MIND with Misty

DESE Office of Childhood Update! Pay On Enrollment Survey!

On July 1, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) announced implementing changes to the child care subsidy program to meet federal requirements to pay subsidy providers prospectively and based on authorized enrollment.

OOC has begun drafting policies for these changes and is seeking your input! Please take a few moments to complete this brief survey and share your feedback by Monday, July 28, at 5:00 p.m.

https://modese.wufoo.com/forms/w1fsjk2a1703xpz/

If you missed the announcement about these exciting changes, you can learn more in the official news release.

Great News! Child care subsidy payments have been approved to be paid on enrollment versus attendance. How is this going to impact your child care business budget?

Send a message to learn more

My organization is participating in Give STL Day again this year. We are competing for the most number of donors - not $$. Please consider donating a minimum of $10 to help our mission while helping me reach my goal of 15 donors!

https://www.givestlday.org/story/Vye9we
Thanks!

I know I haven't posted in forever here - but I am still here to help you.

Today is the opening of Give STL Day early giving.

If I helped you in the past and you loved my service, please donate. The minimum donation is $10.

Help my team win for the most number of donors!

Support Misty OKeefe's Campaign on Give STL Day Help Support My Team!

Come join Child Care Aware of Missouri staff for our annual 2,000 Steps to Make a Difference Walk, on August 26. I would love to see some of you that I have worked with over the past 18 months!

Learn more

Two-Thousand Steps to Make a Difference 4th Annual Walk 2023 Come Walk with Us!

DESE Office of Childhood included this information in their weekly updates - please look for this email if you received this type of funding in the past.

From DESE OOC
Monitoring Letters. OOC staff are actively sending letters to providers who were flagged for possible repayment due to noncompliance with the terms and conditions of a relief funds grant, including startup or expansion grants.
• If you receive a letter from OOC staff requesting more information, or requesting repayment of funds, please respond to this letter immediately.
• Fiscal monitoring activities are included in all terms and conditions for child care relief funds. Providers must participate in any fiscal monitoring where their program was selected for review or verification.
• OOC and its vendor aims to complete fiscal monitoring of all Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) awarded applications by the end of 2023, including Paycheck Protection, Enhancement, and Technical Business Assistance.

Another grant opportunity for early childhood programs in the St. Louis area. Share any others you are aware of!

Gateway Children’s Charity | YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis Application Info Applications will be open June 12, 2023 through July 23, 2023 Preview Application For more information, please contact Sissy Swift. Gateway Children’s Charity The Gateway Children’s Charity grant (GCC) provides grants to early childhood programs that support children living in u...

Afterschool Grant Opportunities
The Office of Childhood’s Afterschool Program has two competitive grants for school age afterschool programs that are now open: the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant and the School Age Community (SAC) grant. For more information and to find the afterschool grants’ application and guidelines, please go to the Afterschool (School Age) Page. Awards are subject to availability of funding. The deadline for both grant applications is 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Questions may be sent to [email protected].

Today is the last day to file for the subsidy grant! It is easy - the state will do much of the work for you!

The enhancement grant that we anticipated getting dropped in May didn't come through. Keep an eye out for June!

Although grant TA is completed again, keep an eye out here to learn more!

The PPP and Rentention grants from DESE Office of Childhood are due 4-30!

Don't miss out on this opportunity.

I have office hours this week multiple times if you have questions.
Register here

Submit Your Grants by April 30th! Submit Your Grants by April 30th!

For those that have participated in Live2Lead during the 2022/2023 session - this song is John C Maxwell's 'Get Over Yourself'

Get Over Myself (feat. Bobby Hamrick) Provided to YouTube by BMG Rights Management (US) LLCGet Over Myself (feat. Bobby Hamrick) · John C. Maxwell · Bobby HamrickGet Over Myself (feat. Bobby Hamr...

Sign up for ta offered through Child Care Aware of Missouri. We will cover several Child Care Relief Funds grant opportunities - Payroll Protection, Retention of Child Care Staff, and Sustain Child Care Subsidy Operations grants. We thank DESE Office of Childhood for providing this opportunity!

Get Help Applying for Child Care Relief Grants! New Round of Paycheck Protection Starting Soon