Federal SNAP changes threaten little Michiganders’ food access and future
Good nutrition lays the foundation for physical growth, brain development, and school readiness.
Brianna Nargiso's Latest Articles
Do child care challenges differ for urban and rural families?
While geography shapes experience, families face similar struggles finding child care.
الهجمات على العائلات المهاجرة وما تعنيه لتعليم الطفولة المبكرة
في عام 2024، لاحظ معلمو الطفولة المبكرة في جنوب غرب ديترويت انخفاضًا كبيرًا في تسجيل الأطفال في مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة، وذلك بعد تصاعد نشاط تنفيذ قوانين الهجرة. وعلى الرغم من أن هذا الانخفاض لم يتم توثيقه رسميًا في ذلك الوقت، أفادت منظمات مجتمعية أن ما يقارب 15٪ من الطلاب تم سحبهم من برامج ما قبل المدرسة في المنطقة خلال أسابيع قليلة.
More than a stipend: Rx Kids is transforming childhood beginnings
Rx Kids, the country’s first universal and unconditional cash prescription program for pregnant people and infants, has expanded into other rural areas of Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula. The program provides financial support to every eligible family within a geographic area, no income requirements, no strings attached.
More than a stipend: Rx Kids is transforming childhood beginnings
Rx Kids, the country’s first universal and unconditional cash prescription program for pregnant people and infants, provides financial support to every eligible family within a geographic area, no income requirements, no strings attached. Families receive a one-time $1,500 payment during pregnancy and $500 per month during the baby’s first year of life.
Community mental health partnerships with first responders a win-win for communities
Across Michigan, community mental health (CMH) agencies are redefining crisis response through deep partnerships with EMS, law enforcement, and fire departments. These cross-sector collaborations have become a vital part of Michigan’s evolving approach to mental health care.
Inclusive Literacy Alliance fosters early reading in Kent County kids with developmental differences
The Inclusive Literacy Alliance is a collaborative, county-wide effort to improve early reading outcomes for children with developmental differences. Parents, educators, service providers, and advocates are piloting solutions that make early literacy more accessible and effective for children who are blind or low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, or autistic.
“A lifeline for families,” PreK for All expands access and raises expectations
Enrollment in PreK for All is now open for all families, no matter their income. The program operates across a mixed delivery system, including local school districts, public charter schools, private child care providers, Head Start programs, and community-based organizations.
Medicaid cuts would destabilize mental health care: How Michigan is responding
Proposed Medicaid funding cuts would dismantle critical services, especially for residents facing poverty, mental illness, or substance use disorders — and reduce access to mental health services for all.
Michigan student loan repayment program helping to tackle mental health workforce shortage
Michigan has long faced a critical shortage of mental health professionals, impacting access to vital care for communities across the state. To address this growing challenge, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched the Behavioral Health Now Loan Repayment Program, a strategic initiative aimed at attracting and retaining mental health professionals by alleviating the financial burden of student loans.
