Citizens Build Framework for Childcare Action

Recent county planning meetings brought home how critical it is that we work together in west central Missouri to address significant child care challenges that our families, employers and communities face.

• Employers, including schools, listing off people forced to quit in the past year for lack of child care and the cost of care outweighing wages.  

• Families who cannot afford to stay home and struggle to find any kind of care for their children.

• Child care providers unable to find and pay quality workers, or ensure that their much-needed business continues for local families beyond their retirement.

The four-county West Central Missouri Early Childcare Education Community Planning project is building a framework for action in Cedar, Henry, Polk, and St. Clair counties. Recent meetings in each county added to extensive community input since March for a strategic plan that the group will complete in December and begin implementing in early 2026.

Stronger Together

Before we can move forward together, we need to understand what’s happening locally—what families, employers and providers are facing; what resources already exist; and what ideas people have for solutions.

The pending action plan outlines steps we can take now that will make a difference and move us forward even as the complex childcare challenge continues.  

Perhaps most important is the shared effort.  

As Clinton’s Seeds of Faith Preschool owner Amber Hansen and others said at a September 24 roundtable: “None of us can do this alone.”

Priorities

As summarized at county meetings in a November 2025 update, the childcare action plan will detail strategies for making progress on four major priorities that have emerged through the process.

Funding: Increase public-private partnerships to support the childcare system.

Supply Building: Support existing child care providers and increase the supply and quality of infant-toddler care in particular. (The region has only enough infant-toddler care for 28% of families seeking it)

Resource Navigation: Ensure families and child care providers are able to access and use available support and resources.

Policy Advocacy: Increase supportive policies and public investment at all levels.

For more information or to get involved, contact project manager Patty Cantrell at the New Growth Women’s Business Center: pcantrell@newgrowthmo.org, 660-476-2185 ext 6500.

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