Missouri has four basic types of child care:

Mandatory licensed • Enrolls five or more children unrelated to the caregiver and/or an unlimited number of children related to caregivers; inspected and regulated under set state standards.

Unlicensed • Homes or centers enrolling four or fewer children related to the caregiver and/or an unlimited number of children related to the caregiver.

License-exempt • Typically faith-based facilities in churches or schools; must register with the state but exempt from child care licensing inspections or standards.

Illegal • Home day cares operating without a required license and enrolling five or more children unrelated to the caregiver.

 

• Only licensed settings, which represent 40 percent of child care in the state, are regulated by the Department of Health and Senior Services: www.dhss.mo.gov/childcare or 573-751-2450.

• Parents may visit regional Child Care Regulation offices to see whether licensed providers have been cited for safety violations. They also may check to see whether unlicensed providers have been previously cited for operating illegally. The state plans to post all new inspection and substantiated complaint reports on licensed facilities on an online searchable database by the end of the year.

• Two free child care referral agencies assist families in the St. Louis region in finding licensed child care: St. Louis-based Child Day Care Association, 314-531-1412, www.childcarestl.org, and Child Care Aware of Missouri, 1-866-892-3228, www.mo.childcareaware.org, which operates a statewide referral service out of Jefferson City.

 

The agencies recommend that parents visit the day care and determine whether the provider:

• Is warm and patient.

• Has experience with children.

• Has a current state license.

• Keeps a proper adult-to-child ratio.

• Provides a daily routine with play, stories, meals and rest.

• Offers age-appropriate toys, books and creative supplies.

• Encourages family involvement.

• Agrees to and follows safe sleep practices.