JEFFERSON CITY – Kids Win Missouri, a children’s policy and advocacy coalition, released a report detailing challenges childcare providers face from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Childcare providers have been hit by the pandemic in a very unique way,” Kids Win Missouri Executive Director Brian Schmidt said. “The childcare system has always operated on razor-thin margins and we are now asking them to serve on the front lines, care for the children of essential workers, completely overhaul their operations to accommodate new requirements and to do so while losing income.” Child Care Aware of Missouri recorded data last year from more than 3,300 childcare centers statewide. Respondents stated 47% had closed their doors since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Kids Win Missouri hosted virtual sessions using Zoom and met with and surveyed more than 100 childcare providers from throughout the state. They hosted regional sessions for Kan...