Dear Friends,
It’s an honor to serve and represent you in the Michigan Senate. These past few years have challenged us in inconceivable ways, but with support from our friends, families, and neighbors, we have been able to get through it together.
Thanks to engagement from people like you, we have made record investments into our schools, watched our children grow and learn, and provided programs to engage parents and guardians. We’ve also secured record funding for early childhood learning opportunities like the Great Start Readiness Program, affordable community college programs, and so much more. Because of your dedication to our community and to our neighbors, our students and teachers have been able to accomplish great things. I am looking forward to watching them continue their growth in the new year.
It is a privilege to represent our varied neighborhoods and secure necessary dollars to our district while serving in Lansing. Every call, email and letter helps me better represent you and your household. If you have questions, would like to share your ideas, or if you need help navigating our state government, you can contact my office by email at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov, or by phone at (517) 373-7800, including a toll-free option at (855) DIST006 (855-347-8006).
For biweekly updates, sign up for my e-newsletter and visit SenatorGeiss.com to stay updated on current issues at the Capitol.
Cheers,
Erika Geiss
State Senator
District 6
Website: SenatorGeiss.com
Email: SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov
Toll-free: (855) DIST006 or (855) 347-8006
Click here to review the PDF version of newsletter
Prepare for Future EDUCATION COSTS
The State of Michigan offers multiple options to help families save and prepare for education costs after high school. Michigan offers two savings plans, the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP):
Michigan Education Trust
MET allows for the pre-purchase of tuition, based on today’s price, that is later paid out at the future cost when the child is ready to attend college. These funds can be used for tuition and mandatory fees. An MET contract offers state income tax deductions, can be transferred to family members, can be used at out-of-state schools as well as independent and trade schools, and offers a variety of savings and payment plans. Please visit SETwithMET.com to learn more.
Michigan Education Savings Program
Unlike MET, MESP is an investment-based savings plan, like a 401(k), that offers 22 different investment options and can be used for tuition, fees, books, and room and board. A families’ MESP can be transferred to another family member, offers state income tax deductions, can be used at any eligible educational institution, and an account can be opened with as little as $25. Please visit MIsaves.com to learn more about MESP.
Michigan also strives to help families prepare and save with their Student Scholarships, Grants and Outreach Division and MiABLE 529(A) plans. Visit Michigan.gov/mistudentaid to find more information on these programs.
CARING FOR MI FUTURE
It can be difficult for parents to find affordable, high quality childcare and educational options for their children, especially during the past few years. Fortunately, the Legislature and our state government have recognized this need and made it a priority to fund and expand access to childcare across Michigan.
Recently, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Caring for MI Future program to expand upon this commitment by providing the resources necessary to open 1,000 new childcare programs by the end of 2024.
The Caring for MI Future plan helps educational entrepreneurs identify and renovate facilities to care for kids, find startup funding, support for recruiting staff, and provide business development tools. The goal of the program is to expand access to quality, affordable childcare for Michigan families while relieving some of the financial barriers for entrepreneurs and for parents.
Visit Michigan.gov/childcare for additional details on when specific grants will be available to childcare entrepreneurs.
Getting a Head Start
IN EDUCATION
Childcare and early education programs are silent drivers of our economy. Access to safe, affordable childcare and preschool-level education programs give families peace of mind, while also providing children with an opportunity to socialize and
learn fundamental educational building blocks. The benefits that these programs provide are immense.
Childcare is not just a necessity for families in a 21st-century economy — countless studies have shown that children who attend high quality, center-based childcare, pre-kindergarten, or preschool programs tend to perform better
in elementary school. Researchers have also found these children have better pre-academic and language skills, perform better in math and reading in the early grades of elementary school, and have improved outcomes among children in families with low education or low incomes.
Fortunately, there are several options available for families of all income levels across Wayne County and in our district, including:
Early On Wayne
Early On Wayne is a program available to any Wayne County family with a child who is a newborn or as old as age 3 and who has a developmental delay or an established medical condition. For free information and resources about your child’s development, call (734) 727-7094 or (800) 327-5966 for Early On Michigan.
Great Start
Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Preschool Program (GSRP) provides state-funded preschool at no cost to the students’ families. The GSRP program currently provides preschool to Michigan’s 4-year-olds who have come from backgrounds that may make learning harder and need an extra helping hand.
To find out more about GSRP in Wayne County, call (833) 368-7932, or visit RESA.net. You can also visit GreatStart.org for information about additional resources available and to learn more about free programs and events for children in our area.
Help Me Grow Wayne
Help Me Grow Wayne exists to help parents and guardians connect with early childhood services offered in Wayne County, including connections to resources, developmental screenings, answers to questions, early childhood programming, and parenting support. Call (313) 410-4588 to learn more.
Senior Programs
Part of having a family is growing old together and helping each other out. There are resources and support programs available to seniors that can help. You can reach out to the places below for more assistance.
The Senior Alliance
thesenioralliance.org
The Senior Alliance connects older adults and their caregivers in southern and western Wayne County with resources, services, and programs. All persons age 60 and older who reside in the region are entitled to receive services funded by the Older Americans Act and Older Michiganians Act, regardless of their financial or social status. Visit their website to learn more about the programs and services they offer.
Home Heating Help
THAWFund.org/Programs (800) 866-THAW (8429)
While we are currently wrapping up a warm summer, winter is inevitably on the horizon. During the cold months, heating bills can become a burden that causes many to struggle just to keep their house warm. Fortunately, The Heat and Warmth (THAW) Fund can help.
THAW has multiple utility assistance programs available, including affordable payment plans for customers of DTE’s Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan (LSP) and the Consumers Energy Consumers Affordable Resource for Energy (CARE) plan. They also offer resources for utility payment assistance and/or state emergency relief.
Wayne County Senior Services
30712 Michigan Ave., Westland, MI 48186 | (800) 851-1454 seniornutrition@waynecounty.com
If you are looking for information about aging well, check out the seniors’ section of the Wayne County Senior Services website at waynecounty.com/departments/seniorservices. Many resources are available for volunteering, donations, meals, legal issues, and local services, as well as other valuable information. Be sure to check out their Senior Resource Directory — it has quite a bit of useful information!
Wayne County Meals on Wheels
30712 Michigan Ave., Westland, MI 48186 | (800) 851-1454
Meals on Wheels helps senior citizens eat nutritious meals by providing five meals per week to homebound, older adults. They also offer liquid nutrition for those who are unable to eat solid food and who have a prescription from their physician.
To qualify for Meals on Wheels, an adult must be:
- 60 years or older;
- Homebound (e.g., unable to leave home without assistance and unable to drive);
- Unable to cook for themself;
- Have no one willing to prepare meals on a regular basis; and,
- Able to feed themself.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Healthy Michigan
Did you know that healthy eating can help pave the way to academic success? Start the summer off right by planning fun, nutritious meals, and snacks full of calcium, iron, and vitamin C. You can find calcium in milk, yogurt, and leafy green vegetables. Dried fruits, chicken, and beans are great sources of iron, and oranges, broccoli, and strawberries are chock full of vitamin C. Visit michigan.gov/HealthyMichigan to learn more about healthy and nutritious options.
Women, Infants, and Children
Administered by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a health and nutrition program that serves low- and moderate-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. To find out more WIC in Wayne County, call the Wayne County Health Department at (734) 727-7100.
Double Up Food Bucks
People who shop for groceries with a SNAP/Michigan Bridge Card, can double their benefits to buy fresh, Michigan-grown fruits and veggies using Double Up Food Bucks. The program is available at 260+ participating farmers’ markets and grocery stores across Michigan. And, with market season in full swing, it’s a great time to use it!
When you use your SNAP/Michigan Bridge Card you can get a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $20 a day, so your family can get twice the fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Visit DoubleUpFoodBucks.org to learn how the program works and find a participating location near you.
HELPFUL HOTLINES
“Help is just a phone call away. Please cut out and save these useful numbers in case you need assistance.” — Sen. Geiss