Because the initiative's success is increasingly recognized and valued at the state and local level, the Futures Project plans to expand its work by raising public awareness and working to increase private contributions. It also plans to increase coordination among the partners in order to improve services and programs. Based on the results of the Michigan Futures Project, other states have increased state funding for training child care providers. Lessons Learned Use successful existing networks . The Futures Project built on the successful regional 4-C network instead of creating a new infrastructure.
Local support means local control .
The Project is more successful at connecting to the community, gaining support, and raising funds because it builds on the local structure of the existing 4-C agencies. The Project finds that local businesses and supporters are more willing to invest locally than they are to put their funds into a larger, state pool. Share information and resources at the state level . The state 4-C Association is effective for gathering the best ideas and sharing them throughout the network, as well as bringing additional statewide resources to the local level. Collaboration brings rewards.