Investing in and supporting early childhood is one of the most effective ways for policymakers in our city and state to strengthen communities and drive long-term economic growth.
When families have access to quality child care and strong maternal and child health supports, children thrive, families can participate in the workforce, and neighborhoods become more resilient and stable.
Establish a permanent, funded Office of Early Childhood that ensures young children, families, and providers are supported by a coordinated city governance structure.
Hope Starts Here is excited that Mayor Sheffield and Dr. Chanel Hampton, the Director of Youth and Education Affairs, are working to revive an Office of Early Learning for the City of Detroit. In our city, two-thirds of children under the age of six require care so their parents can work, and 58% of children under the age of five live below the poverty level. Through our ongoing and collective work to support young children and their caregivers, an Office of Early Learning is crucial to ensuring city governance is also aligned and coordinated so that we can all work together to best address the urgent needs facing families and caregivers in Detroit.
Build on successful initiatives such as Rx Kids and the Early Education Wage Pilot.
There is exciting momentum in Detroit. With the initial implementation of Rx Kids underway and the recent creation of a wage supplement pilot for our early education workforce, it is imperative that these serve as foundational initiatives that we collectively build on and expand to maximize impact. Working in collaboration with our elected officials and community leaders, Hope Starts Here is excited to support programs that put children and families first.
Ensure families and providers are included in policy decisions and access to programs.
There is a phrase: “nothing about us, without us.” Since the inception of Hope Starts Here, we have been grounded in the critical feedback of thousands of Detroiters. Hope Starts Here’s commitment to transformational changes in policy and programs means we are equally committed to ensuring the voices of our community members most impacted by these policies and programs help to shape them. One of the most central priorities of our work is our responsibility and our privilege to ensure policy decisions represent Detroit’s families, children, and caregivers.
Hope Starts Here hosted Mayoral forum connecting mayoral candidates with early childhood priorities
Detroit City Council approves zoning changes to address day care shortages
Hope Starts Here hosted Mayoral forum connecting mayoral candidates with early childhood priorities
