Child care providers serve an important role in our community. Not only do they provide an environment that offers children access to early learning, providers contracted with the Child Care Subsidy Program lessen the burden of the cost of care for subsidy-eligible families across the state. Subsidy payments offset the cost of child care, leaving parents responsible for a portion of that cost. The cost to the parent is known as the sliding fee, which is determined based on the household size and income, and can range from $1 per year to $5 per day.
Providers who are accredited, serving a disproportionate number of children, non-traditional hours, and/or children with special needs may also be eligible for an enhanced rate.
Child Care Subsidy Provider Portal
- Become a New Child Care Subsidy Provider
Child Care Provider Application Checklists
Additional Information
Resources
To apply for a child care subsidy contract, visit the Child Care Subsidy Provider Portal
- Renew Child Care Subsidy Provider Contract
Child Care Provider Renewal Checklists
- Renewing Licensed Providers
- Renewing License-Exempt Providers/Summer Camps
- Renewing Six or Fewer Providers
Additional Information
Resources
- Child Care Payment Rate Spreadsheet
- Provider Policy Manual
- Health & Safety Standards
- Child Care Data System Information
To renew an existing subsidy contract, visit the Child Care Subsidy Provider Portal
- Subsidy Provider Training Requirements
Initial and annual training is required for all providers who are contracted with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to provide care to children eligible for child care subsidy.
All direct care staff/volunteers are required to have six hours of training in each contract year.
Individuals required to take training include:
- Providers
- Child care staff members
- Volunteers
- Anyone else who is counted in the child/child care staff member ratio
Please review the Training Requirements for Child Care Providers Contracted with Subsidy and view the Subsidy Orientation Training.
Other Required Trainings
- Additional Information for Subsidy Providers
- Missouri Buys powered by MOVERS
All child care subsidy providers must register with Missouri Buys to receive child care subsidy payments.
- Follow these instructions to ensure the process is completed correctly.
- Frequently Asked Questions
After you are successfully registered with MissouriBuys powered by MOVERS, it is important to keep ALL your information updated in all systems. This means if you update your email, address, etc. it must be updated in the Child Care Data System AND MissouriBuys powered by MOVERS. For providers who also registered in the previous MissouriBuys system, the changes also need to be updated there.
To update banking information, contact MissouriBuys at 573-751-4461 or MissouriBUYS@mo.gov.
Contact childhoodinvoices@dese.mo.gov after making any changes to MissouriBuys or MOVERS to ensure changes have been made properly.