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Michelle Simasko, Educator

586-469-2395

What Michigan Better Kid Care Offers:
We provide free and accessible training to current and potential regulated and unregulated childcare providers as well as parents, substitute parents, or any consumer of childcare services.

Who Provides Michigan Better Kid Care?
Education and other professional development activities are provided by MSU Extension Educators and Program Associates as well as local community resource persons. These staff members and community partners form a network of educators covering the state of Michigan.

Our Vision: 
All of Michigan's children will receive high quality care and education so that they are ready for school and life.

Our Mission: 
Current and new childcare providers throughout Michigan will have access to high quality, evidence-based professional development through the MSU Extension network of county offices.

Our Approach:
Extension offices in all Michigan counties are providing professional development services for childcare providers at one of three levels of services.

Description of Professional Development Training Services:
MSU Extension offers these training services as part of its professional development contract with the Early Childhood Investment Corporation. All training services address the Core Competencies and Core Knowledge for Early Childhood Care and Education Professionals adopted by the state of Michigan: http://web.grcc.edu/FreyPDS/pdf_msdos/CoreKnowledge_0103.pdf.

Project Goals:
In order to ensure that all children will receive high quality, affordable care, MSU Extension is working in coordination with the Michigan 4C's Association to meet the need for a comprehensive, statewide professional development system for Michigan's childcare providers.

As a result of our efforts, there will be an increased recognition of the importance of high quality childcare in Michigan's communities. All families will have access to safe, more stable and healthier childcare evnironments. More childcare providers will remain in business due to increased satisfaction with their work, upward progress on the career lattice, and the ability to secure a livable wage.

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