MARQUETTE — Michigan policymakers and child advocates have new data to evaluate past policy and investment decisions and identify ongoing areas of need for Michigan kids and families.

The newly released Michigan League for Public Policy’s “2022 Kids Count in Michigan Data Profiles” identify state and county trends in four categories: economic security, education, health and safety, and family and community.

The data profile for Michigan shows that the state has seen improvements in 10 of 14 key areas in the last decade, namely declines in rates of child poverty, births to teens, and children placed in out-of-home care because of abuse or neglect, MLPP reported. But other key areas, such as prenatal care and preschool enrollment, are what the study calls “concerning” declines or lack of movement.

Looking at local data and county trends, wide differences exist between counties on some indicators, and more room for improvement as all children and families do not have their needs met, according to MLPP.

“Despite these challenging times, Michigan has seen new and significant investments in children in the last year, including the 2023 state budget passed earlier this month,” said Kelsey Perdue, Kids Count in Michigan director for MLPP, in a statement. “These data profiles show where we have been and where we should be going on policies to support kids and parents.

“We have certainly made some important progress, but there are still clear areas for improvement. We must make some COVID-era policy changes permanent, find revenue to sustain our efforts after federal relief dollars run out, and work to equitably meet the needs of all families.”

The rate of child poverty decreased nearly 28% statewide between 2010 and 2020, and child poverty rates declined in 82 counties over the same decade, MLPP said. However, while more residents can make ends meet compared to a decade ago, 1.5 million Michigan households still can’t afford necessities.

For Marquette County, the rate of newborn children to age 17 living in poverty dropped 12.7% from 2010 to 2020. However, young adults ages 18 to 24 living in poverty increased 28.5% in that time period.

The rate of 3- and 4-year-olds in preschool from 2010 to 2020 increased 10.6%, while the rate of students graduating on time increased 1% from 2010 to 2021.

The rate of children in families investigated for abuse/neglect increased 44% in the 2010-21 time period, with the rate of confirmed victims decreasing 21.1% and the rate of children in out-of-home care decreasing 9.4%.

Data for 2021 showed 38.4% of K-12 children received free and reduced-price lunches compared with the Michigan rate of 51.1%. The rate of third-grade students proficient in English/language arts through the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP, was 45.2% compared with the statewide rate of 42.8%. A total of 38.1% of eighth-grade students showed proficiency in math through the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, or PSAT, compared with 36% statewide.

Key statistics for Alger County include the rate of child poverty in newborns to age 17 dropping 27.2%, and the rate of poverty in young adults ages 18 to 24 decreasing 65.8% from 2010 to 2020.

The rate of third-grade students in Alger County proficient in English/language arts through the M-STEP was 53.6 % compared with the statewide rate of 42.8%. A total of 27.1% of eighth-grade students showed proficiency in math through the PSAT compared with 36% statewide. Both statistics are for 2021.

For the Upper Peninsula, the rate of child poverty in newborns to age 17 dropped 23.8%, and the rate of poverty in young adults ages 18 to 24 decreased 10% from 2010 to 2020.

Infant mortality went up .5% from 2010 to 2020, but decreases in the same time period were seen in child deaths, ages 1-14, 32.2%; teen deaths, ages 15-19, 3.3%; and young adults lages 18-24, 5.3%.

MLPP 2022 policy recommendations are:

≤ Make COVID-era child tax credit and earned income tax credit expansions permanent and increase Michigan’s EITC from its current 6% to 30% of the federal credit.

≤ Permanently raise Michigan’s income eligibility threshold for state child care subsidies to a minimum of 185% and increase payments to child care providers to reflect the actual cost of care, increasing quality, availability and access for families.

≤ Eliminate low-eligibility thresholds, child compliance and other barriers that prevent families from accessing critical safety net programs.

≤ Adopt a weighted school funding formula to fund schools based on community and student need.

≤ Ensure adequate support for programs that assist foster youth exiting the system with education, housing and work.

“Some of this year’s Kids Count policy recommendations may be more aspirational or longer-term, but others are tangible and either continuations of positive improvements or policies being debated as we speak,” said Monique Stanton, MLPP president and CEO, in a statement. “From the need for Congress to make the improvements to the federal CTC permanent to the governor and state Legislature working together to increase the state EITC, these tax credits are proven, bipartisan tools to combat child poverty and help working parents and need to be enacted now.”

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.