Branch County at the Region 8 Child Care Summit in Kalamazoo
- Branch County Community Foundation
- Jul 18
- 2 min read
The Branch County Community Foundation (BCCF) Implementation Team proudly joined partners from across Region 8 at the recent Child Care Summit in Kalamazoo, a dynamic gathering that spotlighted the important work being done to strengthen the childcare system throughout Southwest Michigan.
Our delegation from Branch County showed up strong, with representation from BCCF, the City of Coldwater, Child Care Network, local parents, childcare providers, and Kellogg Community College. The energy in the room was inspiring, and it was clear that our shared commitment to solving local childcare challenges is making a regional impact.
Region 8 includes Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Berrien, Cass, Branch, and St. Joseph counties. Each county has a local childcare coalition that is supported through generous grant funding from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. These coalitions are tasked with addressing the biggest issues facing childcare today, including:
Building childcare supply
Strengthening the childcare workforce
Sharing information with families and employers
Recruiting and engaging employers in the MI Tri-Share program
Aligning pre-K and childcare navigation services
Finding and leveraging new funding streams
Summit attendees received a policy landscape update and reviewed the Region 8 Roadmap to Child Care, a detailed report developed by PULSE that outlines regional recommendations for improving the childcare system. Of the seven major recommendations in the roadmap, three have already made advancements—a clear sign that advocacy is working and change is happening.
The event also provided an opportunity to share progress and strategies across counties. Erica Heminger, Executive Director of BCCF, and Mallory VanWagner, Childcare Implementation Team Lead, presented Branch County’s top priorities:
Develop a sustainable early childhood workforce pipeline
Support and retain current providers
Increase the number of quality and affordable providers across Branch County
Engage cross-sector partners and employers
Increase participation in the Tri-Share program
Erica and Mallory also addressed the challenges we continue to face, including widespread childcare deserts, staffing shortages, and the high cost of care, all of which impact access and sustainability. These issues demand stronger investment from employers, local governments, and other key partners if we are to truly move the needle.
One of the most impactful moments of the summit came from keynote speaker Susan Rosas of the YWCA Kalamazoo. Her presentation was not only profound—it was a call to action. She reminded us why we’re doing this work and reinvigorated our shared commitment to childcare equity, quality, and accessibility.
Branch County is not only responding to immediate challenges—we're addressing the root causes of our childcare landscape and creating the conditions necessary for lasting, systemic change.
Our message to the community is simple:
Stay engaged and help drive local solutions that support Branch County’s families, providers, and workforce.
If you’re interested in learning more about our efforts or getting involved, please reach out to BCCF at:
517-278-4517
2 W Chicago St, Suite E1, Downtown Coldwater
Together, we can build a better future for our children, families, and entire community.
To learn more about the Region 8 Roadmap to Child Care, visit: Pulse at Work – Region 8 Roadmap to Child Care
