(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – During today’s COVID-19 briefing, Governor Parson announced that Missouri will receive $66 million for child care assistance and $1.5 million for food banks under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Governor Parson was joined by Missouri Department of Social Services Acting Director Jennifer Tidball and Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard Brigadier General Levon Cumpton.
Child Care Assistance
Missouri will receive $66 million under the CARES Act Child Care Plan, allowing the Department of Social Services (DSS) to expand child care assistance to low-income families and support child care providers.
Temporary changes in some eligibility guidelines for the Child Care Subsidy and Transitional Child Care Subsidy programs will make it possible for more low-income Missouri families to qualify for child care assistance. Some families will also see an increase in benefits under the Transitional Child Care Subsidy program.
The CARES Act Child Care Plan also provides special assistance to child care providers who continue to support the needs of working families during COVID-19.
CARES Act Child Care Plan Benefits for Low-income Families:
- Low-income Missouri families who are unemployed due to COVID-19 can now receive a temporary Child Care Subsidy benefit (up to 90 days) while they look for work. This benefit is available through December 2020. Effective May 1 through August 31, parents who work, attend school, or train for work with an income from 138 to 215 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) may now qualify for a Transitional Child Care Subsidy, even if they previously did not qualify for a Child Care Subsidy.
- Missouri families qualifying for or currently receiving a Transitional Child Care Subsidy benefit will receive an 80 percent subsidy benefit if their income is between 138 to 176 percent of the FPL or a 60 percent subsidy benefit if their income is from 177 to 215 percent of the FPL.
CARES Act Child Care Plan Benefits for Child Care Providers:
- Child care providers remaining open to provide services to essential personnel can receive a one-time payment. The payment is based on the child care provider’s capacity and ranges from $1,000 (under 10 children served) to $7,500 (over 200 children served).
- All licensed or licensed-exempt child care providers who operate non-traditional hours, 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, can receive a $100 monthly stipend for each child care slot for the months of April, May, and June.
- Missouri Child Care Subsidy providers will receive payments based on authorized care instead of actual attendance for April, May, and June service months.
- Missouri has allocated $10 million for one-time grants to higher education institutions to establish on-campus child care programs that include slots for Child Care Subsidy families.
Child care providers interested in CARES Act Child Care Plan benefits should visit the DSS COVID-19 information web page. More information can be found under the “Child Care” section.
