Providers
Childcare providers play a vital role in strengthening families, employers, and the entire Southeast Missouri workforce. The United for Childcare Resource Center is here to support you—whether you are starting a new program, growing your existing one, or simply looking for guidance in a changing childcare landscape. We partner with centers, family childcare homes, license-exempt providers, and early childhood educators to help you operate confidently and sustainably.
Services
-
Starting a new childcare program comes with many questions. Our team helps you understand Missouri’s licensing requirements, health and safety guidelines, and the steps needed to open or expand your program. We also walk you through documentation, inspections, and state resources so you can move forward with confidence.
-
Subsidies and state systems can feel complex. We provide support in:
Understanding subsidy eligibility and billing
Signing up for and navigating Missouri’s Child Care Works (tri-share) program
Using tools like Tootris to manage childcare connections
Our goal is to remove administrative barriers so you can focus on the children in your care.
-
Running a childcare program is running a small business. We help providers strengthen operations with support in:
Budgeting and financial planning
Staffing and workforce recruitment
Expanding or adding capacity
Improving operational workflows
Exploring partnerships with local employers
We work alongside you to build a sustainable program that meets your goals.
-
We connect providers to local and statewide training opportunities, including CPR/First Aid, trauma-informed care, family engagement, and other early childhood topics. When possible, we help identify workforce applicants and training programs that may support your staffing needs.
-
As families come to us for childcare planning, we refer them to local providers with available openings. We help families understand your program, your hours, and whether you participate in subsidy programs, making it easier for you to reach families who are a good fit.
-
Whether you need help updating paperwork, connecting to funding, interpreting new state guidance, or solving day-to-day challenges, our team is here for continued support—at no cost to you.
Child Care Works
As a Community Program Lead for Missouri’s Child Care Works tri-share program, we support childcare providers by connecting you with families who need care and helping ensure consistent, reliable payment. Child Care Works shares the cost of childcare between the family, their employer, and the state, helping families afford care while supporting providers with stable enrollment.
For providers, Child Care Works can help fill open slots, reduce unpaid balances, and strengthen long-term relationships with families and employers. Our team offers hands-on support to walk you through the process, answer questions, and help you participate in the program with confidence. Our goal is to make Child Care Works easy to navigate so you can focus on what matters most—providing quality care.
Why We’re Here
Southeast Missouri needs more childcare options, more high-quality programs, and stronger support for the providers who keep our communities working. The United for Childcare Resource Center exists to strengthen childcare programs, expand capacity, and support the providers who form the backbone of our childcare system. We believe providers should never feel like they’re navigating this work alone.