MICHIGAN
CHILD CARE TASK FORCE MINUTES
Meeting Minutes for January 7, 2004
MCCTF Co-Chair Contact
Information:
Lisa Brewer
Michigan 4C Association
T.E.A.C.H. Director
866-648-3224, ext. 27
brewer@mi4c.org
Richard Lower
Michigan's Children
Policy Associate
800-330-8674
lower.richard@michiganschildren.org
Future SCHEDULE for the TASK FORCE:
February 4 &endash; Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor, State
of Michigan Library
March 3 &endash; LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST (location TBA);
regular meeting Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor, State of
Michigan Library
April 7 &endash; Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor, State of
Michigan Library, Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor, 717 West
Allegan, Lansing, MI 48909-7507; (517) 373-1580.
Co-Chair Richard Lower called the meeting to order at
9:45 a.m. Introductions were done.
Steve Manchester volunteered to take minutes, with
additional notes from Lisa Brewer.
Early Announcements:
- Kristen McDonald Stone, MHSA announced that a part-time
administrative assistant position is available at the
Michigan Head Start Association and to contact the
Association for more information.
- Steve Manchester announced that the Child Care Matters
quarterly publication from the FIA is available and on
the web. Kathi Pioszak announced that she has overruns of
the publication and if anyone is interested in large
quantities to contact her at FIA.
- Steve also announced the annual Michigan AEYC Child
Development Conference held this year in Grand Rapids
during March 25-27. Preliminary programs were available
at this meeting.
- Lisa Brewer announced that T.E.A.C.H. reached 2,000
scholarships at the end of 2003.
BUSINESS OF THE TASK FORCE
Department of Education, Cheryl Hall
1. MSRP-State Aid &endash; applications went on line
prematurely. Please do NOT complete that application.
You will get an e-mail when the true application is made
available.
2. MSRP-Competitie &endash; A Technical Assistance will
be held on April 20, 2004 in Lansing at the library and
another in Gaylord at the Quality Inn on April 23, 2004.
Applications will be due on May 24, 2004 and a readers'
session held on June 15, 2004. Need for readers,
applications will be available on the web site.
3. Even Start- There will be an EVEN START MEGS training
for currently funded Even Start projects primarily to
enter budgets and contact information on January 14, 2004
broadcasting from MDE to several ISD sites. To register:
www.tcombridge.org/events/MDE. The competitive
application will be available on the web February 1st as
well. Continuation applications will be available on the
web March 1st. Reader sessions for competitive
applications will be held on April 14 and may 3.
Applications to become readers will be available on our
web site.
4. Great Parents Great Start- At this point, our
expectation is that all ISDs will participate. About half
will begin services this month. The other half of the
programs are completing necessary revisions for final
approval.
5. Good Start, Grow Smart (Region 5 incl. Indiana,
Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois)- Michigan
is beginning work on the revision of the Standards of
Quality, starting with the preschool standards. Waiting
for approval for contracts, bringing together and
supported by FIA. The Standards will align with Head
Start Standards, and include early childhood special
education. Interested participation will be solicited. If
interested, contact Connie Robinson in the Office of
School Excellence, MDE.
6. David Kingsley, 21st Century Community Learning Center
Consultant, will leave his position effective January 30,
2004. We hope to have permission to hire soon. Lorraine
Thoreson is the consultant who will manage this
program.
7. Eileen Storer-Smith has taken a Head Start Region 5
local training and technical assistance position
effective the beginning of January. She was hired through
the Administration for Children and Families.
Michigan Family Independence Agency, Kathi Pioszak
1. Before and After School Programming- Executive order
2003-23 ended all programs. January 16th will be their
last day of operation with state funds. Some programs has
21st Century Community Learning Center dollars and/or
foundation dollars and may be able to continue with
reduced services. Judy Brown Clarke is the FIA
Departmental Analyst handling the programming. She can be
reached at 517-335-2364 or brownj10@michigan.gov.
2. Licensing- The new Director once appointed will report
to the Director of FIA, Marianne Udow. Jocelyn Vanda is
acting as liaison. Marianne Udow has a great deal of
interest in strengthening licensing, in addition to
interest in prevention and 0-5 issues.
3. CAN/Family Resource Centers- They are up and running
in Detroit on December 13, 2003. Staff (FIS workers) have
been identified, including Saginaw. The single assessment
tool has been finalized, and county directors have been
brought up to date. The tool was piloted in Ingham
County. In addition, a tool was borrowed from
Massachusetts that has been "tweeked" for Michigan's
needs. A trainer from MA will be brought in February 2004
to train affected FIS workers in a one-day session. An
interagency Workgroup also developed a single plan of
care draft. Workers would sit with parents to develop a
plan/discuss issues/holistic approach. Includes a mental
health component. To be piloted in Ingham and Calhoun
Counties before it is finalized and put into
operation.
4. R.E.A.D.Y. Kit Distribution- FIA is planning to play a
big part in the distribution of the new Infant R.E.A.D.Y.
kit. Additional funding is being sought to support
distribution of the new kits to not only the CAN Schools
(200 kits) but also FIS workers statewide (10 kits each),
parents with infants receiving FIA CDC services (15,000
est. kits), and child care providers of infants and
toddlers (approx.. 17,000 kits). The hope is that
distribution will be complete by Spring/Summer of this
year.
5. The Michigan After-School Initiative 2003 Report is on
the web at www.michigan.gov/documents/21st_CCLC_MASI_Report_80337_7.pdf
in response to House Resolution 26.
6. A new Soup and Salad Program was approved in December.
The program begins this month with a goal of providing
low-income children in Michigan an opportunity to learn
more about gardening and healthy eating habits. The
program is funded by Community Food and Nutrition Program
funds that FIA is contracting to the Michigan 4C
Association.
Michigan Department of Community Health, Deb
Marciniak
1. The Governor created a new Mental Health Commission.
The Michigan Mental Health Commission, a temporary body
appointed by executive order, will meet in 2004 to
re-evaluate the state's publicly-funded mental health
system with the ultimate goal of using its
recommendations to transform Michigan's mental health
system into a national model. For more information,
contact T.J. Bucholz at 517-241-2112 in the DCH.
GUEST SPEAKER(S)
Doug Paterson, from the Department of Community Health
and administrator to the Governor's Project Great Start;
and Steve Manchester, MiAEYC came to discuss the Build
Initiative. This initiative brings Michigan into
partnership with eight other states in developing
statewide systems of universal, high quality early
education and care.
Doug started by emphasizing that Project Great Start is
not a program per se, but a movement or initiative to
educate the public and create public will on the
importance of the 0-5 years. The Governor has as her two
top priorities: land use and young children, which she
proved in these past two budget cuts.
Doug explained what the Governor's Children's Action
Network (CAN) is. Two forms of CAN: one is her cabinet
that meets to talk about the importance of the earliest
years and the other is a broader group that includes many
advocates with a focus on the priority schools and
offering them support. Although priority schools are the
current focus, the initial intent was for a focus on a
0-5 comprehensive system.
Doug talked about the Great Parents Great Start program
which is meant to continue efforts of the defunded
ASAP-PIE program. Great Parents Great Start is funded at
$3.3 million and all ISDs are eligible to apply for these
funds.
The Early Childhood CORE Team was also described. The
CORE Team is not a decision making table, but a virtual
table. You must log on to the web to comment and offer
suggestions about a comprehensive 0-5 system. There is
also a listserve. The planning of the 0-5 system is
scheduled to be completed by June 2005. For more
information on Project Great Start, see www.greatstartforkids.org
or www.michigan.ogv/greatstart.
Doug also mentioned that a great source for budget
resources on the state's economy is at the Citizen's
Research Council web site at www.crc.org.
Per Steve's notes:
Today's early childhood system is funded 55% ($28.6
billion) by parents, 40% ($20.8 billion) by public funds,
and 5% ($2.6 billion) by the business/philanthropy
community for a total of $52 billion.
A "high quality" system that would meet the developmental
needs of every child in the USA would cost about three
times as much, over $155 billion.
There are two kinds of early childhood financing
approaches. The first is to do the best we can under the
current circumstances because survival is the key. The
second approach is to get involved in the macro-economic
battles.
For more information on Steve's presentation, contact
Steve Manchester at 517-336-9700, ext. 24 or
smanchester@miaeyc.org.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OF THE TASK FORCE
Child Day Care Licensing, Pat Hogg
1. Now within FIA, under the name Office of Child and
Adult Licensing.
2. Both home and center rules are currently under
review.
3. School age exemption requests have slowed down
significantly. The total number of full exemptions to
date is 211 and partial exemptions is 59.
4. Contracts between local field offices and the 4C
offices are being finalized soon.
5. The new CD rom with forms, TA, and other information
should be ready by end of the month. Will be mailed to
all current licensees.
6. CDC Policy Manual has been revised and is out to
staff. Training for staff on policies and procedures is
being planned.
7. A committee is reviewing guidance (or interpretations)
for rules. When completed, it will be shared with staff
and licensees.
The Michigan League for Human Services
1. Regarding TANF and CCDBG reauthorization, there is
nothing new to report at this time.
2. The 2003 Michigan Kids Count book will be released on
line on January 8, 2004. A hard cover book will be out by
the end of the month. For more information contact the
League at 517-487-5436.
Head Start Reauthorization and fiscal matters, Kristen
McDonald-Stone
1. There is no new news on Head Start
reauthorization.
Additional Legislative Updates, Richard Lower
1. The first revenue estimating conference of the year
will be January 14, 2004 at 9 a.m. in the House
Appropriations Room of the State Capitol. This forecast
is used by the Administration in drafting the Governor's
budget.
The Joyce Foundation, Sharon Clayton Peters
Sharon announced that the Joyce Foundation has showed
interest in Michigan around early childhood. With
leadership from the co-chairs, Richard and Lisa , the
intent is to have the MCCTF have input into any efforts
the Joyce Foundation may start in Michigan around early
childhood.
MCCTF 2004 ACTION AGENDA REVISITED - led by Richard
Lower.
1. A second draft of the action agenda was revisited and
one addition was made under "quality" and a few wording
corrections were made. The action agenda will be
finalized and approved at the February meeting.
The following is the 2004 MCCTF Action Agenda to
date:
AFFORDABILITY:
Sustain funding
efforts to increase state use of available federal
match dollars for child care.
Increase reimbursement rates for low-income subsidized
child care to reflect the most current Market Rate
Survey.
Address current tax structure to ensure sufficient
revenue for essential programs for children and
families.
Raise the Income Eligibility Scale for child care
subsidies.
AVAILABILITY:
Create
incentives for businesses to create partnerships
within the early childhood community.
Support collaboration of the Michigan School Readiness
Program (MSRP) and Head Start/Early Head Start with
other early childhood education and care programs.
Support funding for full-day, full-year Head
Start/Early Head Start.
Support funding for full-day, full-year Michigan
School Readiness Program. Provide supports and
incentives, such as a variable rate scale, to child
care providers for odd-hour care and care for children
with special needs.
Provide supports and maintain incentives to child care
providers for infant and toddler care.
QUALITY:
Return
of the "consultant-based" model to Child Day Care
Licensing.
Set Child Day Care Licensing staff ratios at 1
licensing consultant per 100 providers.
Increase state-supported training, professional
development and accreditation opportunities for child
care programs.
Maintain incentives and provide supports for relative
care providers to attend trainings and provide
increased networking and access to resources of the
community child care system.
Require pre-service and in-service trainings for all
providers who receive state funds.
Institute a tiered reimbursement system to increase
quality and increase the professionalism of the child
care industry.
Increase the availability of child care health and
mental health consultants so all providers have access
to consultation on enhancing the health and safety of
the children in their care.
ADDITIONAL
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. A similar letter that the Task Force sent to the
former Director of FIA, will be sent to Marianne Udow,
the new Director of FIA.
2. The Governor's State of State Address is scheduled for
January 27, 2004 at 7 p.m. at the State Capitol.
3. The next meeting is Wednesday, February 4, 2004; Lake
Ontario Room, State of Michigan Library; 9:30 - noon.
This meeting will focus on advocacy with a variety of
speakers and topics, including using the MCCTF action
agenda with legislators, using data to support your
arguments, and local level advocacy success story.
4. SAVE THE DATE! March 3 will be our next legislative
reception from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. prior to our normal
meeting. Location TBA.
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
Send comments and suggestions regarding this e-mail
network, or requests to be added or removed from it, to
mcctforce@miaeyc.org.
Please FORWARD THIS NOTICE TO OTHERS; we invite and
encourage people to join this e-mail network.
The MCCTF Organizational Sponsors:
Michigan 4C Association (Community Coordinated Child
Care);
Michigan's Children;
Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children;
and
Michigan Head Start Association.
Legislative Sponsors:
Senator Patricia Birkholz, Dist. 24
Representative Michael Murphy, Dist. 68
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