Thrive Birth to Five

05/26/2026

Sharing on behalf of Kids Win Missouri

Kids Win Missouri is excited to share the applications for the Fifth Cohort of our Early Care & Education Leader Fellowship and
the Pilot Cohort of our new Health Leaders Fellowship!

We are looking for passionate parents, caregivers, and professionals who would like to expand their capacity to advocate for effective policies and systems changes that impact kids and families in our state.

Applications due by June 1, 2026.

Learn more or apply for:
ECE Leaders Fellowship.
Health Leaders Fellowship.

https://forms.gle/wodggegzLtcyrkjw9

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c7W_VLpEoXbqMSw-10kFA6GttzzWJvEB/edit

Interested in participating or have questions?
Email Joe Gallant at [email protected].

05/22/2026

The Missouri state budget is being finalized, and the window for community input is very short. We have prepared a sign-on letter from Cape Girardeau County urging Governor Kehoe to sign the budget with full child care funding -- including $5 million for Child Care Works and $900,000 for child care community planning. These are investments that directly support families, providers, and employers in our community.

We are asking you to add your name in the next few days. It takes less than two minutes.
https://forms.gle/wodggegzLtcyrkjw9

Please take a moment and share your voice!
Thank You!

We are asking community members, parents, child care providers, business leaders, and organizations in Cape Girardeau County to sign on to the letter below urging Governor Mike Kehoe to sign the state budget with full child care funding included. Signatures are needed by Friday, May 22. --- [Date] G...

05/11/2026

Kids Day America - Saturday, May 16 from 9:00-2:00
Cape County Health Department - Event to benefit CPSEMO

03/18/2026

Sharing from Kids Win Missouri

Child Care Subsidy Providers —
Tell Us How Potential Changes Impact Your Program

Governor Kehoe has proposed $350 million to fund Missouri’s child care subsidy program next year. While the state wants to start paying providers based on enrollment (rather than attendance), they will need to make reductions in rates to cover the costs based on available resources. This could result in a 15% to 30% reduction in rates.

Here is a breakdown of what is happening and why your voice matters right now:

1. Enrollment is Skyrocketing
The demand for child care assistance is growing faster than the state can keep up with.

The Surge: In just one year, the number of children in the program jumped from 22,000 to over 27,000—a 19% increase.

The Waitlist: Because there isn't enough funding for everyone, the Office of Childhood started a waitlist on March 1.

2. Proposed Budget Cuts
While the Governor has a plan, the House Budget Committee is suggesting a $51 million cut. If this passes, it would eliminate "enhancement" payments that help providers:
Care for children with special needs.
Support children in foster care.
Meet quality and access benchmarks.

3. Tough Choices Ahead
To stay within a limited budget, policymakers are considering several difficult options, including:
Cutting the enhancement payments mentioned above.
Lowering the amount of money providers receive per child.
Canceling the plan to pay based on enrollment.

Kids Win Missouri has launched a Child Care Subsidy Provider Survey to capture how the proposed $51 million child care subsidy cut would affect programs across the state. We need responses by Friday, March 20 - results go directly to state senators the following week. We Need Your Input!

Kids Win Missouri wants to know how these potential cuts and changes would impact your business and the families you serve. Your feedback allows us to advocate for you at the Capitol. All responses are confidential.

The survey takes about 10–15 minutes to complete.
Take the survey: https://forms.gle/t1W29r9Dk2i9VEWf7
Closes Friday, March 20. Results go to state senators the following week.

Governor Kehoe has proposed $350 million to fund Missouri’s child care subsidy program next year. While the state wants to start paying providers based on enrollment (rather than attendance), they will need to make reductions in rates to cover the costs based on available resources. This could res...

03/09/2026

Shared from Kids Win Missouri

Missouri children need every voice they can get right now. This toolkit gives you everything you need to mobilize your network in the next 72 hours. Please use all of it: the emails, the social posts, the story prompts. Send everything as widely as possible.

🚨 Missouri legislators are about to cut $51 MILLION from child care. This is not a small adjustment. It's a gut punch to families who are already on a waitlist just to get help. Children with disabilities. Kids in foster care. Families barely making it work. They all lose. We have 72 hours to flood the legislature with messages. Take action here: https://secure.everyaction.com/aE8jJ8btpk-NfPqD9rofgA2

How many children in your program rely on subsidy to attend?
How do you serve children with special needs, and what would funding cuts mean for your ability to do so?
What would a $51 million cut mean for your program's operations and staff?
What do you want legislators to know about the children you serve?

03/03/2026

Call Ms. Tina (573) 914-9601

03/03/2026

Call Ms. Tina at (573) 914-9601

02/27/2026

Join us for Child Advocacy Day in Jefferson City.
Scholarships available, call (573) 651-9171 for more info.

02/27/2026

Join us on March 14, FREE Clock Hour Training, short presentation about Child Care Works and Child Advocacy Day during Brunch and Chat with a Legislator to share your personal stories. Please RSVP for Brunch to THRIVE Birth to Five office at (573) 651-9171.

02/27/2026

FREE Clock Hour Trainings for Southeast Region Childcare Providers for March 2026. Register on MOPD or text Amy (573)380-1999 or Jessi (573) 290-7499.