Every Kid Matters: The Case For Early Childhood Investment

DETROIT (WWJ) - It's a case of 'pay now' or 'pay later.'

Gov. Rick Snyder's recent announcement to invest millions of dollars in the Great Start early childhood education program is a good step in the right direction, but more needs to be done.

Joining WWJ Newsradio 950 for the seventh live monthly broadcast focusing on Early Childhood Development from the campus of Western Michigan University the President and CEO of Goodwill Industries Kenneth Bauer and Gilda Jacobs, former state lawmaker and current Michigan League for Public Policy president and CEO.

"If kids in poverty don't get a change or a break they're going to end up having problems for the rest of their lives. We know with the proper investments we can go and make lifelong changes with kids by making investments in early childhood education and helping their parents ... we don't want to lose a generation of kids," said Jacobs.

How do we change the outcome for at risk kids and families?

"Twenty-five percent of the children are currently living in Michigan are living in poverty," says Bauer. "And 50 percent of all African American kids in Michigan are living in poverty. There is a compelling reason to look at the family and help kids so economically they can have an opportunity to excel in our state and in our country."

WWJ Newsradio 950, in partnership with the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation and The Kresge Foundation, will air a series of special broadcasts this year focused on early childhood development.

WWJ City Beat Reporter Vickie Thomas will host "Every Kid Matters: The Case for Early Childhood Investment"  at 7 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month.  This year-long series will bring awareness to the important issues that affect early childhood, and the steps needed to ensure  that Michigan's children have an equal opportunity to realize their full potential in school, work and life.