OKDHS Press Release
Announces engagement sessions to incorporate stakeholder input
OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 25, 2021) – Oklahoma Human Service (OKDHS) released a schedule today of engagement sessions intended to provide stakeholder input into a review of the agency’s child care regulations. In order to ensure that quality childcare for children is provided in a safe environment, Child Care Services (CCS) will conduct a comprehensive overview of all childcare state regulations by July 2nd, 2021, with a goal to receive streamlined recommendations.
OKDHS will host eight sessions, meeting biweekly beginning in late January and engaging industry professionals to review state regulations together. These engagement sessions will provide a space for stakeholder voices to not only be heard but be active participants in the review and forthcoming recommendations.
Schedule:
· January 28, 2021 - Licensed Capacity, Ratios, and Supervision
· February 11, 2021 - Nutrition and food service; Transportation
· February 25, 2021 - Physical Environment
· March 11, 2021 - Health and Hygiene; Discipline
· March 25, 2021 - Program
· April 8, 2021 - Personnel and Non-Personnel (282-284)
· April 22, 2021 - Personnel and Non-Personnel (284.1-284.4)
· May 6, 2021 – Administration (276-280)
· May 20, 2021 – Administration (281-281.4)
“Child Care Services has always had a dedicated focus on child safety and we desire to continue improving the quality of our regulations,” said Brittany Lee, CCS Director. “It is critical that we engage with our partners in the child care industry as we review and streamline our licensing regulations in order to improve outcomes for Oklahoma’s children. We are committed to collaboration and transparency throughout this process”
Child Care Services licenses approximately 3,000 childcare programs that have the capacity to care for more than 125,000 children and employ over 15,000 people.
This transparent, comprehensive, and collaborative assessment of Oklahoma’s child care programs and family childcare homes regulations will address important policy issues and all OKDHS to continue providing safety, quality, and better child outcomes. Proposed recommendations and other topical notes will be posted to ourOKDHS.org following each meeting.
About OKDHS Child Care Services True North Goals:
Since mid-2019, OKDHS has been building a strategy that aligns limited resource availability around specific priorities determined by the agency. This effort, referred to as ‘True North’ is intended to allow the agency to prioritize resource allocation and investment.
OKDHS Child Care Services ‘True North’ Goals
- CCS TN 1 – Improve the quality of, and access to, child care programs in the state;
- CCS TN 2 – Enhance a high-quality workforce through professional development;
- CCS TN 3 – Improve collaboration with child care providers, communities, DHS divisions, and other state agencies then, in partnership, develop and utilize resources to improve the overall services for licensed programs, children/youth and families.