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Michigan Not Doing Enough to Keep Child Care Safe, Advocates Say

Advocates say the state needs to do more to protect kids in child care.

The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Jake Neher has more.

The state would need to hire 140 additional child care facility inspectors to the 70 now working to make caseloads manageable. That’s according to a new policy statement from the Michigan League for Public Poilicy.

Jane Zehnder-Merrell is with the organization. She says federal inspectors have found unsafe conditions in Michigan child care facilities.

   “For example, having chemicals within easy reach of a toddler,” she says.

The policy brief is partly a reaction to talks at the state Capitol of cutting taxes in 2015. The organization says this is just one example of underfunded programs in Michigan.

Jake Neher is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He covers the State Legislature and other political events in Lansing.
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