OKLAHOMA CAPITOL --- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services Division of Child Care will hold a public hearing to solicit comments concerning the draft Child Care State Plan at 10 a.m., May 6, at the Metro Tech Business Conference Center, located at 1900 Spring Lake Drive, Oklahoma City.

During this hearing, a review of the proposed state plan for childcare and development funds will be discussed. This will include improving childcare quality, the Reach for the Stars program, childcare licensing and subsidized childcare.

According to the OKDHS Division of Child Care, research shows that for every dollar invested in quality preschool, taxpayers save more than seven dollars in other spending for programs like school remediation, special education and juvenile crime reduction.

State budget concerns, coupled with the fact that Congress has yet to reauthorize the Federal Child Care and Development Fund have caused many states to reduce childcare spending. This public hearing will assist Oklahoma policy makers in determining how our states limited childcare dollars will be spent.

“The biggest crisis in childcare continues to be the low wages and lack of benefits provided to childcare teachers,” said Nancy vonBargen, director, OKDHS Division of Child Care. “The demands of the job, coupled with the limited recognition and poor wages have resulted in an annual turnover rate of 44 percent among full-time childcare teachers each year. This has a devastating effect on young children and their families.”

The Child Care State Plan must be submitted to the Administration of Children and Families no later than July 1, 2003. This plan will be effective for federal fiscal years 2004 and 2005.

Comments may be submitted online or mailed to the OKDHS Division of Child Care, PO Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-0352.

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