St. Louis, Missouri | October 31, 2025 – YWCA Metro St. Louis welcomed guests on October 29 for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Registered Apprenticeship Accelerator, an in-person event organized by Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS) on behalf of the Early Childhood Workforce Connector (ECWC).
The event showcased YWCA Metro St. Louis, a nationally accredited Head Start Program of Excellence serving over 1,200 children at 20 centers across the St. Louis metro area. Facing a common challenge in early childhood education—recruiting and retaining qualified educators—YWCA, under the leadership of Stacy Johnson, Chief Early Education Officer and Head Start Director, launched the YWCA Metro St. Louis Successful Pathways® Department of Labor registered apprenticeship. Two years after its launch, the program had flourished: classrooms were fully staffed, and a waitlist of eager apprentice candidates was ready to begin careers in early education.
“Early childhood professionals are the workforce behind the workforce. Without them, parents can’t stay employed, and businesses can’t thrive. This event allowed us to demonstrate how YWCA Metro St. Louis turned a staffing challenge into a replicable success story through Registered Apprenticeship,” said Tracey Carey, Executive Director of Midwest Urban Strategies.
The event highlighted the crucial role of early childhood education providers across industries, from construction and manufacturing to technology and financial services. Quality, accessible child care is essential for working parents, yet nationwide, providers struggle to hire enough qualified educators. According to the University of Missouri Extension, businesses in Missouri lose approximately $951 million annually due to employee absenteeism and turnover caused by child care challenges.
Event Highlights Included:
- Tours of a YWCA Metro St. Louis Head Start Center
- Panel discussions on the fundamentals of Registered Apprenticeship and workforce development
- Panel discussions from YWCA leadership and apprentices sharing their experiences
- Opportunities to connect with ECE leaders, workforce stakeholders, employers, and community organizations
- Insights into why early childhood education is considered the “workforce behind the workforce”
Event speakers represented YWCA Metro St. Louis, Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment, Urban League of St. Louis Metropolitan, Inc., Midwest Urban Strategies, National Skills Coalition, Teachstone, Early Childhood Workforce Connector, and Apprenticeships for America.
ABOUT YWCA:
YWCA Metro St. Louis is the region’s leading advocate for the safety, security and stability of women and children, serving nearly 10,000 women and families annually. The mission of YWCA is eliminating racism and empowering women. YWCA offers crisis services and rapid re-housing for victims of sexual and domestic violence; services for pregnant women, Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education; career readiness and economic empowerment services for all clients; and racial justice educational programs.
ABOUT MIDWEST URBAN STRATEGIES:
Midwest Urban Strategies, Inc. (MUS) is a leading workforce intermediary that convenes urban workforce development boards to drive economic opportunity and social mobility. MUS collaborates with workforce boards, government agencies, employers, and community organizations to develop innovative workforce solutions that address labor market needs while supporting underserved populations.