Child Care Compliance section

We assist child care providers in becoming licensed by conducting inspections. We also investigate complaints in order to assure the health, safety, and development of Missouri’s children.  

Section Leaders: Caron Ahlemeyer, Kayla Todaro
Phone Number: 573-751-2450
Email: ChildCare@dese.mo.gov

Click here to find contact information for each regional Child Care Compliance office.

Regulations section

We process fingerprints and conduct background screenings for licensed and subsidy contracted child care providers, update rules and regulations for licensed and license-exempt child care providers as necessary, process director certifications, and evaluate child care programs for exemption from licensing requirements. 

Section Leader: Shelby Koetting
Team Leaders: Bridgette Limbach, Vacant
Phone Number: 573-751-2450
Email: ChildCare@dese.mo.gov

Early Intervention section

We administer the Missouri First Steps Program, which is a system for infants and toddlers, birth to age three, who have delayed development or diagnosed conditions that are associated with developmental disabilities.

Section Leader: Sara Ruediger
Team Leaders: Martha Wilkerson, Apurva Sunder
Phone Number: 573-522-0045
Email: EarlyIntervention@dese.mo.gov

Home Visiting section

Missouri's Parent Education Program is a voluntary home visiting program offered through local school districts, serving families who are expecting a child or have children under the age of kindergarten entry. This program helps to establish positive partnerships between home, school and the community and plays a vital role in supporting families from the start of their parenting journey.

Section Leader: Lana Brooks
Phone Number: 573-522-2355
Email: HomeVisiting@dese.mo.gov

Outreach section

We manage the Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five (PDG B-5), Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Missouri, and Early Childhood Coordinated Systems (ECCS) grant activities. We also maintain the EarlyConnections and DESE Office of Childhood websites.

Section Leader: Mikala King
Team Leaders: Vacant, Vacant
Phone Number: 573-522-8762
Email: Childhood@dese.mo.gov

Child Care Subsidy section

The Child Care Subsidy Program helps families afford child care so children can access early learning opportunities. This program supports parents and guardians by covering part of the cost of child care, allowing them to work, attend school, or participate in training programs. We contract with child care providers across the state and issue payments directly to providers for services given to eligible families.

Within the Child Care Subsidy section, we oversee the Missouri Childhood Resource and Referral (MCRR) center that provides services to help families learn about and access the resources and services they need to ensure that their children are safe, healthy, and successful learners. MCRR maintains a statewide call center and self-search website to help families understand and identify the child care options and resources that best fit their needs.

Section Leaders: Laura Wilmesher, Melissa Wolfe
Team Leaders: Sharon Barsby, Taylor Eason, Vacant
Phone Numbers: 573-526-3011 (provider contracts), 573-522-1385 (provider payments and how to use Child Care Business Information System (CCBIS)), and 573-415-8605 (customer service center for families)
Email: CCSubsidyAgreements@dese.mo.gov (provider contracts), CCPayments@dese.mo.gov (provider payments), CCBIS@dese.mo.gov (Child Care Business Information System for providers), CCDSTeam@dese.mo.gov (for questions about how to use Child Care Data System), and CCFamilies@dese.mo.gov (for family questions about applications and authorizations)

Quality Programs section

We provide essential support to caregivers and educators, empowering them to deliver high-quality education and care so every child has the best opportunity to succeed. Services include afterschool programs, preschool programs, professional development, child care health consultation and other quality initiatives. The Quality Assurance Report is a system designed to recognize quality in early programs that provides a continuous quality improvement process for programs and provides families with consumer education about the quality of early learning programs.

Section Leader: Stephanie Chandler
Team Leaders: Cindy Heislen, Ashleigh Young, Amy Currence, Emily Sims, Beth Loethen
Phone Number: 573-751-6793
Email: QualityPrograms@dese.mo.gov, Preschool@dese.mo.gov, Afterschool@dese.mo.gov MOPD@dese.mo.gov, CCHCProgram@dese.mo.gov 

Childhood Finance section

We manage the financial transactions related to afterschool programs, child care relief funds, the First Steps Program, and the Safe Cribs for Missouri Program. We also work with professionals and contractors to navigate through any invoice and payment discrepancies.

Section Leader: Sara Mallory
Team Leaders: Himabindu Lanka, Christine Chapman
Phone Number: 573-522-5595
Email: ChildhoodInvoices@dese.mo.gov