Missouri will place new applicants for its Child Care Subsidy Program on a waitlist starting Mar. 1, 2026, as record demand pushes the program beyond its current state funding.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Childhood said the move is necessary because the number of families receiving child care assistance has grown by 19% since January 2025, with more than 27,000 children now served statewide.
Officials said participation has outpaced the appropriations approved by the General Assembly, forcing the state to slow the flow of new entrants in order to protect services for families already in the program. The waitlist will apply to families who submit applications on or after Mar. 1, according to KOMU.
Current Families Remain Covered
Families that are already approved for assistance before March 1 will not be affected by the change, as long as they complete their renewals on time.
The department stressed that renewals filed before a family's authorization expires will continue to be processed, and benefits will not be interrupted for those current participants. Providers are being urged to remind parents to submit renewal paperwork at least 60 days before their end date to avoid gaps in coverage.
The waitlist will be managed by application date and by a priority ranking system that places the most vulnerable children and families first. Children in foster care or those receiving preventive services through the state's Children's Division, known as "protective services" children, will not be placed on the waitlist at all.
Top priority also will go to children with special needs, children experiencing homelessness, and families with incomes below the federal poverty level, followed by other income-eligible families, Child Care Aware reported.
How the New Waitlist Will Work
While on the waitlist, families can update their information at any time through the state's online Child Care Subsidy Parent Portal. They will get email notices when their application is first placed on the list and again when it moves forward for processing as funding becomes available.
State officials have posted an informational flyer, a recorded webinar, and frequently asked questions on the program's website to explain how the new system will work.
Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger said the decision was difficult but necessary to keep the program stable. She said the department wants to remain a good steward of state resources while still supporting working families and child care providers that rely on the subsidy.
The Office of Childhood said it will continue to monitor demand and funding levels to determine when families can be moved off the waitlist and into the program, as per STLPR.
