HB 2046 -- Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network

Sponsor:  Dougherty

This bill establishes the Missouri Child Care Resource and
Referral Network in the Department of Health.  It will provide
the following services:

(1)  Identification of existing child care and early childhood
education services and development of a resource file of such
services;

(2)  Establishment of a referral process that responds to
parental need for information and confidentiality;

(3)  Maintenance of ongoing documentation of requests for
services tabulated through the internal referral process;

(4)  Provision of technical assistance to parents and existing
and potential providers of child care services;

(5)  Assistance to families in applying for various sources of
subsidy, including but not limited to subsidized child care,
head start, prekindergarten early intervention programs, private
scholarships, and federal dependent care tax credits;

(6)  Assistance to state agencies in determining the market rate
for child care and identifying any unmet need for child care
services; and

(7)  Information and assistance to local interagency councils
coordinating services for children with special needs.