As of May 2023, 70 of the 115 counties in Missouri are Child Care Deserts, a decrease from 74 counties in January 2023. This indicates that there has been a slight increase in the number of child care programs for working parents and guardians since the beginning of this year.
Child Care Aware® of Missouri (CCAMO) continually analyzes the number of counties considered Child Care Deserts. Child Care Deserts are defined as 1) a county with greater than 50 children under age 5 that contains either no child care providers or 2) so few options that there are more than 3 times as many children as licensed child care slots.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland states, "The lack of affordable and accessible childcare largely affects women with young children and will likely continue to keep some of these women out of the labor force even after the end of the pandemic because of the increased cost of childcare and the long-term job separations experienced by these mothers."
Parents continue to need child care to obtain and retain a job, and children need a safe place to stay that promotes their healthy development while their parents are working. Missouri's economy will struggle without childcare options to allow parents to work. New and existing child care facilities need active assistance to become viable and sustainable and should be a priority of governmental, public, and private entities.
Speak with us today.
Director, Data & Analysis 314-881-4657
Child Care Aware® of Missouri
michael@mochildcareaware.org
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