Advocating for Livingston County’s Youngest Learners at Early Childhood Capitol Day!
Last week, Robin Schutz and Breanne Green proudly represented the Great Start Livingston Collaborative and Family Coalition at Early Childhood Capitol Day 2025 in Lansing! We were joined by Madeline Garcia, a dedicated mom from our Family Coalition, who came to advocate for her 3-year-old son.
Like so many parents, Madeline has struggled to find child care that can support her disabled child—a challenge that leaves families without options and prevents parents from participating in the workforce.
We had the opportunity to meet with staffers from the offices of Senator Lana Theis, Jason Woolford – State Representative, and State Representative Jennifer Conlin to share the real struggles families are facing in accessing early childhood care and education.
Throughout the day, we:
Learned from experts about the state of early childhood education and policy gaps in Michigan
Discussed the impact of early childhood investments in the state budget, including child care funding, home visiting services, and maternal health
Shared real stories about how underinvestment in early childhood programs affects families and providers—including Madeline’s story
Why does this matter?
In Livingston County alone:
15% of children under 6 live below 200% of the federal poverty level
70.3% of children 0-6 have all parents in the labor force
The average cost of full-time early care is $11,208 per year, making it unaffordable for many families
Families of children with disabilities face even greater barriers—many child care providers are not equipped or supported to serve children with special needs
Our priorities include:
Increasing Child Development and Care (CDC) scholarship reimbursement rates to reflect the true cost of care
Expanding Early On Michigan to support children with developmental delays
Maintaining funding for Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies to improve maternal and infant health
Strengthening home visiting programs, especially in rural areas
Advocating for continuous Medicaid coverage for children from birth to age six
Expanding access to Help Me Grow Michigan, ensuring all families can easily connect with resources
Ensuring child care programs are funded and supported to serve children with disabilities, so no family is left without options
A huge THANK YOU to the sponsors who made this event possible:
Early Childhood Investment Corporation
Think Babies Michigan
Michigan Head Start Association
Early childhood investment is workforce investment. No family should have to choose between caring for their child and earning a living. It’s time to ensure that every Michigan family has access to the support and resources they need. Our work doesn’t stop here! Let’s keep pushing for policies that invest in our children, our families, and Michigan’s future. 
#ThinkBabiesMI#EarlyChildhoodCapitolDay#InvestInKids#ECEAdvocacy#GreatStartLivingston#ChildCareForAll#LivCoLittles
