Missouri's Child Care Initiative Aims to Address Workforce Instability
Missouri has launched a new child care initiative called Missouri Child Care Works, which is being recognized as a national model for addressing child care shortages. The program, highlighted in a report by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, is part of a broader effort to implement shared-cost child care models across the United States. These models, known as Tri-Share, divide child care costs among families, employers, and public or philanthropic partners. The initiative targets working families who earn too much to qualify for traditional subsidies but still struggle to afford market-rate care. Missouri Child Care Works, launched statewide in late 2025 with a $2.5 million appropriation, is administered by Child Care Aware of Missouri in partnership with Kids Win Missouri. Key features include voluntary employer participation, flat monthly employer slot fees, and sliding-scale public and philanthropic support to reduce family costs. 
