District 10 News and Updates

Dear Neighbor,  

Labor Day has now come and gone, and so has another beautiful Michigan summer. As we approach the beginning of autumn, I encourage you to take advantage of everything our great state has to offer as the leaves begin to change. From cider mills and pumpkin patches to scenic hiking trails and state parks, there’s no shortage of fall fun to be had here in the Mitten State!

Featured in this newsletter:

Families are Encouraged to Enroll 4-Year-Olds Now in Pre-K
Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential Extends Deadline for Adults Ages 21-24 to Apply for Tuition-Free Community College
Back-to-School Budget Signed
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Severe Weather Resources
Registration Opens for Macomb Community College’s Program for Seniors and Retirees

If you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov.

Sincerely,

Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10

Families are Encouraged to Enroll 4-Year-Olds Now in Pre-K

It’s not too late for families to enroll their 4-year-olds in free, high-quality pre-K through their local school district. The recent historic investment in Pre-K for All included in the state’s new budget will allow nearly 59,000 4-year-olds across the state to access free pre-K. As of August 15, enrollment has expanded to all families regardless of income level, while continuing to prioritize families most in need.

Under the 2025 budget, free pre-K enrollment is open to families up to 400% of the federal poverty limit, or about $120,000 for a family of four.

Families still have time to enroll children who will be 4 years old by Dec. 1 in pre-K this fall! Availability varies by location, with priority given to those who need it most. Visit MiPreKforAll.org to find programs near you.

Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential Extends Deadline for Adults Ages 21-24 to Apply for Tuition-Free Community College

The Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) recently announced that the application deadline for the Reconnect Age Expansion has been extended until Dec. 31, 2024, and is now applicable to students beginning their education in the winter and spring semesters of the 2024-2025 academic year.

Michigan Reconnect is the largest program in state history to help eligible students earn a skill certificate or degree tuition-free at their local community college.

Michiganders who are 21 to 24 –years old and are not already participating in Michigan Reconnect must complete the following steps to take advantage of this limited-time scholarship opportunity:

Apply for the Michigan Reconnect scholarship at Michigan.gov/Reconnect by Dec. 31, 2024.
File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Apply and enroll in a community or tribal college no later than the summer semester of 2025.

For additional information, click here.

Back-to-School Budget Signed

As students across Michigan head back to the classroom, I am excited to see how our state education budget positively impacts our students, teachers, parents, and communities. This summer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put her stamp of approval on the K-12 budget for the 2024-25 school year. This budget continues putting Michigan students and educators first and foremost, helping to set our kids up for futures full of success and opportunity.

In last year’s budget, Michigan began the popular free breakfast and lunch program for all Michigan public school students — and in this year’s budget, we continued this critical program to ensure that Michigan’s 1.4 million public school students are well-fed and able to focus on learning. More information about the free breakfast and lunch program can be found here.

Our education budget also implements the state’s first-ever “Opportunity Index” equity funding formula that strategically invests more dollars into districts based on their concentration of poverty, prioritizing students and schools with the highest level of need.

We also delivered on the promise of two years of free community college for high school graduates, helping improve access to higher education and better paying jobs. This ensures that every Michigan high school graduate, beginning this year, can obtain an associate degree or skilled certificate tuition-free, saving over 18,000 students up to $4,820 annually.

My Senate colleagues and I remain committed to meeting the needs and interests of students, educators, and families in every corner of our state, and we look forward to another school year full of learning, growth, and opportunity for our kids.

September is Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide is a critical public health concern, claiming the lives of nearly 50,000 Americans in 2022. Just in 2021, we lost 1,482 Michiganders to suicide. The devastation of suicide is far-reaching, impacting innumerable families and communities across our state and beyond.

But suicide is preventable — and September, National Suicide Prevention Month, is an opportune time to spread awareness and resources to connect members of our communities with the help they need.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The Lifeline provides 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
The Veterans Crisis Line provides free 24/7, confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their loved ones. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Call 988 and press “1” to speak with a qualified responder, or text 838255.
Find a suicide prevention coalition, support group, or crisis line near you by scrolling down this page and finding a listing in your county.
Get help for yourself or a loved one, learn the facts and warning signs, locate advocacy resources, and much more through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

From gun violence prevention efforts to investments in suicide prevention programs, my Senate colleagues and I remain committed to working toward practical solutions to help mitigate suicide in our Michigan communities. With suicides accounting for more than half of gun deaths in the United States in 2021, the Michigan Senate worked hard to deliver a slate of gun violence prevention legislation in 2023, helping to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of those at risk of harming themselves or others. We also secured the following budget investments to help address the issue of suicide in Michigan:

$9.4 million to provide statewide coverage for 988, the suicide and mental health crisis line.
$750,000 in federal fund authorization to utilize a grant under the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, helping to provide resources toward community-based suicide prevention efforts to meet the needs of veterans, service members, and their families.
$250,000 to support Six Feet Over’s suicide loss survivor program, a nonprofit that provides mental health education, advocacy, and support to individuals with lived experiences of suicide.

Severe Weather Resources

With the severe storms that swept across Michigan last week, I wanted to share some helpful resources from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) that you may find useful as you work with your insurance company to file a claim and repair any damages.

Additional information regarding severe weather preparedness is available on the DIFS website. Consumers having issues with their insurer or claims process may file a complaint with DIFS here.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Consumer Services toll free at (877) 999-6442 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with any questions you may have. DIFS can help answer questions regarding what an insurer must do and help explain policy language. Here a few more resources that may be of help:

Registration Opens for Macomb Community College’s Program for Seniors and Retirees

Even though many have long since left the classroom, seniors are eagerly gearing up to enroll in fall classes at Macomb Community College (MCC) through the vibrant Macomb Organization for Retiree’s Enrichment (MORE) program. It’s never too late to dive into new subjects and activities—this dynamic program promises a season of engaging learning and enrichment for all!

The MORE program, celebrating its 10-year anniversary this fall, offers close to 60 classes and seminars, in addition to multiple excursions. Retirees who find lots of time on their hands and are looking to expand their skills and experience enriching new opportunities will be excited to hear that registration for the program is now open.

Here is what William Wood, director of Cultural Affairs and Community Engagement at MCC, had to say about the program, “For a decade, Macomb Community College has offered a dedicated program for our community’s seniors to explore and expand their interests, to engage in thoughtful dialogue and to just have fun.”

Although the MORE program is advertised and created especially with Seniors in Macomb in mind, it is open to everyone regardless of age or location. Classes last around two hours and have time set aside for question-and-answer periods.

Here are a few courses advertised on the MCC website:

Medicare Made Simple: Adam Simon, with more than 14 years of experience in the insurance industry, will lead a presentation on the original Medicare as well as how that can be paired with either a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage Plan.  
Red Flags of Fraud and Online Shopping Safety: Monica Beach, education foundation manager for the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, will highlight some fraud schemes that are currently being seen locally, identify how to spot red flags to avoid becoming a victim and outline actions to help support secure online shopping experiences. This course is also available via Zoom. 
Rough Seas: The Edmund Fitzgerald: Presenter Charlie Shelton, community outreach interpreter with Huron-Clinton Metroparks, specializes in Michigan’s history and will present the story of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and delve into the causes of the sinking of the ship. This presentation is also available via Zoom.

The program strives to be affordable and offers four packages when it comes to registering. First-time attendees can purchase a trail package of three classes for $30. Returning MORE participants have the following options to choose from: seven classes for $56, ten classes for $75, or unlimited classes for $120.

For interested Seniors, here is the link to view the course catalog and register: LorenzoCulturalCenter.com/MORE.

To reach out for more information about courses and excursions, email MORE@macomb.edu.

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