The Economic Benefits of Child Care

Thank you to all who attended our Leader Breakfast, Raising Up Our Communities: The Economic Benefits of Child Care.

The breakfast, hosted by United Way of the Lakeshore and Muskegon Area Great Start Collaborative brought together 120 leaders to view the short video “Raising of America”. The video highlights the vital importance of early childhood education and care during the highly developmental years of birth through age four when an individual’s brain development is at its highest. After the video, the group engaged in a panel discussion aimed at the economic benefits of child care, worker productivity, and the challenges of being ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). 

Panelists included:

  • Senator Goeff Hansen, Chairman of the Department of Education Budget that includes the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) in the state budget.
  • Susan Broman, Deputy State Superintendent & Director of the Office of Great Start, Michigan Department of Education, that administers the CCDF.
  • Brenda Jacobs, CPA, Partner, Brickley & DeLong who discussed tax deferral programs to assist employees with child care expenses.
  • Scotty Kehoe, Regional Manager of Corporate & Government Affairs for DTE Energy, who shared the decision that he and his wife made to go down to one salary in their early careers and have his wife stay at home because of the cost of child care.

Jane Clingman-Scott, Muskegon Area Great Start Executive Director and United Way of the Lakeshore CEO/President Christine Robere presented certificates of appreciation to each of the panelists.

 

Christine Robere also took the opportunity to present Janet Day, Chairwoman, Women’s Leadership Council, for United Way of the Lakeshore, with a special award for her service on the Council and her leadership in sharing the benefits of high-quality child care and the barriers that currently face working families in accessing high-quality and affordable child care services.