Standing Up for Missouri Families and Child Care Providers
Missouri Champion of Children proudly recognizes Governor Mike Kehoe for his unwavering commitment to strengthening child care in our state through two vital initiatives:
Expanding Access Through Innovative Partnerships
Governor Kehoe has championed crucial partnerships between employers, community organizations, and child care providers to increase the number of available child care slots for Missouri families. This collaborative approach will create sustainable solutions to one of our state’s most pressing challenges.
Ensuring Timely, Reliable Payments to Providers
Governor Kehoe understands that child care providers are small businesses that cannot operate with unpredictable payment schedules. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, Missouri will implement two transformative changes:
- Advance Payments: Providers will receive state payments at the beginning of each month
- Enrollment-Based Funding: Payments will be based on enrollment, not attendance—just like private-pay arrangements
These reforms ensure that technology issues or administrative delays will no longer put essential child care businesses at risk of closure, protecting both providers and the families who depend on them.