Providers need licensing support

To the editor:

Gov. Matt Blunt has recently declared even more budget cuts that are going to affect every child enrolled in a licensed child-care setting in Missouri. Child-care facilities currently receive two inspection visits a year. After the cuts, they will receive one visit a year.

Child-care facilities desperately need the support of their licensing representative to ensure the health and safety of the children enrolled. Licensing representatives are very busy with heavy caseloads. How will they be able to manage more sites after the cutbacks? It is too much to ask of them, and something needs to be done. They currently oversee all licensing requirements for the providers.

The first five years of a child's life are the most important years. Our state has worked vigorously to support that outcome. It is the responsibility of the provider to provide a high-quality environment to help obtain the highest outcome developmentally. Child-care providers need the support of their licensing representative to ensure that this will happen.

Our children are going to suffer because of Blunt's decisions. It is our responsibility as citizens of Missouri to ensure our children do not suffer.

HEATHER M. FISHER, Jackson