About the Michigan Child Care Task Force
The Michigan Child Care Task Force, founded in 1978, advocates for high quality child care for children who receive care away form their families. MCCTF has had legislative sponsorship from the beginning. MCCTF provides a monthly forum for any interested person, particularly child care providers, state agency personnel, legislators and their staff members, child advocates and parents.
MCCTF addresses financing, licensing, staff training and wages, care of special needs children, child care quality, health and safety in childcare settings, and research. In 1985, MCCTF played a key role in the passage of the School Readiness Program for four-year-olds at risk of school failure. In 1998-2000 it initiated the project that is now the Michigan Ready to Succeed Partnership. MCCTF members communicate regularly with legislators. They closely follow child care programs and child care licensing in the Michigan Family Independence Agency, early education programs in the Michigan Department of Education and child health programs in the Michigan Department of Community Health. MCCTF often provides a venue for public hearings required by state and federal statutes.
The Michigan Child Care Task Force has three main objectives:
* Disseminating information to its members and Michigan communities
* Working with legislators and governmental agencies to develop and pass childcare policies
* Promoting national standards of high quality childcare
For more information:
Michigan Head Start Association 517-374-6472 Richard Lower, Task Force Co-chair Executive Director, MHSA	richard@mhsa.ws	www.mhsa.ws
Michigan League for Human Services 517-587-5436 Jane Zehnder-Merrell, Task Force Co-chair Senior Research Associate	janz@mlan.net	www.milhs.org
Association for Child Development 517-332-7200, ext. 101 Mary Rice Executive Director	mrice@acdcacfp.org	www.acdcacfp.org
Michigan 4C Association 800-950-4171, ext. 11 Mark Sullivan Executive Director	sullivan@mi4c.org	www.mi4c.org
Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children 800-336-6424, ext. 303 Keith Myers Executive Director	kmyers@miaeyc.org	www.miaeyc.org
Michigan's Children 800-330-8674 Patricia Sorenson Vice President for Policy	sorenson.pat@michiganschildren.org	www.michiganschildren.org

	Michigan Child Care Task Force Page

Updated 2/22/07