Early Childhood

Welcome to the Early Childhood Hub, a dedicated space curated by our team at MU Extension. As advocates for comprehensive early childhood development, the heart of our mission is a commitment to empowering and supporting adults who shape the early years of a child's life, which includes families, teachers and child care providers. Through this platform, we strive to equip you with valuable information and resources that can help foster children’s optimal growth and development. Join us on this journey as we collaborate to create a nurturing environment for our youngest learners.

Missouri is in a child care crisis – MU Extension has programs to help

MU Extension and several partners are working with providers to expand and improve quality child care options statewide. Learn more from this flyer and this news release, and check back here for more information and resources.

Find the complete list and descriptions of the child care provider clock hour trainings that we provide on our provider trainings page and check our Events listing to register for current sessions.

 

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Missouri Supporting Early Childhood Administrators (MO-SECA)
MO-SECA provides early childhood administrators across the state with personalized coaching, professional development and resources they need to operate sustainable, quality programs.
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Missouri Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
SBDC provides counseling and training to small businesses, including child care start-ups and the expansion of existing child care centers.

Resources

Solving Missouri's Child Care Puzzle

A new business-oriented approach to addressing Missouri’s chronic child care crisis is the focus of a report just published by west central Missouri’s New Growth Women’s Business Center with University of Missouri Extension. The report’s findings contribute to local and state efforts to address the significant economic, community, and family challenges that now exist for Missouri with too few early child care and education options.

Missouri Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

Missouri SBDC provides counseling and training to small businesses, including child care start-ups and existing child care centers that are ready to expand.

Missouri Supporting Early Childhood Administrators (MO-SECA)

MO-SECA provides personalized coaching, professional development training and free resources to early childhood administrators across the state so they can effectively lead and operate sustainable, quality programs.

Free educational resources

"The Best of the Best List of Amazing Educational Resources Available for Free" curated by Shea Kerkhoff, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis (Google doc spreadsheet)

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