Kansas City Child Care Providers Struggle with Delays in Subsidy Payments

Kansas City Families Face Challenges Due to Child Care Subsidy Delays

In the heart of Kansas City, the early mornings are typically filled with the laughter and chatter of children at Bare Essentials Child Care located on Linwood Boulevard. Normally bustling with energy, the center can accommodate up to 100 kids. However, on a recent Wednesday, only 15 little ones were present, leading to a tough situation for Executive Director LaTonya Fisher. With fewer children, she found herself having to send staff home early, simply because there weren’t enough kids to keep the doors open effectively.

“It’s been really tough,” Fisher shared. “We’re stuck in this big backlog because it’s taking two or three months to get people approved in the system for child care.” This situation isn’t isolated to Fisher’s center; it’s a broader issue affecting child care providers across Missouri.

The Subsidy Situation

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) offers child care subsidies to families who qualify based on income and specific needs. Almost 30,000 children across the state are eligible for these important financial aids. Once families apply and are approved, payments are supposed to flow directly to child care centers. However, providers have reported a series of challenges, including late, partial, and sometimes entirely missing payments, particularly following the rollout of a new online portal in December 2023.

“The new portal has been a headache,” noted another local day care owner, who chose to remain anonymous to avoid backlash. “You look at the portal, and it’s like staring into a black hole. There’s nothing there. We’re just waiting around, trying to hope for the best, but it’s not sustainable!”

Acknowledging the Backlog

In response to a flood of inquiries about the delays, DESE spokesperson Mallory McGowin acknowledged the issues stemming from a backlog caused by “system issues” and a lack of adequate staffing during the transition to the new portal. “Payments to child care providers have started again since mid-January,” she clarified, though many recipients might receive only partial payments if a problem arises in the system.

The ripple effects of these subsidy delays are severely impacting low-income parents. Many are now scrambling to find alternative childcare solutions, often putting their jobs at risk. Providers are worried about the educational opportunities and well-being of the children left in uncertain situations. For Fisher, the consequences are palpable. “Kids who are forced to leave my care due to these delays are missing out on nutritious meals and learning opportunities,” she lamented. “Plus, parents are struggling with rising grocery costs; it’s a situation that no one wants to be in.”

What Can Parents Do?

Amidst the chaos, parents can take steps to keep their subsidy applications on track. First and foremost, it’s essential to ensure that applications are filled out correctly. Families need to make sure they meet eligibility criteria, including income limits and age requirements. If parents have received subsidies in the past, they must link their accounts in DESE’s new system.

Once approved for a subsidy, parents need to select their child care provider in the online portal. But there’s a catch; both children and providers must reapply annually, which makes keeping track even more complicated, especially as funding from previous COVID-19 relief measures is set to expire at the end of September.

Facing the Music

As the new school year has started, many providers find themselves in tough spots. Despite turning away families due to funding uncertainty, Fisher says she’s caring for some children for free just to keep them safe and fed. “The system is so tangled. My caseworker warned that if kids aren’t in my portal, they’re not authorized for care. And that leaves me in a real bind,” Fisher explained.

Meanwhile, the home day care owner admitted that while her situation isn’t as dire as larger centers, she still faces challenges. “I’ve had to say no to moms who desperately need care, just because I can’t afford to take a chance on when or if the state will come through with payment,” she explained. “It’s a bad situation for everybody, one that nobody expected—or wants.”

If your family has been affected by these delays or other social services issues in Missouri or Kansas, sharing your experiences with others can help shine a light on the problem. Together, we can hope for a quicker resolution for those needing reliable child care services.