Using TOOTRiS and Child Care Works in Missouri
TOOTRiS is the online platform used for Missouri’s Child Care Works (CCW) program, which helps make child care more affordable by sharing the cost among participating employers, funding through the State of Missouri, and working parents.
TOOTRiS connects the employers, families, and child care providers participating in Child Care Works. Employers use the platform to offer and manage the benefit, families use it to receive and apply their Child Care Works benefit, and child care providers use it to participate in the program and receive CCW payments.
As Missouri employers begin offering Child Care Works, child care providers will need to activate their free TOOTRiS profile to accept payments through the program. Child Care Works payments are made in full and in advance, bundling the employer, parent, and state or other eligible contributions into payments to the child care provider.
TOOTRiS is FREE to child care providers, and it offers them additional tools they may choose to use beyond Child Care Works that can include:
- Secure online billing and payments for families (with no payment processing fees and other rewards)
- parent communication tools
- online enrollment and wait-list management
- a public profile where families can find and learn more about their program
Below, child care providers and families can find resources and instructions for getting started with TOOTRiS.
Child Care Works is administered by Child Care Aware of Missouri in collaboration with Kids Win Missouri.
**Quick links to sections in this article.**
Providers – help using TOOTRiS and accessing Child Care Works
Parents – help applying for Child Care Works and using TOOTRiS
Get Help – emails, video & PDF links, and TOOTRiS Help Center
Providers - Helping Missouri Child Care Providers Use TOOTRiS
Provider Setup Video: Completing Your Provider CCW Profile
For more details including frequently asked questions, see: CCW Provider Quick Start Guide
Before you claim your profile, this is what you'll need to know:
- The email address associated with your license number
- Class/group program schedules and their tuition rates
- Enrollment form (a digital document, URL, or a placeholder document)
- Bank account information for receiving payments
First Step to Claim Your TOOTRiS Profile - Logging In
The most common way to begin is to use mo.tootris.com/login
- Use the email associated with your license number
- Request password reset
All providers who have been licensed or been in the Child Care Aware Missouri referral program are already listed in TOOTRiS. Claiming your profile is about using your email, resetting your password, and then accessing the rest of the set-up process.
An alternate way to claim your profile, or create a new profile, is to create a provider account at mo.tootris.com/provider
IMPORTANT TIP – Do NOT create a duplicate account. If you experience any issues claiming your profile(s), get help from
- Missouri Child Care Aware ccw@mochildcareawaremo.org
- or New Growth Women’s Business Center wbcinfo@newgrowthmo.org
Let’s Complete Your Profile - Making the Green Bar Go Away
If you have logged in using the email associated with your license, some of your profile is already completed, and your green bar has already begun.
When you have completed all the necessary steps to set up, the green bar on your profile will disappear!
Forms & Pricing Method
What you need to know:
- What will you use for the enrollment document: Choose a placeholder document, your digital enrollment document, DESE URL (https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/mo-500-3317-child-care-enrollment-form), or other URL
- Your policy on termination upon nonpayment. I.e. If payment isn’t processed, will you grant a grace period?
- Flat Rate really is most commonly used.
Programs and Pricing
What you need to know:
- “Program” is your class or age group.
- Set tuition as your full tuition rate. Do NOT discount for subsidy.
- If you have more than one rate for the same program, you will need to create duplicate programs with different rates.
- Duplicate programs need to adjust the time slightly, so they aren’t 100% duplicate. This is a work-around so you can have all your programs listed when they appear duplicate to TOOTRiS.
- TOOTRiS considers these labels to be these ages: Infant 0-1; Toddler 1-2; Preschool 2-5; School-age 5+. More than one program with the same label creates a duplicate program.
- Remember to activate each program and remember to save your work often!
Subsidies & Financial Assistance
What you need to know:
- Do you receive subsidies? If yes, Missouri Subsidies is the only choice needed.
Left-hand menu item Earnings
What you need to know:
- Add your bank account information.
- Look for confirmation code when they send a few pennies to confirm your account.
Left-hand menu item Configuration
What you need to know:
- Add a photo(s) and then review how it looks on your public-facing profile.
- Even if you are full, leave at least 1 spot open in each regular program (but not necessary for drop-in).
- When it comes to available open spots, total availability from all programs cannot be more than your license capacity.
How a Provider can Review and Accept Enrollments
Watch this video on Reviewing and Accepting Enrollment Requests
- Check schedule, rate, and tuition
- Accept with updated rate if choose
- Configure billing cycle
CCW Provider Rewards for using TOOTRiS
To be eligible to participate in Child Care Works providers must be "Benefit Ready".
Providers must be located in Missouri. They must be licensed and/or subsidy-registered to meet federal health and safety standards requirements. They must have a TOOTRiS account set up and ready to accept CCW payments. And, they must complete CCW Provider Participation Agreement.
BONUS! Providers who have enrolled and ready to accept benefits through Child Care Works are also eligible for rewards to support participation in using TOOTRiS.
Need more help?
Email Missouri Child Care Aware ccw@mochildcareaware.org or email New Growth Women’s Business Center wbcinfo@newgrowthmo.org
For more details regarding setting up and using TOOTRiS including frequently asked questions, see: CCW Provider Quick Start Guide
Or visit the TOOTRiS knowledge base and help center, including free chat support, at: https://help.tootris.com/hc/en-us
Parents – Helping Missouri Parents Apply for CCW and Use TOOTRiS
If you have access to Child Care Works (CCW) through a participating employer, here’s important information to help you get started.
IMPORTANT: Apply for and receive approval for Child Care Works BEFORE enrolling your child through the TOOTRiS platform.
For detailed instructions on applying for and using your Child Care Works benefit, see: CCW Family Onboarding Kit PDF
Families do not have to participate in Child Care Works to use TOOTRiS. Simply by switching their online child care payments through TOOTRiS, families can help their child care provider access free technology, a mobile app, and other cash rewards. There is no cost to families to use TOOTRiS.
Preparing to Apply for Child Care Works
Before you apply, gather income information and documentation for every adult age 18 or older in your household. This includes income from work as well as other sources such as child support, Social Security, unemployment, self-employment or other assistance. When possible, documents should be dated within the last 30 days and be clear and readable.
Apply for Your Child Care Benefit
If your employer participates in Child Care Works, you can apply for your benefit through TOOTRiS.
- Create your free TOOTRiS account (https://mo.tootris.com/parent/register). Enter your information, then check your email to activate your account.
- Complete the Child Care Works application (https://mo.tootris.com/ccw). You’ll answer questions about your household, income and children and upload required documentation.
- Watch for your eligibility notice. The Child Care Works team will review your application and let you know whether you qualify.
- Confirm your child care provider and activate your benefit. Once approved, you’ll confirm your provider and tuition information. Your provider must be enrolled with Child Care Works before your benefit can be activated. Important: Do not enroll your child through TOOTRiS until after you receive your benefit.
If you’re not sure whether your current child care provider, or one you would like to use, is ready to participate in Child Care Works, you can refer your child care provider to become eligible for Child Care Works. The provider must be enrolled and ready to accept CCW benefits.
For more details including a CCW Enrollment Checklist, see: CCW Family Onboarding Kit PDF
Help - Where to Get Help Using TOOTRiS
Missouri Child Care Aware is working hard to support providers, parents, and employers through this exciting and new resource.
For help, email Missouri Child Care Aware ccw@mochildcareaware.org
or email New Growth Women’s Business Center wbcinfo@newgrowthmo.org
You can also visit the TOOTRiS knowledge base and help center, including free chat support, at: https://help.Tootris.com/hc/en-us
TOOTRiS Provider Support Guides
TOOTRiS Parent/Family Support Guides
Here’s a list of all PDF’s and links provided above.
Providers:
Parents:
Employers or community supporters in west central Missouri who would like to participate in Child Care Works, please contact Patty Cantrell, Child Care Support Project Manager, New Growth Women’s Business Center, pcantrell@newgrowthmo.org