Michigan’s Better Kid Care Project:

Integrating Community Assets to Increase Home and Business

Ownership and to Increase the Availability of Quality Child Care

Bettie Brown, IDA Coordinator, MSU Extension and

President, Saginaw Family Child Care Network

Freda McNair, Nutrition Instructor, MSU Extension

Barbara Mutch, Program Leader, MSU

Extension

 The Saginaw Family Child Care Network

• A Project of the Joining Forces Child Care Initiative

  • Funded by the

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The Mission To develop quality child care and strong communities through home ownership and neighborhood revival among low-income families on the eastside of Saginaw.

The Vision Improve child care options on Saginaw’s eastside using a community economic development model:

•Add value to the assets that already existed in the community •Change to come from within the community•Neighborhood creates and sustains positive change

Vision - continued

• Business opportunities for community residents

• Quality child care for children, including those with disabilities

• Supportive environments that would alleviate the isolation of child care providers.

• Comprehensive training for the providers.

Results

Of the over 200 potential providers that have been trained by SFCCN 45 are currently licensed and able to care for over 500 children

Results

The 45 licensed child care providers trained by the Network generate over $1,200,000 in gross income from child care reimbursements and fees – PER YEAR!

AssetsOver 27 Network

members have opened Individual Development Accounts:

Asset Purchases:• FIVE homes• SIX education• EIGHT business

Important Lessons Learned

• There is no one right way to form a Network

• Prescreening trainees is a technique that focuses on deficits

• Child care is an economic development opportunity

• Paraprofessionals are a very effective mechanism to recruit and train providers.

ReplicationBetter Kid Care- Phase II begins:

• The Michigan Family Independence Agency provides funding

•To expand the availability of quality child care in low-income neighborhoods.

•Communities map out their assets, engage the community, provide training and mentoring to assist providers to become licensed

BKC II-Strategies and Objectives

• Engage the Community

• Provide Training Opportunities Specific to the Needs of the Community

• Mentoring and Support

Evaluation

Methodology: Designed to Gain Understanding to Inform Future Programming

• Methods: Interviews (telephone/face-to-face one-on-one) and/or Group Discussions

• Participants: Individuals, staff and community collaborators