MI Tri-Share is an employer-based benefit and your employer may have set parameters and a budget to support the program. Employers have flexibility to decide how the child care slots will be allocated. Possible ways to make this determination include:

• Each family receives one child care slot/family receives multiple child care slots
• First come, first serve process
• Employee lottery/random selection
• Employee needs (i.e., closest to 200% FPL)

Only licensed childcare in Michigan is covered. Depending on your employer’s guidelines, the benefit can cover full-time and part-time care, preschool, before and after school care, summer care, summer camps, or a combination of these choices.

MI Tri-Share is designed to cover children ages 0-12 and employers can choose to extend coverage through age 17. Check with your employer or the MI Tri-Share staff to find out the details of your employer’s coverage.

Employee eligibility will be determined based on the employee’s household size and gross monthly income (before tax) for all adults from all sources. Currently, employees must have a household income between 200%-400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Please refer to the income chart on the main page.

Employees must NOT be eligible for the Child Development and Care Program (CDC). If household income is below 200% FPL, the Vibrant Futures MI Tri-Share staff will connect you with information to apply for the CDC program as it may be more beneficial for your family.

Vibrant Futures MI Tri-Share staff will gather documentation of your gross (before tax) wages, spouse/partner gross wages (if applicable), and all other sources of household income such as a second job, child support, alimony, etc. to determine your family’s eligibility.

Your employer will collect your portion of childcare costs through payroll deduction or another method. The employer will send the employee and employer portions to Vibrant Futures as invoiced.

Vibrant Futures will then bill the State of Michigan.

Your childcare provider(s) will invoice Vibrant Futures and Vibrant Futures will pay your childcare provider(s) for current or past care as it is invoiced.

Employees are 100% responsible for their childcare cost from the termination date if there is a separation from a participating employer.