The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) held a public hearing Tuesday to allow child care providers to comment on its related proposed emergency regulations. Childcare subsidy and license program. Health care providers said they were concerned about provisions requiring certification of certain facilities.
rulewas released on Dec. 20 and serves as an update after OKDHS withdrew its initial proposal in September to gather more input. I deleted some of them, including: Subsidy eligibility criteria It reaches 85% to 70% of the state’s median income, and fewer households qualify.
OKDHS Director Jeffrey Cartmell said. in a press release Continuing with pandemic-era spending levels is unsustainable without impacting other services. Cartmell said the department believes these updated rules represent a “collaborative solution” for Oklahoma’s child care settings.
“Government agencies must balance their fiscal responsibilities to taxpayers to maximize the use of both federal and state funds entrusted to them while minimizing disruption to partners and customers. “It has to be,” Cartmel said.
Child care providers expressed particular concern about the amendment, which would require five-star facilities to be certified by a national organization approved by OKDHS Child Care Services to maintain that rating.
This rating is part of the Quality Assessment and Improvement System (or Star Program). We give early childhood programs a variety of ratings based on their ability to meet standards related to curriculum, child outcomes, learning environment, etc., giving parents peace of mind. Evaluate the quality of service. program I recently moved From 3 stars to 5 stars.
The rating system affects the funding a facility receives per subsidized child. OKDHS states: Draft changes to licensing services Initial predictions “significantly underestimated the number of programs that would reach the highest levels”.
“While quality child care is a priority, Oklahoma should maintain standards in a manner that ensures only the highest quality programs reach the highest standards,” the draft states. “The management process must ensure that timely decisions are made when star quality needs to be reduced.”
The department’s draft rule changes include nine certification groups. Programs approved as Five Star prior to the effective date of the rule must submit evidence of accreditation or submission of an application for accreditation within 60 calendar days of the effective date. Programs applying for accreditation must obtain accreditation through an approved organization by September 1st.
If a facility fails to achieve either, the amount will be reduced.
OKDHS says in the draft that if this provision and other amendments are not implemented, “the quality of child care will be adversely affected,” “families will no longer have confidence in the star rating system,” and “the nation will not be the same.” points out. Current budget amount for child care programs. ”
More than 50 providers asked for comment during the department’s public hearing on Tuesday. Some worry that they will bear the brunt of these changes.
“This requirement to force five-star facilities back through the accreditation process is not something that can be accomplished in the short term,” said Kent Lin, owner of R Kids Childcare, a five-star facility in Bethany. Ta. “It’s going to take about two years to make that happen. And frankly, I don’t think that’s in the best interests of the kids.”
Jillian Taylor
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state impact oklahoma
Aaron Forst is the owner of Granny & Dot Early Childhood Development Center, a five-star program in Owasso. He said his facility is not certified and pursuing it would put an additional strain on resources and finances.
The draft regulations state that “costs associated with obtaining and maintaining certification, including application fees, training, evaluation, and other related expenses, are the sole responsibility of the child care provider.”
Forst said child care in Oklahoma is already suffering from setbacks caused by issues such as: Recent funding expirations in the American Rescue Plan Act. The funds were used to reduce child care subsidies and co-pays for parents.
“Oklahoma is parenting desert” Forst said at the hearing. “We urgently need to open more centers, but the rules you are proposing could lead to more closures.”
A five-star rating helped spur employee raises for Kylie and Jeremy Tolman of McAlester and Wilburton-based Klever Kidz Academy.
“These people are going to lose their paycheck. That’s not right,” Jeremy Tallman said. “I sit in the Capitol all the time, and I hear voices all the time saying, ‘You’re going to be in the top 10 for this, you’re going to be in the top 10 for that.’ Please, DHS, be in the top 10 for child care.” Let’s get in. Let’s work on this together.”
OKDHS Assistant Attorney General Susan Eads said the department has prepared a response to the written and oral comments and plans to respond at a later date. An OKDHS spokesperson said in an email to StateImpact that all public comments will be considered before the final rule is submitted to the governor’s office.
“Oklahoma Human Services appreciates the extensive input and cooperation we received to update our regulations and build a sustainable future for Oklahoma’s child care licensing and subsidy programs,” the spokesperson said. .
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