FCF Michigan Announces RCCIP Communities

FCF -Michigan is pleased to announce the selection of communities into the second round of the Rural Child Care Innovation Program under the Caring for MI Future initiative.

The Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) is a community engagement process designed to address the challenges of child care in rural Michigan communities. First Children’s Finance has chosen six new communities to participate in the 2023 Rural Child Care Innovation Program: Alcona County, Baraga County, Chippewa County, Iosco County, Ogemaw County, and Osceola County.

James Henderson, Michigan Director, says “We are excited and looking forward to supporting the communities selected into the RCCIP in their efforts to create rural child care supply solutions. Rural communities are a powerful force in changing the landscape of available child care in Michigan.”

The Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) is an innovative community engagement process designed to increase the supply of high quality affordable child care in rural communities. The purpose of RCCIP is to guide communities in identifying the scope and size of their child care challenges, and to empower and support communities to develop solutions to address these challenges. Local Core Teams in each of the selected communities began meeting in February 2023. Community members will be invited to provide feedback and input on the child care plan and help to develop solutions at a Town Hall Meeting hosted in each individual community.

For more information on this project please contact, James Henderson, Michigan Director.

First Children’s Finance received $600,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, awarded by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) as part of the Caring for MI Future initiative, a $100 million investment that will help more Michigan families find quality, affordable child care in their community by opening 1,000 new, or expanded, child care programs by the end of 2024.