Giving Michigan’s Kids a Great Start

1. Giving Michigan’s Kids a Great Start Presented To:The NGA Center for Best Practices Annual Retreat for Governor’s Human Services Policy Advisors By: Pamela Paul-Shaheen, Dr.P.H. Health and Human Services Policy Advisor Office of the Governor June 18, 2005

2. Focus of the Presentation • Profiling Michigan’s Children • The Importance of 0 - 5 • The Governor’s Great System • The Role of the Children’s Cabinet • The Early Child Investment Corporation

3. Profiling Michigan’s Children • People under the age of 18: 2,256,544* • Under 5 years: 672,005 • 2004 Graduates: 98,821** • 2003 Graduation Rate: 90% • Of Graduates: • 49,809 attend a 2 or 4 year degree program • 3,161 attend a non-degree program * 2003 US Census ** Center for Educational Performance and Information

4. Profiling Michigan’s Children • Percent of Children in Low-income Families*: • Michigan National • Overall 34% 38% • Black 66% 60% • White 26% 26% • Latino 43% 62% • Asian (Too Small of Sample) 28% • * Rate of Children in Low-Income Families Varies Widely by State (2004)

5. The Importance of 0 - 5 NGA Statement “The first years in a child's life are critical to healthy brain development and future academic success. They provide a short window of opportunity with enormous implications for the rest of a child’s life. Research shows that early childhood education significantly improves the scholastic success and educational achievements of poor children even into early adulthood. Moreover, high-quality, targeted interventions, such as preschool and home visiting programs, save money by preventing future expenses for remedial education, incarceration, and cash assistance.”

6. The Importance of 0 – 5 (Continued) Human development is powerfully affected by contextual surroundings and experiences. A child’s day-to-day experiences affect the structural and functional development of his or her brain. Such experiences influence every child’s development and learning and have long-term consequences for the child, family, and society.

7. The Importance of 0 - 5 (Continued) Research of high-quality, intensive early childhood education programs for low-income children confirm: • Greater school success • Higher graduation rates • Lower juvenile crime • Decreased need for special education services later • Lower adolescent pregnancy rates Children who attend high-quality early childhood programs demonstrate: • Better math and language skills • Better cognition and social skills • Better interpersonal relationships • Better behavioral self-regulation

8. The Children’s Cabinet Appointed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, the Cabinet is directed by Marianne Udow, Department of Human Services Director. Governor’s Directive: Focus on strengthening early childhood development and education programs and training of child care workers in Michigan.

9. The Children’s Cabinet (Continued) Cabinet Members: Marianne Udow Janet Olszewski Director Director Department of Human Services Department of Community Health Mike Flanagan David Hollister Superintendent Director Department of Education Department of Labor and Economic Growth

10. The Children’s Cabinet (Continued) Cabinet’s Charge: • Improve program effectiveness and resource efficiency with regard to programs developed and implemented on behalf of children and their families; • Provide leadership to the Children’s Action Network and other state led initiatives related to children that invoice citizen, advocacy, and similar groups in their makeup; • Share knowledge and research about emerging issues related to children; • Review and evaluate the outcomes of child focused programs and services and make recommendations for improvements; and • Reach out to communities, foundations, legislators, advocacy groups, and others to understand local priorities, resources, and share best practices.

11. The Children’s Cabinet (Continued) Accomplishments to Date:

12. The Children’s Cabinet (Continued) Challenges and Lessons Learned Challenges Lessons Learned

13. Introducing the Great Start System Governor Jennifer Granholm launched Project Great Start in her 2003 State of the State address. • This new initiative is a movement that challenges all Michiganians to recognize that learning begins at birth; not when a child enters school. • Through this effort, the Governor intends that all Michigan citizens will recognize that investment in the earliest years of life leads to productive citizens and dividends throughout life. • The Governor’s commitment served as a catalyst for parents, community leaders, advocates, the Children’s Cabinet, and other state agencies to join forces in making Project Great Start a reality. • Utilizing federal grant support, the blueprint for Project Great Start was developed. • The seeds for a comprehensive early childhood system of services and supports, accessible to every child in Michigan from birth to kindergarten, have been planted.

14. The Great Start System Vision A Great Start to make every child in Michigan safe, healthy, and eager to succeed in school and in life. Mission The purpose of Great Start is to assure a coordinated system of community resources and supports to help all Michigan families provide a great start for their children from birth to age five.

15. The Great Start System System Components • Physical Health • Social-Emotional Health • Family Support • Basic Needs, Economic Stability, and Safety • Parenting Education • Early Education and Child Care

16. The Great Start System System Components (Continued) • The Great Start system is voluntary. Parents are actively engaged in choosing the types and amounts of services and supports they want and need. • The heart of the Great Start system – local communities. • Intermediate School Districts identify and/or convene a Great Start Collaborative – a local decisionmaking body that: • Links existing early childhood services • Develops strategies for identifying and filling gaps in services, and • Ensures that all of the Great Start system components are available to every child in the community.

17. The Role of the ECIC The Early Child Investment Corporation (ECIC) is the entity that will oversee the development and implementation of the Great Start system.

18. ECIC Structure and Governance • Partnership between the Department of Human Services and Intermediate School Districts (ISDs). • A nonprofit corporation, housed within the Department of Human Services and operating simultaneously within the public and private sectors. • An independent Board of Directors, governed by a 15-member Executive Committee appointed by the Governor. Includes leaders in government; the nonprofit sector; business; civic, faith, and community groups; and parents will be recruited as members of the Board. • The Executive Committee will hire a CEO. • Every ISD/community has the opportunity to become a Great Start Community. • 5 to 7 will be operationalized in the first phase • Final target – every ISD/community in Michigan

19. Core Goals • Serve as a clearinghouse of information, resources, and technical assistance for early childhood system-building efforts. • Through its public/private partnership, serve as the focal point and convener in Michigan for the development and leadership of the Great Start system (The private and public sectors work together in the strategic development and financial support of the Great Start system.) • Partner with and support local communities through Great State Collaboratives.