In Michigan, 65,000 children in poverty are supported by the child care subsidy program. 65% of these children are being cared for by family, friends and neighbors. In Metro Detroit, we have about 15,000 FFN subsidy providers.

They (FFNs) have an important job - providing high quality early learning development opportunities for the children in their care, setting the foundation for success in both school and life. The problem is, most of them aren't aware of this most important role. They see themselves as helping out their daughter, friend or neighbor who's looking for or is working. In addition, they are at a significant disadvantage - in poverty, undereducated, in crisis - to focus on being a quality caregiver.

The only way to get to school readiness is to have caregivers that support a child's learning and development. Since 2008, United Way has been supporting caregivers through the Early Learning Communities program - a quality improvement initiative providing training, resources and support to all caregivers delivered by neighborhood-based hubs.

The state of Michigan has also entered the arena of quality improvement by requiring that all FFN subsidy providers receive mandated training.  We are at the beginning of a cultural transformation - that training and continued learning are essential to be quality caregivers.

This morning, I attended an informational session hosted by one of our Hub Partners at a Detroit child care center.  More than 100 FFN subsidy providers attended.  Yes, they were there because DHS is requiring them to take training.  Yes, many of them were frustrated and annoyed.  But they showed up and they registerd for training.  Not just the mandated training, but also the child development courses that ELC offers.  

In Metro Detroit so far, 500-750 have signed up for training.  We have a long way to go.  But we're going to achieve our ultimate goal:  improving the quality of early care and education that our most vulnerable children receive so that they have the proper foundation for school and life success.