June 2, 1992

Greetings:

Despite ever-growing expenditures to assist families, the condition of Michigan's families and children has grown worse over the years. An abundance of statistics points to the deteriorating condition of families not only in this state, but nationwide. During the 1980's the median income of Michigan's families with children declined, and the rate of children living in poverty increased from 13 percent to over 20 percent.

The well-being of Michigan's children is as vital a concern to me as it is to all of Michigan's citizens. Our children's fundamental requirements must be met today to prepare them to lead Michigan in the future. Educational opportunities, proper nutrition, quality child care, and regular health care are all essential to the development of our children.

More than anything else, children need committed, loving families to instill in them important values such as the dignity of work, honesty, and integrity; and to nurture and encourage their healthy growth.

The plan outlined in this document is my vision for ensuring the well-being of Michigan's children and families. It is ambitious. It requires the participation and leadership of community organizations, the private and non-profit sectors, government, and indeed every citizen, to assure its success.

The highlights of my plan to strengthen families include the following:

• Forming a new social contract with families receiving public assistance to ensure that they move toward greater self-sufficiency through employment, job training, education, and community service;
• Creating incentives for public-assistance families to work;
• Developing stronger communities through a unique, locally driven strategy, Communities First, to help Michigan neighborhoods redesign human services to ensure greater access and quality of services; and initiatives to link housing rehabilitation with education and human services; and
• Increasing support for families through an emphasis on family preservation and on efforts to reunite teen mothers who receive public assistance with their families, and initiatives to toughen child support enforcement.

While the followingrecommendations will make major progress toward breaking the cycle of dependency, as we move forward in this effort we will surely find other major barriers that I will ask the legislature to address.

With these highlights and the other initiatives detailed in this report along with strategies I have outlined in previous messages on education, health care, and crime, I believe we can make real and lasting progress in our fight to strengthen families and to enhance the condition of Michigan's most precious resource, our children.

I call on all citizens in Michigan to join me in this effort to break the vicious cycle of dependency and poverty, and to restore hope to our communities, neighborhoods, and families.

Sincerely,