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November 06, 2025
New add-on to MI Tri-Share allows employers to extend child care cost-sharing support to all employees regardless of income, at no additional administrative cost
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) today announced MI Care-Share, a new employer-based child care cost-sharing benefit that expands access to affordable, licensed child care for Michigan’s working families. MI Care-Share is an optional add-on to MI Tri-Share that allows participating employers to continue covering one-third of their employees’ child care costs for all staff—not just those who meet the income eligibility requirements—without any added administrative burden.
“MI Care-Share is a powerful extension of MI Tri-Share that allows employers to extend access to an essential workplace benefit,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “By giving employers the flexibility to support to every employee, regardless of their income, we’re removing barriers to child care and strengthening Michigan’s workforce. This program reflects our continued commitment to equity, economic mobility and access to high-quality care.”
MI Care-Share builds on the framework of MI Tri-Share, the state’s nationally recognized cost-sharing model for child care. Under MI Tri-Share, the cost of licensed child care is shared equally among the employee, employer, and the state of Michigan. Families qualify for the state’s one-third contribution if their household income falls between 200% and 400% of the federal poverty level—for example, a family of four earning between $64,300 and $128,600. With the new MI Care-Share add-on, participating employers continue to cover one-third of the cost, while employees who do not meet the state’s income eligibility contribute the remaining two-thirds.
This expansion helps more working families access affordable licensed child care without increasing administrative fees for employers or their employees.
“MI Care-Share offers employers a seamless way to support their workforce without taking on more red tape,” said Emily Laidlaw, deputy director overseeing MiLEAP’s Office of Early Childhood Education. “Tri-Share has already proven that this model works not just for families, but for employers and child care providers. We’re taking that success even further by making this employer-based child care benefit available for more working parents, allowing them to access the care support they need to succeed.”
Currently, nearly 290 employers participate in MI Tri-Share statewide, supporting more than 900 families and more than 1,020 children statewide. Since its inception, MI Tri-Share has saved families more than $11.5 million in child care costs.
Employers interested in supporting their workforce through MI Care-Share can learn more at MiLEAP’s Office of Early Education webpage.
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About MiLEAP:
Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from birth to postsecondary so anyone can ‘make it in Michigan’ with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.
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