Michigan Child Care Task Force: Minutes for January 3, 2007 Meeting
NEXT
MEETING: The next meeting of the Michigan Child Care Task Force (MCCTF)
will be the MCCTF Legislative Action Day on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at a
location to be announced in Lansing. MCCTF members are being asked to
contact their legislators to set up personal meetings that day. For more
information, contact the MCCTF co-chairs Jane Zehnder-Merrell at
janez@michleagueforhumansvs.org, or Richard Lower at
richard@mhsa.ws.
GUEST SPEAKER: Jane Zehnder-Merrell introduced Darrell Tennis,
the co-founder of Capitol Services, Inc., an issues-based multi-client
lobbying and governmental consulting firm in Lansing. Mr. Tennis
graciously agreed to speak to the MCCTF when the scheduled speaker, Craig
Ruff, Senior Policy Fellow of Public Sector Consultants, needed to cancel
to attend the funeral of former President Gerald Ford. In addition to his
work with Capitol Services, Inc., Mr. Tennis has served as a legislative
liaison for the State of Michigan’s Department of Labor, as Director of
Legislation for the Michigan State AFL-CIO, and as International
Representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees International Union. He has also served on several
gubernatorial commissions, including the Michigan Employment Security
Council and the Michigan Rural Development Advisory Council.
Mr. Tennis began by discussing the recent election, noting several
distinguishing characteristics of the 2006 election:
· Length and cost of the campaign: The gubernatorial campaign was
extraordinarily long and expensive, resembling a presidential election.
· Turnout: There is typically a drop-off in turnout in off-year
elections (without a presidential campaign) of between 3 and 4 percent,
but in 2006, more people voted than in the prior presidential campaign.
In Michigan, the turnout can be explained in part by the existence of
controversial ballot proposals, the long and well-publicized campaign, and
more significantly, by national issues, including the war in Iraq.
· Democratic gains: Democrats won big across the state and country
and at all levels of government. In addition to gaining control of the
Michigan House of Representatives (now 58 Democrats to 52 Republicans),
Democrats made significant gains in County Commission and other local
races.
Despite these shifts, Mr. Tennis warned that it would be wrong to oversell
the impact of the 2006 election, and that human services advocates should
not expect watershed change. Among the things not changed by the election
are:
· Attorney General
· Secretary of State
· Balance of the Supreme Court
· State budget deficit
Mr. Tennis discussed the state’s budget deficit which will “choke off
progress until it is fixed.” Mr. Tennis noted that the Democratic and
Republican parties are not as divided on tax policy, as both parties do
not like to raise taxes. The following challenges will face the new
Michigan Legislature:
· Single Business Tax (SBT) replacement: Finding a replacement tax
for the SBT will be the focus of the first 6 months of the new
Legislature. There are numerous replacement plans, and the Governor is
pushing hard for a plan that is at least cost-neutral. If the replacement
tax does not generate as much revenue as the SBT, human services groups
will need to compete for increasingly scarce state revenues.
· Long term tax reform: Michigan’s tax structure is no longer
generating the revenues needed to fund basic services, and it will be
important to change overall tax policy in order to maintain or even grow
revenues over the next 10 to 15 years. For example, revenues from the
sales tax are slowing as Michigan shifts from a durable goods to a
services economy.
· Corrections policies: Another long-term issue needing to be
addressed is the growth in corrections spending resulting from Michigan’s
“lock them up and throw away the key” laws and policies. More rational
parole policies will be needed to address the problem.
Mr. Tennis noted that the 2006 election and the shift in control of the
Michigan House of Representatives put the Governor in a stronger position,
giving her more opportunities to elevate her issues by introducing bills
and getting legislative hearings held on them. However, he warned that
Democrats in the House of Representatives won’t be able to move
unilaterally. There are currently 11 Democrats elected in districts that
generally vote Republican, and legislators in such marginal seats are
generally more moderate and need to be responsive to their more
conservative districts. Human services advocates will need to continue to
seek bipartisan support for their issues and programs.
Mr. Tennis recommended several actions for MCCTF members:
· Get to know your legislators and new legislative leaders.
There is new leadership in the House of Representatives, and there will
soon be new legislative committee chairs and members appointed. It is
important to strengthen relationships with these new legislative leaders.
· Involve your grassroots members. Grassroots actions
by constituents are human services providers and nonprofits most powerful
tool. Set up a program that brings your members, staff, and parents
together with legislators. Grassroots lobbying is the answer, but it is
important--and difficult--to maintain the commitment over the long period
needed for significant policy change.
· Get involved in advocacy to ensure that there are enough
state revenues to fund basic services.
o SBT: Mr. Tennis stressed the importance of grassroots
education about the need to fully replace revenues lost from the
elimination of the SBT. He noted that communities need to understand that
Michigan businesses are not overtaxed, and in fact the portion of the
total state budget that comes from businesses had declined dramatically
since the 1960s, falling to only 16-17 percent today. The message should
be that businesses should pay their fair share, and that a skilled
workforce, and good transportation and educational systems, are important
in attracting businesses and jobs to Michigan.
o Tabor/Save Our State (SOS): Mr. Tennis urged MCCTF members to
pay attention to the Tabor/SOS initiative that narrowly missed being on
Michigan’s ballot in 2006, and whose out-of-state organizer’s are expected
to promote in Michigan again. Get involved with the coalition opposing
the initiative by contacting Jane Zehnder-Merrell at the Michigan League
for Human Services.
o Increased fees: Oppose Michigan’s escalating reliance on
regressive fees for services that can “exclude low income people from what
we hold dear in this country.”
o Earmarking: Mr. Tennis noted that the earmarking of funds is
increasingly attractive to lawmakers, but is in the end poor public policy
because it reduces the Legislature’s ability to respond to changing public
needs, and suppresses public input into the appropriations process.
· “Tidy up your coalition”. Mr. Tennis advised MCCTF
members to focus their advocacy by not getting involved in too many
coalitions and causes. It is important to pick 2 or 3 coalitions that can
help you achieve your goals, and spend the time needed to play a
leadership or activist role.
MCCTF ACTION AGENDA: Mark Sullivan provided an overview of the
MCCTF Action Agenda for 2005-2006, as well as the process for revisions
for the new legislative session. The agenda is a tool for increasing
awareness of early childhood issues, which will be especially needed given
the legislative turnover related to term limits. The agenda has been
based on the “three-legged stool” of child care affordability,
availability and quality.
There were several successes in the past year related to the agenda,
including an increase in funding for the Michigan School Readiness Program
(MSRP), new child care licensing rules that require pre-service and
in-service training, and a return to the “consultant-based” model for
child day care licensing. No progress was made on child care
affordability, and caseloads for child care licensing consultants remain
dangerously high.
Another positive development was the establishment of the Early Childhood
Investment Corporation (ECIC) and its 21 local Great Start Collaboratives.
Federal funds to improve child care quality are housed at the ECIC and
are available through contracts. Further, with funding from the Joyce
Foundation, Michigan was able to improve awareness of the need for high
quality early childhood programs, expand local constituencies, and develop
a quality rating system for child care in Michigan.
MCCTF members discussed the recommendations for 2007-2008, and provided
comments and edits. Among the suggestions were moving revenue issues to
the top of the agenda, keeping a focus on rate increases and affordability
for all families, reinforcing the need for additional funding for the MSRP,
focusing MSRP dollars on classroom activities, supporting services for
migrants, emphasizing reductions in child care consultant ratios (from
300:1 to 75:1), supporting the quality rating system, and establishing
Great Start Collaboratives in all areas of the state.
A second draft of the MCCTF Action Agenda will be provided to MCCTF
members for comments. The final agenda will be available for use during
the March 7th Legislative Action Day.
DEPARTMENT UPDATES:
Michigan Department of Education: Judy Levine reported the
following:
· A workshop for administrators of competitive MSRP programs was held on
December 1st and will be held again on Friday January 5th.
· The MDE is now sending out materials for mid-year reports, which are due
back to MDE by mid-February.
· Grants for the Birth to Five Beginnings Library program have been read,
but are not being authorized at this time because of uncertainty over
funding with the current budget deficit.
· The Michigan Collaborative Early Childhood Conference is scheduled for
January 24th and 25th in Dearborn. Register on-line at
www.MiAEYC.org.
· The Michigan After-school Collaborative Conference is scheduled for
April 26th in Dearborn. For more information contact Amanda Stoel at
stoela@michigan.gov.
· The Michigan School Age Care Alliance Conferences are scheduled for
January 19th in Ann Arbor, and January 20th in Muskegon. For more
information contact Amanda Stoel at
stoela@michigan.gov r register on-line at
www.misaca.org.
ECIC/Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS): Don Vita and
Kathi Pioszak reported the following:
· The child care center rules were released on December 7, 2006.
Technical assistance and policy manuals have been sent to child care
licensing consultants who are responding to many questions about the
rules. Seven trainings on the rules are being offered to child care
providers beginning on January 9, 2007 and ending on February 12th. The
response has been good in all areas of the state, with between 650 and 700
providers already registered. Priority is being given to licensee
designees and program directors at this time because of space limitations.
Participation in the training counts toward the new continuing education
requirements. Registration is through the web only at
www.michigan.gov/dhslicensing.org.
· The Provider Handbook and Reporting Instructions for child care
providers is in the final proofing stage, and is currently out-of-stock.
Back orders will be filled first, with distribution expected in February.
The entire publication is available on the web at
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/FIA-PUB-0230_76612_7.pdf
· The Child and Adult Care Food Program has been expanded to relative care
providers. There are 7 sponsoring agencies that are recruiting providers,
and a memorandum of understanding has been signed allowing the DHS to
share the information needed to recruit.
· ECIC hosted a “Race Matters” training on December 7, 2006. The training
was provided through a partnership of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and
Michigan’s Children.
· ECIC provided Smart Start technical assistance to Great Start
Collaboratives in Genesee and Oakland Counties.
· Media events were held for all new Great Start Collaboratives, and
technical assistance to all 21 collaboratives is ongoing. The next
quarterly technical assistance meeting is scheduled for February 21st
through the 23rd, with the first day focused on parent councils and parent
involvement.
· The ECIC held a luncheon in Detroit on December 21, 2006 featuring Dr.
James Heckman, Nobel Laureate in economics and a professor at the
University of Chicago. Dr. Heckman met with members of the business
community in the morning and addressed the role of early childhood in
economic development.
Michigan Department of Community Health: Deb Marciniak reported
the following:
· Mary Mackrain, Child Care Expulsion Prevention State Consultant, is
facilitating a session on “Preventing Challenging Behavior: Promoting
Social and Emotional Health, at the Michigan Early Childhood Collaborative
Conference on January 24th. Register by January 5th at
https://www.miaeyc2.org/mde07/MCECC07.lasso <file://localhost/mde07/MCECC07.lasso>
.
· There is a new web site for parents and professionals working with
children with Sensory Processing Disorder: http://www.kidfoundation.org/
· Training on addressing challenging behaviors in young children is
scheduled for March 14-17 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. For more go to
http://www.addressingchallengingbehavior.org/index.php.
OTHER UPDATES: · Jane Zehnder-Merrell reported that the Governor signed welfare
reform legislation adopted by the Michigan Legislature late last year.
The legislation is effective April 1, 2007. New provisions include a 48
month lifetime limit on public assistance for some recipients, although a
one year extension is possible, and the “clock is stopped” under some
circumstances. Sanctions for failing to participate fully in work
requirements are also stiffened. For more information, contact Jane
Zehnder-Merrell.
· Mark Sullivan announced that the Michigan 4C Association will be holding
its Child Care Works Action Week beginning April 16th, and its Child Care
at the Capitol Day on April 25th.
