Welcome to Nurture Benefits

Empowering Michigan’s Childcare Providers with Affordable, Comprehensive Benefits

A young Black woman sits at a classroom desk.

Why it matters.

Childcare providers are the backbone of early childhood development and working family support. Yet, many face low wages, high turnover, and limited access to benefits. Only 35% of providers currently receive health insurance through their employer. This program addresses that gap—because when we care for caregivers, we uplift entire communities.

Supporting childcare providers is essential to strengthening families, communities, and the economy.

That’s why the Small Business Association of Michigan, in partnership with MiLEAP, established the Nurture Benefits Program—an innovative, grant-funded initiative designed to make high-quality employee benefits accessible and affordable for Michigan’s childcare workforce.

Nurture Benefits is designed by you.

This program was built with you in mind—shaped directly by the voices of Michigan’s licensed childcare providers. Your feedback played a critical role in designing offerings that are practical, meaningful, and tailored to meet your needs.

A young child and an adult sitting at a wooden table drawing with markers on a sheet of paper, which has the word 'Gryson' written on it.
A young girl with dark hair tied back, wearing an orange long-sleeve shirt, is sitting at a desk writing or drawing on a piece of paper with grid lines. The desk is cluttered with colorful storage baskets holding papers, a stuffed toy, and other school supplies. Behind her, a wall decorated with stickers and various stationery items
A young boy in an orange striped shirt and jeans kneeling on a colorful children's playmat, touching a yellow toy sports car.
Two young children playing on a swing at a park, surrounded by trees, with a woman sitting on a bench in the background.

Keep kids in care.

Michigan’s early childhood workforce is in crisis. High turnover, limited access to benefits, and burnout are pushing providers out of a field that is already struggling to attract and retain qualified talent. These challenges directly impact the consistency and quality of care available to our youngest learners – our children.

Our goal is to stabilize and strengthen this critical workforce by offering benefits that support the whole employee –professionally and personally.

What We Offer

Through the Nurture Benefits Program, eligible childcare providers gain access to:

  • Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)

  • Wellness & Behavioral Health Services

  • Life & Retirement Benefits

  • Tiered Benefit Packages to fit diverse needs and budgets

  • A User-Friendly Benefits Platform for enrollment and support

  • Dedicated Member Care Team for personalized assistance

Who’s Eligible

Licensed or license-exempt childcare providers in Michigan—including center-based, family home, and group home settings—working 30+ hours per week.

Backed by Experience

Logo for the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) featuring a graduation cap on a stylized letter 'I'.

SBAM has over 25 years of experience managing benefits for small businesses. With support from the MiLEAP PDG-5 grant, we’re bringing that expertise to the childcare sector - building a sustainable, scalable solution that supports recruitment, retention, and long-term success.