meeting Minutes

I. Opening Business:

A. Co-chairs Erin McGovern and Steve Manchester called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m. The meeting opened with introductions.

B. The agenda was approved.

II. Update on the Business of the Task Force

A. MCCTF's response to the FIA Child Care Report: Erin McGovern noted that the letter distributed to members of the House Appropriations FIA Subcommittee regarding the FIA Child Care Report is attached to the agenda. Steve Manchester also distributed a letter to Committee members regarding a move to a slot-based reimbursement system. This letter is also attached to the agenda.

B. MCCF Children's Agenda: Steve Manchester announced that MCCTF's legislative priorities are listed on the back of the meeting agenda. This agenda is to be widely distributed to Michigan legislators to demonstrate that multiple Early childhood groups are working together.

C. School Readiness: Barb Roth-Grondin announced that 3 grants are now being read: Parent Education and Involvement, Full-Day Services for Michigan School Readiness and Head Start Programs, and School Age Child Care. Also, the Governor's proposed 2001-2002 budget has increased allocation of funds for State Aid MSRP from $55 million to $67.5 million. Finally, the Full-Day Services for MSRP and Head Start Programs Grant, currently funded at $5 million, is proposed to increase to $20 million.

D. Child Care Challenge: This is the House Republicans' annual effort to seek out and recognize businesses that support child care and families. Nominations for the Child Care Challenge are due March 24, 2000, and the recognition ceremony will be held May 9, 2000 at 8:30 a.m. at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. An information packet is available; contact Representative Godchaux at 517.373.0824 for more information.

III. Featured Speaker: Marianne Udow, Senior Vice President, Health Care Products and Provider Services, BC/BS of Michigan

A. Marianne outlined her involvement in the Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan, beginning with her participation in last year's Ready to Learn Leadership Summit. Marianne is now the Chair of the "Coordinating Council" of the Dialogue, which oversees its operations and facilitates its vision. The Coordinating Council is planning another Summit for September, to which all are invited. The Dialogue has developed four "Priority Action Teams" that target specific sectors: Parent Education and Support, Professional Development of Other Caregivers, Multimedia Public Awareness Campaign, and State- and Local-Level Public and Private Partnerships. Marianne distributed an information packet detaining the work of the Coordinating Council and each of the Priority Action Teams. Marianne then discussed the problems Blue Cross Blue Shield has encountered with on-site child care, and gathered information from MCCTF members about how to make the program more successful and other options to offer parents. As a result of this discussion, MCCTF members decided to explore providing technical assistance and advise to businesses that are considering implementation of on-site child care. Judy Levine and Erin McGovern will head a committee including Barb Roth-Grondin, Mark Sullivan, Linda Herbert, Sue Allen, and Michele Strasz. This group will draft a plan and report to MCCTF April 5.

IV. Implications of the Proposed Bid-Out of Publicly Funded Behavioral Health Services: Betty Tableman and Michele Strasz

A. Betty Tableman, Co-chair of the Social Issues Committee at the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health, explained that the Federal Government has declared that the state should no longer automatically use Community Health Boards, it should allow private enterprise to bid for services provided. The concern this process causes is that many of the "community benefit" services that Community Health Boards provide voluntarily will no longer be sustainable in a low-bid war. Some of the programs that are likely to disappear include participation in Multi-purpose Collaborative Bodies, Infant Mental Health Services, Prevention Services, and Treatment Services. Betty distributed an information packet.

B. Michele Strasz, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, described action steps children's advocates can take to prevent this bid-out system. She distributed a packet detaining the implications of this system for communities and some community advocacy strategies. She urged MCCTF members to contact their legislators and local county commissioners and speak about the problem.

V. MCCTF Action Agenda 2000

Erin McGovern noted that the 2000 Action Agenda is listed on the back of the agenda. Several minor changes were suggested, and a revised Action Agenda will be distributed at the April MCCTF meeting.

VI. Child Care Center Rules

Steve Manchester and Erin McGovern noted that the "final rules" are accessible (accessing this site has been hit-and-miss; just keep trying) on the State's web site at www.cis.state.mi.us/opla/childcar.htm. They also noted that areas which continue to concern child advocates include the child placement contracts, other new rules which were inserted after the public hearings, and improvements from public testimony that have been ignored. Steve suggested that MCCTF members contact Senator Beverly Hammerstrom (517.373.3543) and urge her to meet to discuss these issues.

VII. Correction of the January minutes (from Steve Manchester)

A. The minutes for January were accompanied by Appendix B, which contained the statement "Michigan lawmakers have stated…they don't want to use…TANF surplus dollars on anything that would require annual increases, so that the state won't be obligated in future years if there is no money available." I was reminded that some legislators fight hard in support of early education and care. I regret that the January minutes appeared not to recognize the hard work our legislative friends do for us. On behalf of the Michigan Child Care Task Force let me express our continuing thanks to those who support high quality education and care.

IV. Closing Business:

A. Next month's meeting will feature Joan Firestone, Early Childhood Consultant for Oakland Schools. Joan will discuss the impact of brain science findings on child policy and advocacy, and how she deals with the criticism that advocates misuse brain science arguments.

B. The next meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. on April 5 at the Michigan State Library, in the Lake Ontario room on the third floor.

C. The meeting was adjourned at 12:08 p.m.

"The mission of the Michigan Child Care Task Force is to advocate on behalf of children and their families to assure that all children have access to high quality, affordable, nurturing early education and care."

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MCCTF March 1, 2000 Meeting Minutes

I. Opening Business:
	A. Co-chairs Erin McGovern and Steve Manchester called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m. The meeting opened with introductions. B. The agenda was approved.

II. Update on the Business of the Task Force
	A. MCCTF's response to the FIA Child Care Report: Erin McGovern noted that the letter distributed to members of the House Appropriations FIA Subcommittee regarding the FIA Child Care Report is attached to the agenda. Steve Manchester also distributed a letter to Committee members regarding a move to a slot-based reimbursement system. This letter is also attached to the agenda. B. MCCF Children's Agenda: Steve Manchester announced that MCCTF's legislative priorities are listed on the back of the meeting agenda. This agenda is to be widely distributed to Michigan legislators to demonstrate that multiple Early childhood groups are working together. C. School Readiness: Barb Roth-Grondin announced that 3 grants are now being read: Parent Education and Involvement, Full-Day Services for Michigan School Readiness and Head Start Programs, and School Age Child Care. Also, the Governor's proposed 2001-2002 budget has increased allocation of funds for State Aid MSRP from $55 million to $67.5 million. Finally, the Full-Day Services for MSRP and Head Start Programs Grant, currently funded at $5 million, is proposed to increase to $20 million. D. Child Care Challenge: This is the House Republicans' annual effort to seek out and recognize businesses that support child care and families. Nominations for the Child Care Challenge are due March 24, 2000, and the recognition ceremony will be held May 9, 2000 at 8:30 a.m. at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. An information packet is available; contact Representative Godchaux at 517.373.0824 for more information.

III. Featured Speaker: Marianne Udow, Senior Vice President, Health Care Products and Provider Services, BC/BS of Michigan
	A. Marianne outlined her involvement in the Ready to Succeed Dialogue with Michigan, beginning with her participation in last year's Ready to Learn Leadership Summit. Marianne is now the Chair of the "Coordinating Council" of the Dialogue, which oversees its operations and facilitates its vision. The Coordinating Council is planning another Summit for September, to which all are invited. The Dialogue has developed four "Priority Action Teams" that target specific sectors: Parent Education and Support, Professional Development of Other Caregivers, Multimedia Public Awareness Campaign, and State- and Local-Level Public and Private Partnerships. Marianne distributed an information packet detaining the work of the Coordinating Council and each of the Priority Action Teams. Marianne then discussed the problems Blue Cross Blue Shield has encountered with on-site child care, and gathered information from MCCTF members about how to make the program more successful and other options to offer parents. As a result of this discussion, MCCTF members decided to explore providing technical assistance and advise to businesses that are considering implementation of on-site child care. Judy Levine and Erin McGovern will head a committee including Barb Roth-Grondin, Mark Sullivan, Linda Herbert, Sue Allen, and Michele Strasz. This group will draft a plan and report to MCCTF April 5.

IV. Implications of the Proposed Bid-Out of Publicly Funded Behavioral Health Services: Betty Tableman and Michele Strasz
	A. Betty Tableman, Co-chair of the Social Issues Committee at the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health, explained that the Federal Government has declared that the state should no longer automatically use Community Health Boards, it should allow private enterprise to bid for services provided. The concern this process causes is that many of the "community benefit" services that Community Health Boards provide voluntarily will no longer be sustainable in a low-bid war. Some of the programs that are likely to disappear include participation in Multi-purpose Collaborative Bodies, Infant Mental Health Services, Prevention Services, and Treatment Services. Betty distributed an information packet. B. Michele Strasz, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health, described action steps children's advocates can take to prevent this bid-out system. She distributed a packet detaining the implications of this system for communities and some community advocacy strategies. She urged MCCTF members to contact their legislators and local county commissioners and speak about the problem.

V. MCCTF Action Agenda 2000
	Erin McGovern noted that the 2000 Action Agenda is listed on the back of the agenda. Several minor changes were suggested, and a revised Action Agenda will be distributed at the April MCCTF meeting.

VI. Child Care Center Rules
	Steve Manchester and Erin McGovern noted that the "final rules" are accessible (accessing this site has been hit-and-miss; just keep trying) on the State's web site at www.cis.state.mi.us/opla/childcar.htm. They also noted that areas which continue to concern child advocates include the child placement contracts, other new rules which were inserted after the public hearings, and improvements from public testimony that have been ignored. Steve suggested that MCCTF members contact Senator Beverly Hammerstrom (517.373.3543) and urge her to meet to discuss these issues.

VII. Correction of the January minutes (from Steve Manchester)
	A. The minutes for January were accompanied by Appendix B, which contained the statement "Michigan lawmakers have stated…they don't want to use…TANF surplus dollars on anything that would require annual increases, so that the state won't be obligated in future years if there is no money available." I was reminded that some legislators fight hard in support of early education and care. I regret that the January minutes appeared not to recognize the hard work our legislative friends do for us. On behalf of the Michigan Child Care Task Force let me express our continuing thanks to those who support high quality education and care.

IV. Closing Business:
	A. Next month's meeting will feature Joan Firestone, Early Childhood Consultant for Oakland Schools. Joan will discuss the impact of brain science findings on child policy and advocacy, and how she deals with the criticism that advocates misuse brain science arguments. B. The next meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. on April 5 at the Michigan State Library, in the Lake Ontario room on the third floor. C. The meeting was adjourned at 12:08 p.m.

"The mission of the Michigan Child Care Task Force is to advocate on behalf of children and their families to assure that all children have access to high quality, affordable, nurturing early education and care."


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