Missouri Child Care Crisis

In this week's episode, Editor Gary Castor chats with Shauna Kerperin from the Missouri Parent Teacher Association and Paula Benne from the Jefferson City Area Chamber's Child Care Action Team.

They discuss the critical need for accessible and quality child care in Jefferson City and Cole County, Missouri. They emphasize that this shortage is exacerbated by workforce challenges in attracting and retaining child care staff. The conversation explores potential solutions such as business partnerships, legislative initiatives like the tri-share model, and community collaborations to support child care centers, families, and the local economy.