Possible effects on child care due to lost ARPA DESI funds

By Kirsten Stokes

Over the last few years early childhood education has been able to use Covid dollars provided by ARPA funds through DESI used specifically on childcare. for stabilization and sustain. in this follow up we spoke with Ashley Phillips the early childhood program director for community action partnership.

“As Missouri in general, childcare is an issue for parents, people trying to go back to work on waiting lists for a long time. and so those funds coming to our communities really help stabilize, not just the head start program, but specifically childcare in our community.

This meant additional funds for children on subsidy and the ability to buy enhancement items like new air conditioning and replaced playgrounds and fences, things that are typically more expensive.

“So, a lot of the facilities around our community a lot of times will kind of go without those enhancements because they don’t want to pass the costs on the parents that we know it’s really hard for them to afford. so, as those dollars, we’re into the where we have hit the end of the

At the end of the spend on September 30 Phillips said that a lot of those enhancements will not be seen and or not completed. in addition, workforce stabilization is something a lot of providers are talking about. and those funds provided gave a onetime incentive to providers in the field.

“it’ll, it’ll create a situation where providers weren’t, you know, supplementing wages and keeping staff on board with that. and so, i do think that there will be some hurt from not having those funds, but providers. and i really have really been trying to make sure that those funds were utilized for short term projects or items and less long-term stabilization, if that makes sense.

while this provided an opportunity for committee providers to level the playing field and compete with wages without increasing the rate of parents. Not all opted for this method as this would not sustain long-term sustainability for early education.

“it’s not always about dollars. It’s about me understanding, the importance of understanding, the professionalism that goes into the field. right and so, the value of it and all of that comes with the same.

Phillips hopes that the community and advocacy programs like northwest providers and kids win Missouri can continue to advocate at legislative levels as she believes kids are the future and deserve every opportunity to succeed.