Community-driven pilot program seeks solution to child care scarcity, affordability crisis

By: Steph Quinn

Outlets: Missouri Independent

Published: March 2, 2026

Words: 1,404

Last Updated: 1 week, 2 days ago

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For Scarlett Loomas of Sikeston, the logistics of obtaining day care for her children were half the battle.

She would drive southeast for 30 minutes each morning to East Prairie in Mississippi County to drop her kids off at child care. Then she would drive another 40 minutes farther south to work in Portageville in New Madrid County.

At the end of the day, her parents would pick the kids up and take them to …

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