Missouri
The National Law Enforcement Foundation, together with the St. Louis County Police Association and the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) will provide accessible, customized childcare options for St. Louis County Police.
Donate Today!St. Louis County Police Childcare Initiative: A Major Step Forward
In early 2023, at the invitation of Colonel Gregory, the St. Louis County Police Association, and the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the National Law Enforcement Foundation (NLEF) assembled a coalition of law enforcement, elected officials, and private and corporate philanthropy to tackle St. Louis County’s recruiting and retention crisis.St. Louis County Police have been operating over 100 officers short, with surveys showing that more than half of current officers would participate in a childcare program and stay with the agency longer if quality early childhood education were available.
The Missouri FOP played a critical role in advocating for direct relief for officers, and NLEF provided the data and planning needed for the FOP to educate state leaders on the urgent need for customized childcare solutions for law enforcement families.
By March 2023, the Missouri House Committee on Appropriations recommended a budget appropriation for a pilot childcare program to test and measure its impact on recruitment and retention. NLEF educated the coalition on law enforcement childcare challenges nationwide and highlighted successful models in other states.
A pivotal moment for the St. Louis County Police Department came in February 2024, when NLEF announced a partnership with the Michael and Noémi Neidorff Family Foundation, securing matching funds to break ground on the St. Louis County Childcare Center. This critical investment inspired an additional $1.5 million in private philanthropic support, bringing the total private investment to over $3 million.
With funding secured, construction officially began in December 2024.
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As construction progressed, enrollment opened in January 2025, and the center director and key staff members were hired to ensure a strong operational foundation ahead of the center’s launch.
By May 2025, construction of the St. Louis County Childcare Center will be complete, providing a state-of-the-art facility designed exclusively to support law enforcement families.In June 2025, the center will be fully operational, marking a historic achievement for St. Louis County law enforcement. This project is a first-of-its-kind solution in Missouri, setting a model for childcare as a critical workforce benefit for officers nationwide.
A New Era for St. Louis County Law Enforcement
This initiative demonstrates how public and private partnerships can deliver real, tangible solutions to address law enforcement recruitment and retention. NLEF’s leadership in bringing together philanthropy, elected officials, and law enforcement advocates has ensured that St. Louis County’s officers and their families receive the support they need—not years from now, but today.
This childcare model is proof that when communities invest in officers, officers stay to serve their communities. St. Louis County is leading the way, and NLEF is proud to help make it happen.
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