How families are faring after major early childhood state funding cut

Parents with young children feel worried about the loss of services and supports previously offered by Great Start Collaboratives, to help navigate early childhood.

Following the state budget cut, each county's program is faring differently, with many in the state's smaller northern counties closing down services for lack of alternative funding.

When Jen Dominique, mother of three, faced the closure of her child’s Head Start program in November because of the federal government shutdown, there was one resource she wished families with young kids in her community in the Upper Peninsula could still rely on.

“We would have the Great Start Collaborative Family Coalition to lean on, but we lost that,” said Dominique, who lives in Delta County with her three kids. “It just feels like it’s all