A Day Without Child Care- Understanding Collective Early Child Care Work in Your Community

A Day Without Child Care: 

This national awareness campaign is observed on May 11, 2026 to help the community understand the importance of child care in keeping our communities thriving. Child care is the workforce of the workforce. If we want to keep the economy thriving, we must ensure that the community has a thriving child care system. MU Extension will feature 3 opportunities to learn more about how child care supports Missouri's economy and how individuals can take action in their communities. 

Description: 

From the Community Leaders groups to the Child Care Collaborative Networks to the Kids Win Missouri coalitions to the Missouri Community Action Networks, Missouri’s early child care landscape is filled with existing coalitions. Learn how to get involved in collective work already happening in your region or how to start some collective work in your community.  At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the community change process and the importance of the assessment phase. 
• Recognize the role of key stakeholders in the early childhood ecosystem. 
• Identify key early childhood stakeholders in their community. 

This class is interactive and involves participating in small and large group discussions.

Audience: 

This class is open to anyone, but is highly recommended for Economic Developers, Business Leaders, Child Care Directors, Child Care Educators, Community Advocates and Employers. Multi-sector groups promote richer conversations.

Clock Hours: 

Earn 1.5 MOPD Clock Hours

Fee: 

Free

This program is not funded by a grant. It is in alignment with the "Day Without Child Care" national campaign.