Kids Win Missouri

Policy Development: KWM works with organizations across Missouri to identify policies or changes to existing policies that will improve the well-being of Missouri children. Issue-specific workgroups convene to help develop policy on topics, which include early childhood, health and mental health, economic security and revenue, youth education and development and safety, security, family and community. The workgroups focused on 13 policy issues in 2024. The organization also develops research and analyses on various topics and researches current and proposed policies impacting children and families. In 2024, the organization's research and analyses included child care, pre-K, home visiting, maternal health, youth homelessness, and access to health care for children and families.

Early Childhood Fellowships: Kids Win Missouri continued its early childhood fellowship for parents and child care and early education providers in 2024. The fellowship provides training and experiential learning in policy, advocacy, and leadership. Fifteen parents and twelve providers participated in the fellowship ending in June of 2024. A combined 27 parent and provider fellows began the fellowship as Cohort 3 in June 2024.

Empowering Communities to Address Child Care and Early Education Challenges: Kids Win Missouri continued work to support communities in researching and addressing their child care and early education challenges. In 2024, twelve communities engaged in this initiative. Additionally, Kids Win Missouri supported an additional five communities to prepare them to take part in the initiative in 2025. Kids Win Missouri supports the communities with technical assistance, stipends to parents and providers on the leadership team, facilitation, and research resources.