Join our SWMO
Childhood Leadership Stakeholder Team!
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We meet on the third Friday of each month at 11:00 AM via Zoom to collaborate and exchange resources related to early childhood in Southwest Missouri.
Please reach out to Jennifer Caldwell, SWMO Childhood Community Leader, at jcaldwell@eldok12.org if you are interested in getting involved or joining the email list.
| Watch July's Meeting Recording Below | | | |
Childhood Community Leader Stakeholder Workgroups are forming in Southwest Missouri We are still taking names until groups are formed!
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Join our childhood community leader workgroups by clicking on a colored button and fill out the form. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Jennifer Caldwell at jcaldwell@eldok12.org. | | |
In an effort to streamline early childhood landscapes in our Southwest region, SWMO Childhood Community Leaders are establishing workgroups that will ensure Missouri’s children are safe, healthy and successful learners. We will concentrate on four priority areas 1. Early care and education, 2. Health & Disability Services, 3. Social Service Agencies, 4. Local Organizations.
These groups will explore their relationships to early childhood development, early intervention, childcare, school readiness, and beyond. The workgroups will align with the overarching goals of the state strategic plan for the Office of Childhood and will be guided by a SWMO Childhood Community Leader, along with a Chair and Co-Chair who are experts in the field. The workgroups are set to begin in June 2025. Your insights and expertise are crucial to our workgroup's success. You are welcome to join one or more workgroups based on your interests and expertise.
Stakeholders include, but are not limited to:
Early care and education
- Head Start / Early Head Start
- Early Intervention (SPOEs, providers, MPACT)
- Home visiting programs
- Public school districts (PAT, ECSE, preschool, administrators, counselors, social workers etc.)
- Child care (providers, Regional Child Care Compliance Offices etc.)
- Private preschools
Health and Disability Services
- Medical providers
- Mental health services
- Disability services (Special Health Care Needs, outpatient therapies etc.)
- County health departments (WIC, Child Care Health Consultation etc.)
- State entities (e.g., Department of Health and Senior Services)
Social Service Agencies
- Rotary, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities etc.
- CASA / foster care / adoption
- Organizations serving the homeless and transient folk
- Community Partnerships and Community Action agencies
- Child welfare agencies
- Local Organizations
- Community agencies (libraries, Parks, and Rec etc.)
- Local businesses and chambers of commerce
- Higher education (technical schools, community colleges etc.)
- Regional Parent Advisory Councils and families
Local Organizations
- Community agencies (libraries, Parks, and Rec etc.)
- Local businesses and chambers of commerce
- Higher education (technical schools, community colleges etc.)
- Regional Parent Advisory Councils and families
| | News & Resources for Families | | Missouri's Parent Education Program | | Video: The benefits of participating in Missouri's Parent Education Program, a parent perspective. |
Enrollment Information
Contact your local school district for questions regarding services and enrollment information. Follow this link and enter your home address to find your school district’s contact information.
Eligibility Information
Families, pregnant teens or primary caregivers who are expecting a child or have a child under the age of kindergarten entry are eligible to participate in Missouri's Parent Education Program. This program promotes early learning, knowledge and understanding of child development, and partnerships with community resources. These opportunities assist families with a smooth transition into preschool and kindergarten, which support school readiness.
Families can participate in regularly scheduled family personal visits, group connections, and developmental screenings for their child(ren).
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Available Services
- Family personal visits are provided by a trained parent educator who will partner with the family to support and promote the child’s development through individualized activities that will prepare the child for future success in school and life.
- Developmental screenings provide information on the individual growth and development of the child as well as health, hearing, vision and dental checks. Annual developmental screenings can support continued growth and identify potential delays or concerns.
- Group connections allow for parent-child interactions, increase knowledge of ways to support child development and provide an opportunity to practice parenting skills in a group setting.
- Resource networks provide families with connections to information and services available in the community to support them.
| | | 2025 First Steps Family Survey Results | | | |
2025 First Steps Family Survey Results
Each year, the OOC-Early Intervention section distributes a survey to families involved in the Missouri First Steps program. The data collected from this survey are utilized for federal reporting and to enhance program activities.
Statewide results from the 2025 survey are now available online.
| | | StrengtheningMOFamilies Animated Video Series | | |
Strengthening MO Families: An Educational Initiative
Strengthening MO Families is an engaging animated public education series provided by the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Its purpose is to assist families in Missouri in grasping essential concepts such as:
- Resilience
- Caregiver-child connection
- Social-emotional learning, and MORE!
StrengtheningMOFamilies Flyers
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| Track your Child's Development | | |
ParentLink provides evidence-based support and information to Missouri families, parents, and caregivers to help them grow, thrive, and develop an effective action plan to meet their family’s needs.
ParentLink is for all Missouri families, providing free assistance for the entire family from highly qualified professionals.
ParentLink’s mission is to bolster healthy families, thriving children, and responsive developmental environments. They help you connect to the supports and resources you need to succeed and thrive as a family. Click here to see which ParentLink service is right for you!
Your ParentLink® professional will offer expert problem-solving support, helpful research-based information, and get you connected to the services or supports that are right for you. They will even follow up to make sure that your needs were met, and continue to work with you until you get what you need.
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First Steps Brochures
First Steps makes copies of their general informing brochures (English Brochure and Spanish Brochure)available for distribution on request! These informative brochures are designed to help families with children who may be eligible for early intervention services. The First Steps program provides essential support to children from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities.
These brochures can help raise awareness and ensure that families have access to the resources they need to support their child's growth and development. We encourage child care providers, early learning programs, health care providers, and other primary referral sources to help spread the word about the importance of early intervention.
To obtain copies of the First Steps brochure, please email EarlyIntervention@dese.mo.gov.
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Department of Mental Health Children's Office
Parents’ Point of View (PPOV) Series
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The Department of Mental Health, Children’s Office, presents Parents’ Point of View (PPOV) Series.
The Department of Mental Health, Children’s Office, presents the Parents’ Point of View (PPOV) Series. Have you ever wondered what parents would like you to know? In this engaging series, we sit down with parents to ask their insights on raising children with developmental disabilities. Candid short interviews with JJ Gossaru, LCSW, Director of Young Adult Services. Highlight parents sharing their experiences on topics such as what they wished they would’ve known earlier, life through their children’s lens, words of wisdom to newer parents, and advice for healthcare professionals, school personnel, family members, and friends. Check it out! We think you will enjoy listening to PPOV.
| | | Southwest MO Transportation Services | | |
C.A.R.S. (Community Action Ride System)
Free Transportation Services to Residents in Barton, Jasper, Newton, & McDonald counties
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New Growth Transit
The New Growth Transit service area includes the nine-county West Central Missouri Community Action Agency region in west central Missouri (Bates, Benton, Cass, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Morgan, St. Clair, and Vernon). Barton, Camden, Dallas, Jasper, and Polk counties recently became NGT affiliates, and a related program is operated by Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation in Jefferson and Franklin Counties in east central Missouri. Plans for expansion to other parts of the state are currently under consideration.
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EZMO Transportation
operated by Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation
- This is a totally FREE service for qualifying residents of Jefferson and Franklin County
- Service Area is Jefferson and Franklin County, MO with exceptions of rides to medical appointments
- Healthcare Appointments
- Specialty Services
- Grocery Store Visits
- Community Resource Visits
- Education / Employment Opportunities
Call 877-RID-EZMO (877-743-3966) and schedule your ride 48 hours before the date needed. So easy!
| | News & Resources for Professionals | | Bilingual Book Collection Available for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri | | |
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Starting June 2025
The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is expanding its bilingual book collection to Missouri starting June 2025. The Bilingual English/Spanish book collection offers all (100%) bilingual English/Spanish books whereas the English book collection offers mostly English books with an occasional bilingual English/Spanish book.
Existing families will receive an email allowing them to switch to the new Bilingual English/Spanish book collection if they choose. They can do so by logging in to the Parent Information Center and selecting the Bilingual English/Spanish option in the “Book Language” menu. Alternately, they can email ImaginationLibrary@dese.mo.gov to request the change.
New families will be able to select the “Book Language” they prefer when enrolling.
Learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri by visiting the Imagination Library webpage.
| | | Office of Childhood Stakeholder Engagement meeting | | |
The Office of Childhood virtual Stakeholder Engagement meeting to share updates, answer questions, and strengthen collaboration.
The Office of Childhood Stakeholder Engagement virtual meeting was held on August 6, 2025. For those that were unable to attend live, a copy of the PowerPoint slides
and a link to the recorded webinar are now available. Reminder do not view in Internet Explorer. Use a different browser like Chrome or Safari.
| | Center for Child Well-Being (CCWB) TRAININGS | | |
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The Center for Child Well-Being (CCWB)
About the Center
The Center for Child Well-Being is dedicated to supporting parents, professionals, and community organizations in fostering the mental health and well-being of children.
They are an interdisciplinary team that addresses a wide range of child health issues with a comprehensive, compassionate approach, and they have a presence in every Missouri county.
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The Baby Brain Map
Ready to help you nurture little neurons for big futures
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Rapid Growth in Early Years
During the ages of 0 to 3, the brain develops more rapidly than at any other stage in life.
Introducing the Baby Brain Map
The Baby Brain Map is a tool endorsed by developmental scientists that transforms early brain science into actionable strategies, empowering you to provide care with confidence.
The Importance of Early Knowledge
Effective care begins with an understanding of the evolving brain. The Baby Brain Map simplifies the exploration of how early experiences influence development and provides straightforward, practical methods to promote healthy growth and emotional well-being.
An Interactive Resource
Designed for early childhood professionals, caregivers, and advocates, this interactive tool offers practical strategies to maximize the impact of these crucial early years.
Key Benefits of Understanding Early Brain Development:
- Foster Emotional Well-Being: Cultivate resilience in children.
- Create Supportive Environments: Establish settings that encourage healthy neurological development.
- Advocate Effectively: Push for policies that prioritize infant brain science and early childhood initiatives.
Empowering Change with the Baby Brain Map
The Baby Brain Map equips you to make a significant difference during this vital phase of infant brain development.
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Applications of the Baby Brain Map:
- Parent Education: Share this tool with families to clarify the stages of baby brain development and empower them to nurture their child's growth.
- Professional Development: Educate staff and higher education students about the significance of early experiences in shaping infant brain development.
- Program Planning: Design activities and interventions that correspond with the unique stages of brain development in early childhood.
- Advocacy: Use it to promote the importance of supporting families and children during this critical period of neurological growth.
- Family Support: For social workers, therapists, and health professionals, the Baby Brain Map serves as a practical resource for engaging families in conversations about their child's development.
| | | Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division Monthly Stakeholder Webinars | | Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) | | |
Positive childhood experiences, also known as PCEs, are protective experiences that help heal the brain from trauma and promote healthy mental health in adulthood. Promote PCEs in education
The HOPE for Educators Toolkit is for teachers, school staff, school counselors, and anyone who works in K-12. This toolkit was created in partnership with HOPE Facilitators and HOPE Champions working in the education sector, and a student intern from Tufts Medical School, and reviewed by our Family and Community Experts of HOPE (FACEs) subcommittee. Learn how to incorporate positive childhood experiences (PCEs) into your work with students and families by bringing HOPE to your schools, classrooms, and district.
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Show-Me ECHO Professional Development Opportunity
| | | | Show-Me ECHO is a no-cost continuing education program available to Missouri educators and school staff members. This upcoming virtual ECHO will help attendees find solutions to address vaping, tobacco and nicotine use challenges for their students. Learn more about ECHO and see upcoming opportunities on the Show-Me ECHO webpage here. | | | Show Me Child Care Resources | | |
Show Me Child Care Resources can assist your child care center's individual needs. Learn how to easily tailor essential documents to fit your child care center’s unique needs. From enrollment forms to staff handbooks, they’ll show you how to save time and stay compliant while ensuring your policies reflect your center’s values and practices. Whether you're starting fresh or updating your current documents, they provide you with the tools you need for success.
To learn more about the resources on Show Me Child Care Resources, join them for their Explore & Discover Webinars. Check out the dates below.
Upcoming Webinars:
- Thursday, August 28th at 1:30pm-2:30pm / Reducing Risk: Strategies for Safer Child Care Programs
Contact theteam@showmeresource.org to learn more or if you have questions.
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In-Person Networking Opportunity
Optimizing Benefits for Maternal and Infant Health
| | Missouri Childhood Resource and Referral (MCRR) | |
Missouri Childhood Resource and Referral Center
Effective May 1, 2025, Child Care Aware of Missouri (CCAMO) will provide statewide Missouri Childhood Resource and Referral (MCRR) services. The MCRR Center will utilize CCAMO staff, a contracted call center partner, and regional partners across the state who have boots on the ground.
The MCRR Center and its partners will:
- Deliver high-quality customer service to families and others so they experience prompt, courteous, and helpful assistance.
- Help families know where to find the online application for child care subsidy assistance and how to complete the subsidy application.
- Provide regional outreach across Missouri to better assist families face-to-face in completing their subsidy application.
- Refer child care providers to the DESE for the support they need.
- Guide families with finding child care in their requested zip code(s), help families find openings at child care programs, and upon request, provide families quality indicator information on child care programs.
- Assist families, child care providers, and others locate community resources via the Missouri Family Resources site.
- Inform DESE of any barriers to accessing subsidy assistance or referrals for child care.
- Regularly review phone calls to ensure consistency in messages and evaluate customer service for improvement.
The MCRR Center and its partners are not responsible for:
- Processing family applications for subsidy or child care provider subsidy applications and contracts.
- Determining subsidy eligibility.
- Issuing or confirming subsidy payments and resolutions.
- Reconciling incorrect subsidy payments, overpayments, or underpayments.
Phone calls and emails for child care subsidy-contracted providers will be referred directly to the Office of Childhood. Providers can contact 573-526-3011 or CCSubsidyAgreements@dese.mo.gov for questions about subsidy provider applications or contracts. Providers can contact 573-522-1385 or CCPayments@dese.mo.gov for questions about subsidy provider payments.
| | | | Developmental Screening Resources | | |
Developmental Screening versus Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA)
A Developmental Screening is a formal process using a tool to see if a child is meeting developmental milestones. It is completed by a healthcare provider, parent educator, or early childhood professional in collaboration with parents/legal guardians. Developmental screenings provide an opportunity for parents to understand their child’s development and learning which can significantly reduce the possibility that the child will have an undetected developmental delay.
A Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) is an assessment tool that serves as an indicator of a child’s skills and behaviors that can set a baseline of school readiness. Teachers and education professionals administer a KEA within the first few weeks of kindergarten. Using this data can help inform teachers and leaders of the number of children who are ready for school overall, as well as support instruction by meeting students where they are when they enter kindergarten.
DESE is again offering free training for LEAs that choose to use the Kindergarten Observation Form (KOF) for their Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA).
-Please visit the Kindergarten Entry Assessment webpage for more information.
-Learn more about the training in the Administrative Memo sent to all LEAs on March 10,2025.
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| Missouri Family Resources (MFR) | |
| Have you checked Missouri Family Resources to make sure your agency is listed, and accurate? | | | | Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri | | |
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri is available in every zip code in Missouri. Children birth to age 5 years can be registered by their parent or guardian to receive one free book per month.
There is no cost to families and there is no limit on how many children in Missouri can sign up.
Parents can register their children at Check Availability at the Imagination Library webpage.
| | | Share this postcard below by clicking on it, printing it out, and distributing it to all families with children from birth to age five. | | Parent Advisory Councils (PACS) | |
MISSOURI EARLY CHILDHOOD
RESOURCE WEBSITES FOR PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS
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For more
Southwest Missouri local events & resources
PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!
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