COLUMBIA — The Child Development Lab at the University of Missouri's College of Education and Human Development announced the launch of "Recruit, Inspire, Support the Early Childhood Profession in Missouri (RISE-MO)" on Thursday.

Aileen Garcia, an assistant professor within the Human Development and Family Science department, said this was over two years in the making.

"In 2023, a group of HDFS faculty led by Dr. (Brenda) Lohman and I wrote a proposal to strengthen and expand the child care work force in the state," Garcia said. "We know that child care and child care workers are a critical part of the workforce."

RISE-MO's website says it wants to build a strong, skilled early childhood workforce, ensuring every child in Missouri has access to high-quality care and learning experiences

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