New Growth Hosts Community Child Care Conversation

New Growth partnered with Kids Win Missouri to host a local forum on child care in Clinton, Missouri, on September 24, 2025. The event drew lawmakers, community leaders, educators, and families and spotlighted the urgent need for solutions across the state.

Kids Win Missouri—a statewide coalition advocating for children and families—recently launched its Child Care Works program, a cost-sharing model that splits the expense of child care between the state, parents, and employers. Over the past several months, Kids Win Missouri has supported New Growth in developing a community-specific plan to address child care gaps in the west central Missouri region (Cedar, Henry, Polk, and St. Clair counties).

The event drew more than 40 people from across the community, underscoring the deep connection between child care access, workforce participation, family stability, and economic growth. Among the attendees were Rep. Brad Pollitt (R-52) and Rep. Jim Kalberloh (R-126). They engaged directly with child care providers and community leaders to explore how state policy can better support child care infrastructure and align with workforce needs.

To kick off the forum, Patty Cantrell, Network Builder with New Growth, presented research and analysis conducted over the past several months. Her overview highlighted the current state of the child care crisis in the region and offered preliminary solutions tailored to local needs. 

Those solutions provided a natural segue into the panel discussion. Amber Hansen, Executive Director of Seeds of Faith Preschool in Clinton, Missouri, and Kids Win Missouri Early Childhood Education Fellow, has long championed quality child care and fair compensation for early childhood educators. “Those who nurture our youngest learners deserve stability—not sacrifice. We must treat early childhood educators as essential,” Hansen said. She emphasized that while her preschool is committed to high-quality early education, retaining skilled, compassionate teachers is unsustainable without living wages.

Mark Dawson, Economic Development Director at the Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, echoed the urgency: “Child care is not just a family issue—it’s a workforce and economic development issue.” He emphasized that the shortage of child care options is a critical barrier to business growth and employee retention across the region.

Jessica L. Henderson, Chief Human Resource Officer at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital,reinforced this point. “For our community to grow, we must be able to retain and attract talent. One of the top questions we hear from interviewees is: What child care options are available here?” she said. Unfortunately, those options are limited. In the four counties where New Growth and Kids Win Missouri are conducting research, initial data shows a child care desert—with three children competing for every available slot.

Charlotte Smithson, foster parent and Kids Win Missouri Early Childhood Education Fellow, knows firsthand the toll that limited child care access takes on families. Like many foster parents across the region, she faces constant barriers to securing reliable care—barriers that ripple far beyond her own household. “A lack of child care is forcing foster parents to decline placements and delaying reunification for families who must secure both work and care,” Smithson said. Her experience underscores a growing crisis: childcare is central to family stability, workforce participation, and the success of Missouri’s foster care system.

Rep. Pollitt, a former Superintendent of the Sedalia School District and current candidate for the Missouri Senate seat held by Sen. Crawford, acknowledged the long-term benefits of early childhood investment: “I am willing to support efforts that get people who want to work, working. We saw the benefits of early childhood programs in Sedalia, and it’s why I pushed to have an Early Childhood program connected to the school.” Rep. Kalberloh recognized the importance of child care and the value of local leaders working with state lawmakers to identify and build solutions.

Throughout the event, community leaders and child care providers reinforced the theme that child care is at the heart of family well-being and economic stability. Hansen echoed their sentiments: “If we want to retain skilled educators and ensure consistent, compassionate care, we must treat early childhood teachers as essential—not expendable.”

Discussions also surfaced broader challenges, including special education needs, after-school care, workforce shortages, and the cyclical nature of trauma impacting children and families. Smithson noted that “parents of children with special needs are leaving the workforce entirely, unable to find providers equipped to handle behavioral challenges or safety concerns like elopement.”

Henderson shared how the crisis is affecting her healthcare organization. One team member is facing an impossible choice—whether to stay in her role or leave—because she’s pregnant and child care costs would consume half her paycheck. Staff who work nontraditional hours face even greater barriers, with few providers offering extended or flexible care.

By convening diverse voices and launching Child Care Works, Kids Win Missouri is building momentum for policies and investments that strengthen Missouri’s childcare system—ensuring families can thrive, employers can grow, and children can learn in safe, supportive environments.

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About Kids Win Missouri

Kids Win Missouri is a coalition of organizations and individuals advocating for policies and investments that improve the well-being of Missouri’s children and families. Learn more at www.kidswinmissouri.org.

About New Growth 

New Growth is a nonprofit community development organization that builds rural opportunity through innovative programs supporting small businesses, small farms, and small towns. Learn more at www.newgrowthmo.org.

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