OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) will hold a public meeting to determine how federal Child Care and Development Fund block grant funds will be used.  The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 17, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City.

Every two years, OKDHS’ Child Care Services Division writes a state plan that details how the federal funds will be used. Community members are invited to attend the meeting and contribute their thoughts.

Oklahoma Child Care Services collects information from several sources and uses it to construct the draft Child Care and Development Fund Plan for FFY 2012-2013. Two Internet surveys posted on the Division’s website (http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/cc/) collect input from parents, child care directors and owners, teachers, and community members.

"We would like to receive the bulk of the responses prior to May 6 so we can provide those results at the public hearing on May 17," said Dale Wares, Oklahoma Child Care Services. "However, we will continue to collect information until May 17."

The public hearing allows community members to contribute their suggestions and concerns. A draft version of the state plan will be available for review on the website prior to the public hearing. The state plan describes services offered in Oklahoma, methods of access to the system by low-income parents, plans for improving the quality of child care in Oklahoma, and a description of health and safety requirements for child care facilities in the state.

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