Community Support Services of Missouri Early Learning Center

05/08/2026

We have so much to celebrate this week at the Early Learning Center! We want to say a huge thank you to our incredible teachers and childcare providers for their energy, compassion and care they bring to our classrooms each day.

04/23/2026

Imagine a career where "going to work" means changing a child’s life, every single day.

We are looking for passionate souls to join our team as Child Development Teachers and Teacher Assistants. This is more than a job; it’s an opportunity to nurture young minds, celebrate every milestone, and help children of all abilities reach their full potential.

At Community Support Services of Missouri, we believe that early education is the key to a brighter, more inclusive future. If you have a heart for service and a mission to empower the next generation, we want to meet you!

✨ Join our mission today:
🔗 https://www.cssmo.org/direct-support-professionals

02/04/2026

Governor Kehoe’s proposed State Budget includes cuts to developmental disability services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But this proposal is only the first step in the budget process.

What happens next depends on what legislators hear from their constituents. Take a moment and contact your legislator through this link and let them know, no cuts to DD Services!

https://www.votervoice.net/Starling/Campaigns/133229/Respond

01/28/2026

Community Support Services of Missouri is proud to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March with a special performance by magician and autistic self-advocate Cody Clark!

In his all-ages show, A Different Way of Thinking, Cody blends magic, comedy, and storytelling to share his journey of living with autism, from diagnosis to college graduation, showing how different ways of thinking make our world stronger.

💬 Stick around after the show for a live Q&A with Cody!

📅 Friday, March 27, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Joplin South Middle School Auditorium

🎟 Tickets: $5 per person
Children 5 & under are FREE

👉 Get your tickets today: www.givebutter.com/CSSCody

This family-friendly event is open to the entire community. Join us for an evening celebrating inclusion, understanding, and the power of seeing the world a little differently.

01/25/2026

The Early Learning Center will be opened tomorrow, Monday, January 26th. We will have a delayed start time of 8:30 AM and transportation will not run. If your family plans to join us at the ELC, please let us know through Procare message!

12/19/2025

First Steps of Southwest Missouri is collecting items for local families at area shelters. We’re looking for hygiene products, stuffed animals, blankets, and basic essentials for children and their caregivers.

If you are interested in helping provide items for these bags, check out our Amazon Wishlist here:

🔗 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3CH2DVCZ8TBKM?type=wishlist

Thank you for supporting our mission and our neighbors!

12/15/2025

Thank you, Joplin Roadrunners, for supporting our students and families!

Thank you to the Joplin Roadrunners for donating the proceeds from their October Pumpkin Run event to the Community Support Services of Missouri Early Learning Center scholarship fund! We are so grateful for your continued support of our early childhood program.

A special thank you to Blue Buffalo as well for supporting this event year after year!

10/29/2025

Our partners at One Joplin have put together a list of some resources.

Due to the federal government shutdown, the Missouri Department of Social Services has communicated it will not receive the necessary federal funding to issue

10/27/2025

Thank you to all of the runners who braved the rain at yesterday's Joplin Roadrunners 42nd Annual Pumpkin Run in support of our Community Support Services of Missouri Early Learning Center! A special thank you to the Joplin RoadRunners, Blue Buffalo and our CSS staff who volunteered to help make the event possible!

10/07/2025

Less than 3 weeks until the Joplin Roadrunners 42nd Annual Pumpkin Run presented by Blue Buffalo, happening on Sunday, October 26! This year's event will feature four race options - 1-Mile, 2-Mile, 8K and 10-Mile! Register now: https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/Carthage/JRRPumpkinRun

Proceeds from this race generously benefit our CSS Early Learning Center Scholarship Fund.