Early Childhood Focus

Oklahoma Child Care Co-pays Not Increasing

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:11:27 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Examiner.com
By Tracy Hinton
Good news for parents relying on two Oklahoma Department of Human Services programs: cuts and co-payment increases to them have been delayed.

Okla. Panel Delays Vote on Child Care Cost Hike

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:52:55 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Bloomberg Businessweek
By Sean Murphy
A vote to increase the child care co-pays for low-income Oklahomans will be delayed until November because of a disagreement over whether the Commission for Human Services has the authority to increase the rate, DHS Commissioner Howard Hendrick said Tuesday.

Oklahoma DHS Budget Woes Could Lead to Staff, Subsidy Cuts

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:20:56 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Tulsa World
By Ginnie Graham
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Department of Human Services officials are bracing for expected budget cuts by looking at reducing staffing levels and changing the eligibility for child-care subsidies, according to a commission meeting report Tuesday.

Early Learning Expert Offers Warnings About Prekindergarten Testing

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:13:16 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Tulsa World
By Ginnie Graham
Oklahoma stands apart nationally in offering prekindergarten to all children and focusing on quality child care, but trying to push testing into the system could cause major setbacks, according to a leading expert on early learning.

State Gets Top Marks for Child Care Regulation

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:47:35 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Muskogee Phoenix
By D.E. Smoot
Child care facility operators are monitored closely in Oklahoma and have to comply with strict regulatory oversight in order to keep their doors open.

Some Business, Community Leaders Push Early Childhood Education

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:21:57 PST

EXCERPT FROM: NewsOK
By Megan Rolland
Oklahoma's residents who are still learning to speak will have a big voice across the state thanks to a new early childhood education advocacy group.

Child-care Breaks the Bank for Many Oklahomans

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:03:29 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Tulsa World
By Ginnie Graham
Child-care costs in Oklahoma have gone up by about 4 percent in one year, making it more expensive than tuition at the state's public colleges and often rivaling a family's housing costs.

Stimulus Funds: County Groups Get $39 Million

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:28:16 PST

EXCERPT FROM: Pottawatomie
By Lori Goat
Agencies and groups in Pottawatomie County has been awarded more than $39 million in stimulus funds so far.

Candidates Discuss Child Care Options

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:25:44 PST

EXCERPT FROM:
James Coburn
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND � Lt. Gov. Jari Askins says she encourages the development of employer day care centers in Oklahoma. Employee productivity and absenteeism improves by investing in child care, Askins said.

Cushing Childcare Closing Its Doors

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:55:50 PST

Many children have passed through the doors at Cushing Daycare, but on Friday, those doors will close.

City Council Converts Loan To Grant, OKs Money For Tulsa Childcare

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:22:07 PST

TULSA, OK -- The Tulsa City Council reversed itself on one issue on Thursday night and decided not to change course on another. It was all over community development block grants. That's money from the federal government that's handed out by city councils.

Child-Care Centers: DHS Tells Only One Side

Wed, 13 May 2009 13:44:38 PST

After a series of troublesome inspection reports and confirmed complaints, Buttons and Bows child-care center in Sand Springs lost its national accreditation in March.

Oklahoma Shuts Down Enid Child Care

Mon, 04 May 2009 17:25:38 PST

ENID � An Enid woman was cited Thursday with operating an unlicensed day care, possibly the first time that has happened since a new state law was enacted in November.

Thousands Seek Child Care Background Checks Under New Law

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:25:01 PST

Oklahoma City_In the three months since the mandated child care employment background check law became effective, nearly 4,100 requests have been processed by Oklahoma Department of Human Services' Oklahoma Child Care Services division.

Survey: Half in State Use Child Care

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:48:38 PST

Designating whether a county is in a standard or enhanced area is one of six factors the Oklahoma Department of Human Services uses to determine state rates paid to child care facilities.

Tulsa Billionaire Believes Early Childhood Education Stops Poverty

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:20:10 PST

George Kaiser is a believer in early childhood education as a way to stop poverty in America.

Child Care Law Effective Nov. 1

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:18:40 PST

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL � Unlicensed childcare facilities operating in Oklahoma will no longer be tolerated when a change in the state law goes into effect Nov. 1.

Playschool Kids Care Closes Suddenly

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:24:53 PST

HEATH -- Playschool Kids Care, a child care facility at 585 Industrial Parkway, closes permanently at 7 p.m. today, it was announced Thursday.

OK-DHS Issues Warning To Unlicensed Child Care

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:28:25 PST

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services on Monday issued a warning to unlicensed child care facilities to get a license or cease operations. While existing law prohibits unlicensed child care facilities from operating in the state, a new law going into effect Nov. 1 allows such facilities to be closed by emergency order. Unlicensed child care facilities will not be tolerated beginning Nov. 1, according to a DHS news release. That is when HB 2643, by Rep. Ron Peters, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, goes into effect. The bill contains multiple modifications for the licensing, operation and regulation of child care facilities.

Costs for Child Care Skyrocket

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:51:59 PST

Jennifer Wiebe shakes her head and sighs when she talks about what she is paying for child care.