In southwest Detroit, a significant shortage of licensed child care seats has compelled many families to seek unlicensed care. According to recent data, parents in this area often face long wait lists for licensed facilities, struggling to find adequate child care options that suit their diverse needs. Advocates argue that Michigan must simplify the licensing process for informal child care providers to enhance accessibility for families.
Lydia Chouinard, a resident of southwest Detroit for 20 years, experienced this firsthand while searching for care for her young daughter. “There are a ton of kiddos, and a lot of moms,” she said. Chouinard was on a wait list for months before securing a spot. Families in her neighborhood often juggle demanding work schedules while caring for young children, leading to overwhelming stress.
Many parents, including Chouinard, encounter long wait times for publicly funded programs that might not cater to their specific schedules and needs. Licensed private care can offer more flexibility, but often comes with high costs and inconvenient locations. As a result, many families turn to informal child care providers, who operate without official licenses but fill a crucial gap in the market. The area is home to a diverse population, with nearly 18% of residents being foreign-born, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Elizabeth Gonzalez, a community organizer with the nonprofit Congress of Communities, assists informal providers in navigating the licensing process. She has observed that many potential caregivers are blocked from obtaining licenses due to the lack of a Social Security number. Over the past three years, Gonzalez has worked with around 130 informal providers, offering resources such as health and safety certifications and early childhood education training.
Despite these efforts, advocates maintain that Michigan must create clearer pathways for individuals without Social Security numbers to become licensed. Other states, such as California and Illinois, have successfully implemented similar policies, allowing individuals to use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for licensing. These changes would ensure that parents have access to a broader array of child care options that adhere to safety and quality standards.
According to an analysis by IFF, a community-focused lender and consultant, two out of the three zip codes with the highest demand for licensed child care in Detroit are located in southwest. The analysis indicated a shortfall of approximately 2,500 licensed child care seats for children aged birth to five in these areas.
The diversity of families’ needs in southwest Detroit is considerable. Parents have varying work schedules, cultural backgrounds, and the developmental requirements of their children must also be considered. Unfortunately, the limited availability of licensed providers exacerbates these challenges. Michigan’s public child care database shows only four licensed home-based providers and one private center in the region’s primary zip codes, highlighting a critical shortage.
The Empowered Community Learning Center serves as the primary licensed facility, but it currently caters only to children aged three and four, limiting options for younger children. Parents often find themselves relying on federally funded programs like Head Start, which provides free early education to low-income families, or the Great Start Readiness Program, which is restricted to four-year-olds. With over 32% of the local population living in poverty and a median household income of approximately $38,000, access to high-quality, affordable child care is vital for many families.
Chouinard, who qualified for Head Start, faced a wait list of five months before enrollment. In the meantime, she sought alternative arrangements, only to discover that private care options were not only scarce but also required long commutes or high fees. She balances part-time contract work with her child care responsibilities, which often results in financial strain.
Beatriz Chavez, another southwest Detroit resident, echoes similar sentiments. She has lived in the area for ten years and has struggled to find suitable child care for her two-year-old son. Although she qualifies for Head Start, she has experienced long wait times and ultimately opted not to enroll her son due to concerns about the program’s requirements. Like Chouinard, Chavez desires more diverse child care options that align with her family’s needs.
Parents frequently express concerns about the quality of unlicensed care. Many are apprehensive about placing their children in environments where caregivers may lack professional training. Gonzalez emphasizes the importance of providing informal caregivers with the necessary resources to ensure quality care, given the absence of state support.
Research by UC Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Child Care Employment highlights that immigrants, both documented and undocumented, constitute a significant portion of the child care workforce in the United States. Some states have amended their laws to facilitate licensing for individuals without legal status, recognizing the need for competent caregivers regardless of immigration status.
In Michigan, while there are no regulations explicitly barring child care licensure based on legal status, the requirement for a Social Security number during the licensing process effectively excludes many informal caregivers. This has led to confusion among potential providers, as licensing representatives often cannot cite specific regulations regarding this requirement.
Changing Michigan’s regulations to allow licensing with an ITIN could increase the number of licensed providers, but concerns remain. Veronica Thronson, a law professor at Michigan State University, notes that potential caregivers may hesitate to pursue an ITIN due to fears surrounding immigration enforcement.
As Gonzalez pointed out, the lack of licensed providers in southwest Detroit limits options for families in need of reliable child care. “Single moms working long hours need extended care,” she explained. The absence of licensed facilities creates a reliance on unlicensed providers, which can compromise child safety and well-being.
While some unlicensed caregivers offer quality care, the absence of oversight raises questions about the environment in which children are placed. Licensed providers are subject to state regulations that ensure a minimum level of care and safety. In contrast, unlicensed caregivers operate without such accountability.
Gonzalez is committed to empowering informal caregivers with the skills and resources needed to provide quality care. Through workshops and training sessions, she aims to elevate the standards of informal child care in the community.
Despite the challenges faced by families and informal caregivers, Gonzalez remains hopeful that increased support from the state could lead to a more robust child care system in southwest Detroit. “If the state would just budge a little, we would have real child care in southwest,” she said.
Beki San Martin reports on child care and early childhood education for the Detroit Free Press. She can be reached at [email protected]. This fellowship is supported by the Bainum Family Foundation, and the Free Press retains editorial control of this work.
