Naomi Hess, owner of Play N’ Learn Daycare in Moberly, Missouri, has been working without a personal paycheck for months due to delayed payments from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). After transitioning to a new data system in December, DESE has been facing challenges with accurately and timely processing payments for childcare providers like Hess. She estimates the state owes her between $8,000-$9,000 and has had to limit the number of children she can enroll as a result.
Hess, who opened her daycare in September, wants to continue helping families in her community but may have to stop taking children on state assistance if the payment issues persist. Other childcare providers have closed their doors due to the lack of payments, prompting organizations like Kids Win Missouri to provide relief to those affected.
DESE has assured that all payment issues will be resolved by the end of the month, attributing the delays to technical issues in the new Child Care Data System (CCDS). While Hess has been able to pay her bills, she is unable to take home a personal paycheck and expand her daycare as planned. She hopes that the state will face repercussions for the delayed payments.
Despite the financial challenges, Hess remains committed to her dream of running a successful daycare, but the ongoing payment delays threaten to hinder her ability to continue providing quality care to children in Moberly.
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