Child Care Start-Up & Expansion Requirements

• Child care providers must reside in Missouri and operate their child care program in Missouri.
• Provide a program that is considered full-day and full-year that supports working families.
• Must make facility or grounds/playground changes in order to comply with license standards, accreditation standards, city codes, fire codes or purchase required equipment to comply with licensing.
• Must maintain current licensure or become a licensed facility within one year from receipt of the grant.
• Must submit paperwork to OPEN for participation in Missouri’s Professional Achievement Recognitions System (PARS) before funds from this grant will be dispersed.
• Child care center directors, lead teachers, and family home director/owner must obtain an education level of 2 or above on Missouri’s Career Lattice for Early Childhood through the PARS system within 2 years of being awarded funding.
• Provide St. Joseph Youth Alliance with a copy of your licensing certificate.
• Must apply to and enroll in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) with the Department of Health and Senior Services.
• Must pursue accreditation by an early childhood accrediting model recognized by DSS. By the end of the third year of this grant award you must be engaged in the self-study process for accreditation.
• Must utilize an approved infant/toddler curricula/philosophy.
• Must participate in the completion of an Environmental Rating Scale once licensed.
• Agree to serve a minimum of one or 10% (whichever is greater) DSS subsidized children ages birth-3 years.
• Provide paid receipts for reimbursement of all expenditures not paid directly to vendor by grant administrator (direct pay preferred).
• Must repay grant monies received if you do not remain in the child-care business for one year after receipt of grant funds.