The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is committed to enhancing early childhood education through its Child Care Subsidy Program. This initiative is designed to provide crucial financial assistance to eligible families in Missouri, enabling them to afford quality child care services. By helping with child care expenses, the program empowers parents and guardians to pursue stable employment, further their education, or participate in job training programs, all while ensuring their children have access to enriching early learning environments.
Determining Your Eligibility for Child Care Subsidy
Understanding whether your family qualifies for child care subsidy is the first step towards accessing this valuable program. DESE offers a convenient “Do I Qualify?” pre-screening tool to help you quickly assess your potential eligibility. This tool, along with a direct link to the online application system, can be found by clicking the “Apply for Assistance” option. This streamlined process simplifies the initial steps and guides you towards accessing the support you may need to manage child care costs.
Understanding Child Care Subsidy Rates and Sliding Fees
Missouri recognizes the increasing costs of child care and has taken steps to alleviate this burden for families. Demonstrating this commitment, Governor Parson approved a significant increase to the child care subsidy rate within the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. This increase, effective from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, reflects the state’s dedication to supporting working families and acknowledging the vital role child care plays in their stability and the development of young children. For more detailed information on the updated rates and the sliding fee scale, you can Read More on the DESE website.
Keeping Your Child Care Subsidy Account Up-to-Date
For families participating in the Child Care Subsidy Program, it’s essential to maintain accurate and current information with DESE. Any significant changes within your household, with the exception of income fluctuations, must be reported within 10 calendar days of the change occurring.
Specifically, the following changes require prompt reporting:
- Modifications to your contact details, including changes to the head of household, address, phone number, or email address.
- If your income increases to exceed 85% of the State Median Income (SMI), as detailed in the October 2023 Child Care Subsidy Income Limits and Sliding Fee Chart.
- If your need for child care services concludes for a period exceeding 90 days.
- If your child relocates outside of Missouri.
- If a parent or guardian no longer holds custody of the child.
To report any of these changes, parents and guardians have two convenient options. You can update your information directly through your online account. Alternatively, you can complete a paper form, sign it, and submit it along with any necessary documentation to the following address:
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Office of Childhood-Child Care Subsidy
PO Box 480
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Whether you choose the online portal or the paper form, ensuring timely updates is crucial for maintaining your eligibility and continued access to the Child Care Subsidy Program.
