By RYAN SKATIH
Missouri Western State University, the Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph (CAP St. Joe), and the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning at Wilson Hall to celebrate the expansion of the campus-based Head Start facility.
The expansion, funded by more than $630,000 in grants, introduces two new Early Head Start classrooms for children ages birth to 3, an upgraded food service area, and an enhanced outdoor learning environment. President of Missouri Western State University, Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, says, "There is kind of a child care desert in St. Joe, so this is expansion is beneficial to the community."
Since moving to the MoWest campus in 2023, the program has served as a dual-purpose hub for regional family support and collegiate training.
- Applied Learning: Students in MoWest’s nursing, education, social work, and psychology programs gain hands-on experience by working directly within the classrooms.
- Comprehensive Care: Beyond early childhood education, the program provides prenatal support for expecting mothers and health and nutrition services for families.
"This program represents the best of what MoWest strives to do," said Kennedy. "We are supporting young children and families in our region while creating real-world learning opportunities for our future professionals."
The February expansion was designed to meet a growing demand for early childhood services in the St. Joseph area. According to Kayla Marmaud of CAP St. Joe, the new facilities strengthen the infrastructure for the region's youngest residents.
"This ribbon cutting celebrates the growth of the program since coming to campus," Marmaud said. "With expanded classrooms and new improvements, we’re continuing to strengthen services for local children and families."
Families interested in Head Start or Early Head Start services can call CAP St. Joe at 816-233-8281.
