Michigan Department of Human Services, Mott Community College Dissolve Agreement That Created Michigan Home Based Child Care Council

Contact: Gisgie Davila Gendreau, acting communications director 517-373-7394

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Human Services has ended an agreement with the Michigan Home Based Child Care Council and will no longer fund it or collect union dues from home-based child care providers, Director Maura D. Corrigan announced today.

"The council has not delivered on its original goals to enhance and improve the delivery of quality care for children whose parents receive assistance from the department," Corrigan said. "That's why we will stop all funding and, because these providers are not state employees, will also cease collecting union dues."

State Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, a member of the Senate Subcommittee on Human Services Appropriations, said the action means more money will go directly to those who provide child care. 

"I commend the department for recognizing the failure of the Michigan Home Based Child Care Council to follow through on its promise of support and training for child care providers," Proos said. "Now the department can focus our taxpayer funded support in areas that improve the quality of child care."

The council was created in 2006 under an inter-local agreement with DHS and Mott Community College, who ended the agreement. Funding for the council was not included in Governor Rick Snyder's fiscal year 2012 budget proposal.

The change is effective March 7 and allows the council 30 days to wrap up administrative duties. Dues will no longer be collected after March 18 for more than 16,500 providers who belong to the Child Care Providers Together Michigan union.

DHS' Child Development and Care program provides payment for child care services for qualifying families when the parent, legal guardian or substitute parent is unavailable to provide child care because of employment or education, for example. DHS makes payments directly to providers on behalf of the child's parent or guardian.

The CDC program ensures child care providers have the skills and knowledge to provide safe and stimulating environments for more than 60,000 children in their care. DHS also has implemented a basic training requirement for unlicensed aides and relatives providing care, in partnership with the Early Childhood Investment Corp. Michigan is one of the first states to require such mandatory training before providers receive payment.

"DHS will continue to focus on quality improvements in the Child Development and Care program, and in all areas of the department as we fulfill our mission to protect the state's vulnerable children, adults and families," Corrigan said.

For more information about DHS, please visit www.michigan.gov/dhs. Follow DHS on Twitter @MichiganDHS or become a fan at www.facebook.com/MichiganDHS.