Little Michiganders need more investment in early interventions

Michigan's legislature has included a $1.45 million increase for Early On, the state's early intervention program serving infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. The program provides home and facility-based services that help catch developmental issues early and connect families with specialists and support—but it's severely underfunded relative to need. Michigan currently invests only $879 per eligible child, far below the national average of $2,000 to $4,000, leaving many families on waitlists or receiving fewer services than necessary.

The gap is stark: while 15% of Michigan children ages 0–3 have delays or disabilities that qualify them, Early On reaches only 4.4%. Staff shortages, burnout from low pay, and rural access challenges compound the problem. However, advocates including the Early On Michigan Coalition have been lobbying lawmakers, and the House budget is proposing an even larger $5 million increase. One Oakland County school official also noted that special education funding challenges extend into K–12, where schools are legally required to serve students but lack adequate resources.