childcare

The programs focus on environmental education. In some communities, they are one of very few afternoon and summer childcare options.

The Traverse City nonprofit runs programs in schools that often don't have other free summer or after-school options.

The new business is called The Aspen House. It will serve families with children no older than four years old and is designed for parents who work outside a typical 9-5 job.

Last fall, IPR brought you “A Crisis of Care” – a five-part series about childcare in northern Michigan. We spoke to the Amidon family in Manistee about their needs.Now they've invited to Washington D.C to advocate for Michigan families.

In December, IPR brought you a series about child care focused on the lack of access to care and affordability. So what does an equitable system look like?

The money will make a dent in the $250,000 the center raises each year to fund operating costs, programs and scholarships for families.

This week: Rising rents make TC living harder, and we hear how employers are responding to a lack of childcare in our region.

This week: Parents struggle to find good, affordable childcare for their little ones, and we hear about a holiday variety show in Leland.

Thanks for listening to and reading "A Crisis of Care" an IPR series taking a broad look at the childcare crisis in northern Michigan. Throughout the series, we referenced various local, state and federal studies to inform our work and to supplement the voices you heard from in the region. The three studies we referenced through each story are listed below with a brief summary of what they are.

We heard from Jennifer Wixson in the first part of our series, "A Crisis of Care." She listened to the series, and joins us now to weigh in on what she heard.