Missouri
Working families in Missouri need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Missouri. But too many working families in Missouri are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Missouri economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 435k children ages 5 and under in Missouri – 67% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in Missouri is around $12,900.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 12% of eligible families. This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.
On average, child care providers in Missouri earn just $28,940 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
Missouri’s economy loses $1.9B annually due to child care challenges,
MISSOURI: In The Headlines
Kansas City parents say child care made all the difference in their life. Finding it was not easy
KCUR | jANUARY 21, 2025
Parents around the Kansas City area said it’s a challenge finding early education programs that fit their budget, schedules and children’s needs.
Missouri Chamber of Commerce says state has a child care crisis
KWOS | January 13, 2026
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kara Corches says the child care crisis is costing the state more than $1.35 billion each year.
Southeast Missouri childcare crisis causing challenges for parents, providers
KFVS | October 16, 2025
Child care centers across southeast Missouri are facing staffing shortages, financial strain, and growing demand, forcing families to make difficult decisions about care for their children.
Missouri Resources & News
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FFYF’S 2023 State Fact Sheets
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Analysis: Majority of Governors Highlight Child Care As Key to Workforce Growth
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FFYF’s 2022 Child Care & Early Learning State Fact Sheets
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Missouri — Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities
High-quality early childhood education is proven to dramatically improve a child’s opportunities for a better future—particularly children from low-income families—while offering parents improved job stability and overall economic security. To …
New Report Offers Additional Data on Pandemic’s Impact for Child Care
Last week, Child Care Aware of America released a new report, Picking Up the Pieces: Building a Better Child Care System Post-COVID-19. The report outlines the pandemic’s impact on child …
FFYF Releases State Fact Sheets, Highlighting Unique Local Landscapes
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Missouri: Federal Support for Early Learning & Care Opportunities
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Preschool Development Grant Funding Awarded to 26 States for 2020
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