Letter: Investing in Missouri’s future — solving the child care crisis

Missouri’s future depends on economically strong families and opportunities for children. However, the child care shortage in Missouri leaves families struggling to juggle work and care for their children.

Of the 114 counties in Missouri, 78 are child care deserts, according to a ChildCare Aware of Missouri report, meaning parents in those regions have either no access to child care or there are at least three children waiting for each available slot. Parents with children younger than 2 have the hardest time finding child care, with 112 of Missouri’s counties qualifying as child care deserts for infants and toddlers – including Perry, Cape Girardeau, Scott, Mississippi, and Bollinger counties.

Only 16% of the state’s available child care slots are open to children younger than 2, forcing many parents to make the difficult decision between going to work and caring for their children.

If Missouri’s child care crisis is not addressed, the consequences will be significant. The crisis costs Missouri’s economy an estimated $1.35 billion annually, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Without solutions, more children will lack critical early learning opportunities, creating long-term gaps in academic achievement. More parents will be forced to decide between expensive or far-away child care options or leaving the workforce altogether. A reduced workforce will strain local economies.

Head Start programs in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, and Charleston, to name a few, are an important part of the solution. Thanks to dedicated teachers and staff, Head Start provides crucial resources for young children and bridges a gap to deliver nutritious meals and health screenings. Early childhood education is an anchor that grows successful individuals and strong families, but the future of these programs is in jeopardy if access and workforce issues are not addressed.

These solutions are important, but they are not enough to solve a statewide crisis.

Missouri policymakers recognize the need for action. House Bill 269, introduced by Rep. Brenda Sheilds, R-St. Joseph, and Senate Bill 455, introduced by Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, outline a system of child care tax credits to support child care providers and Missouri families.

Now is the time to get child care right in Missouri because our children’s futures depend on it. You can help by reaching out to your elected officials and asking them to prioritize programs like Head Start and state legislation that helps ensure Missouri families have access to safe and affordable child care.