Missouri's MOve Smart Child Care and Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care recognitions highlight programs that go above and beyond to support the health and well-being of children and families. Earning these voluntary statewide recognitions demonstrates a commitment to evidence-informed practices that create healthier environments where young children can learn, grow, and thrive.
Missouri's MOve Smart Child Care and Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care recognitions highlight programs that go above and beyond to support the health and well-being of children and families. Earning these voluntary statewide recognitions demonstrates a commitment to evidence-informed practices that create healthier environments where young children can learn, grow, and thrive.
Missouri child care programs have the opportunity to earn two voluntary statewide health and
wellness recognitions that showcase their commitment to providing high-quality care: Missouri
MOve Smart Child Care and Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care. Administered by the Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), these recognitions are based on current,
evidence-informed practices that promote healthy eating, physical activity, and family well-
being, providing programs with a meaningful way to demonstrate their dedication to children’s health.
Missouri MOve Smart Child Care recognizes programs that create environments where children
and adults can be active, healthy, and engaged every day. Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care
recognizes programs that foster welcoming, supportive environments for breastfeeding families
by implementing policies and practices that help mothers continue breastfeeding after returning
to work. Together, these recognitions encourage healthy habits that support lifelong wellness
and positive child development.
To earn either recognition, child care programs complete an application and submit
documentation demonstrating they meet the established standards. Once approved, programs
receive official recognition materials to proudly display their achievement and highlight their
commitment to health and wellness for current and prospective families. If you are interested in
earning either recognition, Go NAPSACC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-
Assessment for Child Care) offers practical tools, resources, and individualized support to help
you get started.
Learn how to earn Missouri MOve Smart Child Care recognition.
Explore the benefits of becoming a Missouri Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care program.
Statewide recognition for Farm to ECE is coming soon. Watch for more information.
Have questions? Contact Lisa Lauer, Senior Nutritionist, at Lisa.Lauer@health.mo.gov.
Registration for the October 2027 Go NAPSACC project is now open. Click here for more information about the Go NAPSACC project.
For questions about Go NAPSACC, please contact Lauri Choate, Director of Training, at lauri@mochildcareaware.org or 314-754-1603.
Explore our other Child Care Aware® of Missouri resources:
Clock Hour Training
Scholarships for Educators
Child Care Health and Wellness
Family Child Care Network
Leadership Development Opportunities
Missouri Office of Childhood Updates
Show Me Child Care Resources
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