Video: LWVLC April Forum; Focus on Early Childhood in Leelanau County

By Nancy Duck

https://vimeo.com/1190628621

On April 8, 2026, the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County presented a forum on early childhood services in Leelanau County, titled “Supporting Leelanau’s Youngest Residents: What’s Available, on the Way and Envisioned.” This video from the forum provides insights into upcoming and proposed initiatives to attract, assist, and encourage these families to remain active members of our community.

The forum was an engaging and informative conversation about innovative programs making a real difference for families in Leelanau County. Among the topics discussed were Childshare, which helps eligible parents cover the cost of licensed childcare, and RxKids, the nation’s first community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program.

The forum focused on what is available for young children and their parents in Leelanau County, as well as what is envisioned. The meeting facilitator and one of the presenters are both members of the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County.

Hannah Grinage, Parenting Communities Supervisor, gave a presentation on Parenting Communities, a program funded by Leelanau’s Early Childhood millage and operated by the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. Parenting Communities provides families of children from birth through age 6 with supportive countywide services, such as developmental screenings, play groups, and home visits, designed to promote nurturing, stable, and healthy families in the Leelanau community.

Michelle Klein, Director of Personal Health at the BLDHD, introduced “Childshare,” a

program launching in late Spring, to help financially eligible Leelanau families cover the costs of licensed childcare in the county.

The Honorable John Damoose, State Senator for the 37 th District, and the Honorable Betsy

Coffia, State Representative for the 103rd District, presented on RxKids, a program whose funding they support and that may be available to future Leelanau County children. Rx Kids offers a beacon of hope, strengthening family economic security and improving health. It is the nation’s first-ever community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program. RxKids provides life-changing financial security that is universal and unconditional. Moms receive $1,500 during pregnancy, and babies receive $500 per month for a designated period of 6 to 12 months. The program is expanding into other Michigan communities, gaining momentum to shape the lives of thousands of families across the state.

The forum was free and open to the public. 

We invite you to join our local League as we recognize the achievements in supporting families with young children in Leelanau County.

The League of Women Voters is a national, political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in their government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.  The League is non-partisan and, as an organization, does not endorse or oppose candidates or political parties.