Dear Neighbor,
With August well underway and the beginning of a new school year approaching, I hope you’re soaking in the remainder of summertime here in our beautiful state. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get out and about in our district this summer, hearing directly from our neighbors about the issues that matter most to our community. I’ll continue using this important input to guide my work in the Capitol and deliver on your priorities.
If you have questions, concerns, or need help navigating state resources, my office is here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out by email at SenSSantana@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at (517) 373-0990.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 2
- Michigan Senate Democrats are working to build on the historic $450 million we’ve secured for school safety and mental health efforts, while House Republicans continue to stall the budget process. Learn more below.
- Thanks to state funding secured by Senate Democrats, Michigan’s PreK for All program is ranked number one in the nation and is serving more families than ever before. Read on to find high-quality, no-cost preschool in your community.
Fighting for School Safety and Mental Health Resources
Michigan State Police’s Recent Report Highlights Critical Need for Support
OK2SAY, Michigan’s confidential student safety tipline, reported a 20% surge in tip volume compared to the previous year, according to the program’s most recent report compiled by the Michigan State Police. With an unprecedented 11,671 tips received, the program has reached its highest reporting level since its inception in 2014, underscoring the vital role it plays in safeguarding our youngest Michiganders.
My colleagues and I recognize this and the responsibility we have to invest in our children and in their safety, well-being, and success. That’s why we’ve invested a historic $450 million in school safety and mental health over the last few budget cycles. These dollars have gone into supporting the OK2SAY program, modernizing school security systems, as well as hiring more counselors, social workers, and school resource officers.
But as we see our kids carrying heavier burdens and facing greater threats than ever before, our work is far from over. In our 2026 State Budget proposal, Senate Democrats put another $350 million behind these efforts to ensure every child feels safe while in the classroom. Unfortunately, as back-to-school season rapidly approaches, House Republicans are continuing to stall the budget process, keeping this funding for school safety out of reach for districts to use.
In the Senate, my colleagues and I continue to remain at the negotiating table, ready to reach a final budget agreement that truly supports our students and their families. To keep up to date on the latest developments and learn more about our budget proposal, click here.
Rx Kids: A Prescription for Improving Families’ Physical and Economic Health
Rx Kids is a first-of-its-kind program in the United States, initially launched in Flint in 2024, before expanding to seven other communities across the state in early 2025 — thanks in part to funding secured by Senate Democrats. Now, we’re working to pass legislation to expand this successful program statewide to reach more families around Michigan. Rx Kids supports parents and babies by providing all pregnant moms, regardless of income, with a no-strings-attached cash allowance of $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 each month throughout the baby’s first year. Research shows that this direct, cash support for new parents helps improve housing security, access to nutritious food, and maternal and child health.
This week, the Senate Housing and Human Services Committee held a hearing on this legislation, exploring the far-reaching benefits of Rx Kids and how its expansion would continue improving maternal and child health outcomes throughout the state. To learn more about the committee hearing, click here. To watch the hearing, click here.
In addition to our proposal to expand Rx Kids, Michigan Senate Democrats have introduced bold, transformative legislation to lower costs for working families and make sure kids in Michigan have the best start possible — including through a Working Parents Tax Cut and expanded access to child care. Learn more about this “Building Blocks” package here.
Supporting Michigan Mothers and Their Babies
Every year, the first week of August is recognized as World Breastfeeding Week, a time where public health advocates come together to highlight the importance of breastfeeding and share resources to encourage one of the most effective methods of improving maternal and infant health.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding up to age two, as breastmilk provides countless benefits to infants, including preventing diseases such as respiratory and ear infections, asthma, and diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, optimal breastfeeding is so critical that it could save the lives of more than 820,000 children under the age of five each year.
Because of the power of breastfeeding, our caucus has worked to champion legislation to expand Michigan’s Public Breastfeeding Nondiscrimination Act to ensure parents are protected from discrimination for pumping breastmilk in public, which is often necessary when parents are away from their breastfeeding baby for several hours. This legislation, Senate Bill 351 of 2023, was signed into law last year and now provides Michigan mothers with the legal protections they need to promote the health and safety of themselves and their babies.
To learn more about the importance of breastfeeding and access support, visit this resource page from the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services here.
Community Mobile Drive-Up Free Food Distribution
WHEN: One Wednesday per month: Sept. 10, 2025 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center, 19321 W. Chicago St., Detroit, MI 48228
NAACP Back-to-School Family Fun Day
WHEN: Saturday, August 23, 2025 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Delores Bennett Park, 444 Smith St., Detroit, MI 48202
PreK For All: Improving Outcomes for Michigan Families & Kids
August means the back-to-school season is approaching, so what better time to spread the word about the best PreK for All program in the nation? Last year, Senate Democrats worked across the aisle to secure state funding that helped expand access to no-cost, high quality preschool — and our work is paying off, giving kids the tools they need for successful futures, helping tackle the child care crisis, allowing parents to stay in the workforce, and saving Michigan families about $10,000 per child.
Michigan’s PreK for All program is available to all children who are four years old by Dec. 1, and enrollment is now open for the upcoming school year. To learn more or find options for no-cost Pre-K in your community, visit MiPreKforAll.org.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
With summer in full swing and flu season just around the corner, we recognize National Immunization Awareness Month to highlight the importance of routine vaccination for Michiganders of all ages. Vaccines are the best way for you to protect yourself from preventable diseases and avoid spreading those diseases to others in your community.
To locate a health department nearest you and get up to date on your vaccines, click here. And to learn more about the vaccines you and your family members may need to stay healthy, visit the Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services website here.