Lowering Parenting Costs & More Legislative Updates

Friends,

I hope your week is off to a great start! Below are our upcoming events as well as legislative updates and community resources. Hope to see you soon.

As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can email me at senschang@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7346.  

Sincerely,  

Stephanie Chang
State Senator  
District 3

Join me for a Women’s Roundtable this Saturday, March 22, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Chinese Community Center in Madison Heights.
Last week, Senate Democrats unveiled a bold plan to lower costs for Michigan parents by boosting incomes through a targeted tax credit, expanding Rx Kids statewide, and tackling the state’s child care crisis. Read on to learn more.
To support federal workers who may have recently lost their jobs, the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity created this new webpage to provide impacted federal workers with easy access to unemployment, job search and community resources.

Community Conversation with Sen. Chang & Rep. MacDonnell

WHEN: Friday, March 21, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Tavern on the Main, 235 S. Main St., Clawson, MI 48017

Women’s Roundtable

Join me for a conversation on women’s issues and connect with other women in our community!

WHEN: Saturday, March 22, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Chinese Community Center, 32585 Concord Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071

Coffee & Conversation with Sen. Chang

WHEN: Monday, April 7, from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Super Taco Mexican Food and Market, 30257 John R. Rd., Madison Heights, MI 48071

Earth Day Environmental Town Hall

Join me for an Earth Day celebration and conversation about air quality, flooding, water quality and affordability, and more!

WHEN: Wednesday, April 23, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Wayne County Community College District – Eastern Campus, 5901 Conner St., Detroit, MI 48213

Senate Democrats Unveil the “Building Blocks” Needed to Cut Costs, Improve Child Care and Create Opportunity for Parents and Kids

Last week, Senate Democrats unveiled a bold, transformative proposal that would provide the “Building Blocks” Michigan needs to uplift working families and ensure they have a fair shot at a better quality of life for themselves and their children.

The plan takes a multi-angled approach to cutting the cost of parenting by:

Providing a significant income boost to working families through a targeted Working Parents Tax Credit;
Expanding Rx Kids statewide, a first-of-its-kind program that provides cash payments to new mothers and their babies; and
Tackling the child care crisis from both the demand and supply side.

To watch the press conference, visit the Michigan Senate Democrats’ YouTube Page.

Juvenile Justice Data Legislation Passes

Senate Bill 24, my bill to ensure that university researchers and others can develop data agreements with our state courts regarding juvenile justice data, passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. I introduced this bill after conversations with Wayne State University, whose school of social work is eager to evaluate the outcomes of our juvenile justice reforms a few years ago.

Preschool Teacher Stipend Legislation Moves Forward

Senate Bill 83, my bill to close a loophole in the MI Future Educator fellowship stipend law, advanced in the Committee on Education recently. Currently, most student teachers at preschool settings are eligible to receive a stipend through the MI Future Educator fellowship. However, if a student teacher is doing their student teaching at a publicly funded preschool that is located on a university campus or anywhere that isn’t in a school district, they are not eligible under the current law. My bill fixes that and will help us continue to build a pipeline of future preschool teachers.

Community and State Organizations Share Local Impact of Federal Funding Freeze on Michiganders

The Senate Oversight Committee recently heard testimony from leaders of early childhood education programs, health and nutrition experts, disability advocates, and other nonprofits and institutions who have faced challenges providing crucial services to Michigan children, seniors, students, families and more as a result of the Trump administration’s January memo ordering a pause to funding for federal grants and loans.

Though the order was temporarily blocked by a federal judge, who also recently decided to extend the block, the effects of the administration’s initial announcement caused confusion and chaos in the days that followed and ongoing uncertainty. This has resulted in devastating consequences for organizations around the state and for the Michiganders who rely on them. This committee hearing was an opportunity to hear firsthand about the on-the-ground impact this directive has had here in Michigan.

To watch the hearing, visit the Michigan Senate Democrats’ YouTube Page.

Support for Federal Workers in Michigan Impacted by Federal Layoffs and Funding Cuts

To support federal workers who may have recently lost their jobs, the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has compiled several resources to offer support. A new, comprehensive webpage, Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp, provides impacted federal workers with easy access to unemployment, job search and community resources.

Additional Resources

Workers who recently lost their jobs through no fault of their own may be eligible to apply for temporary financial assistance through the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA).

UIA has resources in place to help any laid off federal worker, including:

UIA Claimant Roadmap: An easy-to-follow, six-step guide to applying for and understanding unemployment benefits.
Online Coaching Sessions: Web-based guidance from UIA staff who walk users through the steps needed to complete an application and qualify for payments.
UIA Community Connect: This program partners with local groups to provide guidance for workers from underserved groups who have faced barriers when filing for jobless benefits.
Schedule an Appointment: Schedule either an in-person, phone or virtual appointment to speak with a UIA Customer Service Agent.
Looking for Work: Tips to understanding your responsibilities when it comes to conducting and documenting your successful work searches.
Assistance with Setting Up an Account: Workers must create a MiLogin account before setting up a MiWAM account.

For additional assistance, workers can find FAQs, videos and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA. To reach an agent or unlock a MiWAM or MiLogin account, they can call Customer Service at 866-500-0017.

In partnership with LEO’s Office of Employment and Training, Michigan Works! agencies are also available to assist affected federal workers. Services offered through Michigan Works! include:

Basic Career Services, which are available to all workers seeking services.
Individualized Career Services, which are designed for workers who are unable to obtain employment through basic career services alone.
Training Services, which are necessary to equip workers with the skills needed to obtain and retain employment.

To connect with your local Michigan Works! service center, call 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visit Michigan.gov/MichiganWorks.

Additional helpful sites for workers:

Outlier Media is Assisting Detroit Residents Recoup Tax Foreclosure Proceeds

If you or someone you know lost a home to tax foreclosure in Detroit between 2015 and 2020, look up the address online or text it to 67485.

If the data shows that Wayne County could owe you money, you’ll need to fill out a claim form before the March 31 deadline. Outlier Media is working with other Detroit nonprofits to help people navigate the process at no cost. Just text REPORTER to 67485 and tell Outlier you need assistance or ask a question.

If you’re not on the list but you experienced a tax foreclosure during that period, you can contact Outlier by texting REPORTER to 67485 — the data may be incorrect. Appearing on the list also doesn’t guarantee a payout. The only way to find out for sure is to submit a claim before the deadline. Note: Submitting the form is just the first step in a longer process.

You can also call United Community Housing Coalition’s Tax Hotline at 313-725-4560 if you are a former homeowner who needs help with this process.

Are You a Senior or Veteran in Need of Transportation?

The City of Detroit is offering free rides for older adults (62+) and people with disabilities. To access this service, sign up here.

Oakland County Veterans’ Services has a FREE transit program with Oakland Transit providers. To schedule your ride, call 248-419-7984 or visit: ow.ly/ApVe50UV6AP.

Lowering Parenting Costs & More Legislative Updates

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