Advocacy

  • Preliminary data from the Livingston-Washtenaw Child Care Coalition indicate that there is only one available spot in childcare programs for every seven children under five years old.

  • Insufficient child care availability costs Michigan an estimated $2.88 billion in lost economic activity each year.

  • Living wage in Washtenaw County outpaces median childcare wages by 3.5 to 1

  • Recent data from the United Way indicates that 40% of Washtenaw County families fall within the range of the ALICE household survival budget, meanwhile, the average cost of center-based care for infants and toddlers is nearly $14,000 annually.

  • Even with only one child in care, annual childcare costs could be upwards of 20% of a family’s annual income

Outside at a picnic table a Maestra holds both of their hands up, a child with black curly hair, dark eyes and dark skin tone holds their hands up to imitate, child next to them has their hands in a bucket of mud

What are we doing to help?

  • Since November 2021, Apple Playschools has increased teacher wages by an average of 24%, added medical benefits with a premium cost-share for all full time teachers, and implemented a new job-based learning and teacher coaching program.

  • Annually we serve 175 children 0-10 years old. Almost a third of our students are infants or toddlers. Less than half of child care providers in Washtenaw County provide care for children under 30 months old.

  • The overwhelming majority of our staff are women, 40% are parents, and at least 42% of our staff are the main breadwinners for their families.

  • Just over 50% of our team members identify as primary or native Spanish speakers.

  • On our team of educators we have writers, social workers, environmental educators, artists, singers, and more. All these different talents come together to form our community and enrich the experience of our students.

Click here to Listen to Etta on the radio!

Etta Heisler, Apple Playschools’ Executive Director, sits on the Livingston and Washtenaw Child Care Coalition. The coalition's aim is to improve child care in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties. To learn more click here.

Image shows a smiling woman with curly brown hair, glasses, and a medium-light skintone, smiling at the camera, wearing an Apple Playschools' t-shirt, with nature in the background.

"I'm interested in participating in the coalition because I think that the solution to problems that impact everybody is a solution that involves everybody in its creation.”

Photo credit: Doug Coombe

Data & Research

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