KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics on both sides of the state line. If you have a story idea to share, you can send Charlie an email at charlie.keegan@kshb.com.
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Soon, the state of Missouri will share the costs of child care with some parents and their employees. Organizers said parents can save up to 75%.
The program is called Missouri Childcare Works. The state set aside $2.5 million for the program this year.
Employers were asked to pay into the fund as well. Letters of interest are due Oct. 1.
Eligible parents who work for participating employers will split the cost of child care with the state and their employer.
Toni Sturdivant, from the Mid-America Regional Council, is coordinating the program in the Kansas City area.
“This takes the burden of paying for child care off the family alone, and it becomes a shared community cost,” Sturdivant said. “We’re all impacted by what young children learn and do as they grow and develop into the adults of our society.”
Sturdivant said employers pay a flat fee of roughly $500 per month for an infant/toddler spot, $300 for preschool students and $200 per month for school-aged children. The program covers care for children up to age 12.
Parents are eligible if they don’t receive any other state subsidies and earn less than 555% of the federal poverty level.
Sturdivant is submitting an estimate of interested employers from the Kansas City area on Wednesday, but encourages employers to fill out an interest form on the MARC website even after Oct. 1.
Organizers hope the state’s investment will allow early childhood education centers to open up more spots where demand typically leads to a waiting list.
EarlystART in Kansas City is at capacity. It is participating as a provider parents can choose for their children.
“This could potentially help us expand in getting more slots and being able to provide the service to more families,” said EarlystART CEO June McDaniel. “When the parent is winning, the employer is winning, the school is winning. That would be the long-term benefit for us.”
The Independence School District already has a similar program in place. The district pays for 75% of child care costs for employees who live within district boundaries.
ISD started the program in 2021. It also applies to child care costs on Mondays now that the district uses a four-day school week with Mondays off.
Megan Dillard, mother of four, has used the program to split child care costs with the district for three of her children.
“In this day and age, when child care, quality child care, is such a struggle to find and afford, it is one of the most valuable pieces of my career here with ISD,” Dillard said.
She’s thankful for the state recognizing the importance of sharing the costs of childcare.
Kansas does not offer a similar cost-sharing program.
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