THE CURRENT STATE OF REGULATED INFORMAL CHILD CARE IN MICHIGAN
Licensed child care does not always fit a family’s needs or preferences. Instead, some turn to friends, family, or neighbors to provide care for their children (Powell et al, 2023). The Michigan Child Development and Care (CDC) Scholarship Program allows for these caregivers to apply and be approved as license-exempt providers (LEPs) so families can receive child care payments from the state.
This brief (available below) explores the current state of license-exempt care in Michigan. It sets a baseline for further study of LEPs’ quality improvement needs, LEP and family motivations and preferences, and ways the State could better support child care access and quality through the CDC Scholarship Program.
