Some Michigan families pay more than half their salaries to cover the cost of child care, according to a new report that examines solutions to what it calls a “child-care crisis ” in America. The Economic Policy Institute report highlighted how high-quality child care is out of reach for many families. For example, it said, the cost of care for a single infant is nearly $10,000 a year in Michigan. The report said better investments in early-childhood care and education at the state and national level would reduce financial hardships for families and give children a foundation for a successful future. It recommends capping child-care expenditures at 10 percent of a family’s income, which would give parents another $5.7 million to spend, boosting Michigan’s economy. The report is online at epi.org.
