MARQUETTE — As the state of Michigan begins a performance audit of its childcare programs, the Childcare Providers Association of Michigan has launched a provider-led audit to document another part of the system that often goes unmeasured: what childcare providers themselves invest to keep care accessible for families.

The state audit examines systems, policies and public investments. It does not evaluate individual childcare providers or programs. CPAOM’s Provider Audit is designed to complement that work by capturing provider experiences that rarely appear in formal reviews, including out-of-pocket expenses, unpaid labor, delayed reimbursements and financial risk absorbed by providers when administrative systems fail.

“Public funding plays an important role in sustaining childcare,” said Jared Rodriguez, executive director of CPAOM. “Providers also invest significant time, money, and personal resources to keep care available for families. This effort is about adding context so the full picture of Michigan’s childcare system is better understood.”

The Provider Audit is intended to complement the state’s review by ensuring provider investment and operational realities are reflected alongside program-level findings.

Participation in the Provider Audit is voluntary and open to Michigan childcare providers. Responses will be aggregated and used to identify trends and systemic challenges, not to evaluate individual programs.