Kelli Vanderburg

Piecing together a Healthy Future Michigan’s Kids Count data shows that raising healthy children is like assembling a puzzle: housing, food security, health care, education and economic stability must all fit together for every child to thrive.

Too many of those pieces are missing today, and recent federal budget cuts threaten to scatter the puzzle even further, making it harder for families to build a strong foundation. Each year, the Kids Count in Michigan Data Profiles track child well-being across four domains — education, health and safety, economic security, and family and community. This year’s profiles also include a special focus on early childhood, since the first years of life set the stage for lifelong outcomes. By examining data in these areas, we can better understand the full picture of child well-being and where action is needed most.

The 2025 Data Profiles present data at the state level, data for each of Michigan’s 83 counties, and data for the cities of Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids. Together, they offer a snapshot of trends across Michigan, giving lawmakers, community leaders and nonprofits the tools to strengthen their advocacy and programs. These profiles are not just numbers on a page — they are a call to action, highlighting where families are struggling and where progress is possible.

This year’s data presents a mixed picture. Overall, Michigan improved on only 11 out of the 19 indicators. The most notable declines were in child safety net programs, a troubling sign as the recently passed federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” enacted deep cuts to key safety net programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which may lead to more children losing access to crucial services. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) enrollment declined in 74 of 83 Michigan counties, cash assistance dropped in 70 counties and Medicaid enrollment for children fell in 58 counties. These declines were consistent across the northeast Lower Peninsula counties of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle.

When fewer families can access food, health coverage, or cash assistance, children are at greater risk of falling behind in every area of life. We also saw setbacks in education and early childhood, echoing Michigan’s low ranking of 44thin the nation for education outcomes. Preschool enrollment fell in more than half of our counties, with only Alcona showing significant gains in the northeast region. At the same time, the average monthly cost of child care rose or stagnated in all 83 counties, the worst trend across all indicators. In 2024, the average monthly cost of child care in Michigan reached $824 a month, nearly half (46%) of the full-time minimum wage. For many parents, this cost is simply unaffordable.

Meanwhile, labor force participation among parents of children ages birth to 5 has increased statewide, including in Alcona and Montmorency counties. Parents are working more, yet they face skyrocketing child care costs and fewer preschool options. Affordable child care and accessible early education are essential for working families, but lack of sufficient investment in these supports sets children back. The effects often show up later in school: third-grade reading scores continue to falter, as do eighth-grade math scores. Without renewed investment in our youngest children, outcomes will only worsen as they grow into later childhood and adulthood.

Despite these challenges, there are still reasons for optimism. Our health domain showed improvement in three of four indicators: infant mortality, births with less-than-adequate prenatal care, and lead testing for children ages 1-2 since 2018. These gains suggest that investments in child health are making a difference, and that targeted strategies can yield measurable results. When resources are prioritized and programs are sustained, progress follows. But progress in one area is not enough; families need all areas working together to thrive.

When all pieces align, the full picture of child well-being in Michigan comes into focus. The federal budget cuts risk leaving families with an incomplete picture and children without the strong foundation they deserve. That’s why it remains critical to protect and strengthen these supports, and why the data in these Kids Count Profiles must be used to advocate for the policies and investments that ensure Michigan’s children and families can flourish.

By working together, we can make sure the puzzle comes together, piece by piece, into a Michigan where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

You can explore all of the Data Profiles, as well as our 2025 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book, by visiting the Kids Count section at www.mlpp.org.

Kelli Vanderburg is the Kids Count Data Analyst for the Michigan League for Public Policy.