Child Care Subsidy Waitlist

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) Office of Childhood (OOC) has been closely monitoring participation in Missouri’s Child Care Subsidy Program. On March 1, 2026, Missouri implemented a waitlist for new Child Care Subsidy applications. Children in foster care or receiving preventive services through the Children’s Division, (defined as a “Protective Services Child” in 5 CSR 25-200) who receive child care subsidy services will not be placed on the waitlist.

There are limited funds available for this program and based on funding appropriated, the waitlist is necessary.

Here's what you need to know:

  • Families who apply on or after March 1, 2026, may be placed on a waitlist if funding is not available.
  • Children in protective services will not be placed on a wait list.
  • Families will be placed on the waitlist based on the date their application was submitted and by a priority ranking system for participants, in the following order:
    • Children with special needs, as defined in 5 CSR 25-200.050, that meet one or more of the following criteria:
      • A child receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
      • A child receiving services through the Missouri Department of Mental Health
      • A child with a physical or mental disability or delay, verified in writing by a medical professional or mental health professional
    • Children who are experiencing homelessness
    • Families with income below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level
    • Families with income above 100% of the Federal Poverty Level that may be eligible

Families on the waitlist must keep their application information up to date. When an application moves off the waitlist, families will receive an email notification and a message in the Child Care Data System (CCDS) parent portal indicating that their application is moving forward.

A recorded webinar on the waitlist process can be accessed by clicking this embedded link.

Additional Resources

Questions?