Oklahoma Human Services withdraws proposed emergency rules for childcare

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — State officials are reversing course on a plan to rate child care centers differently.

“I know that DHS is going to have to make some changes,” said Gabrielle Moon, the Executive Director of St. Luke’s Children’s Center. “We are very grateful to them for putting a pause on it.”

In the plan—prior to its withdrawal—if a child care center were to receive a violation, two-star programs would be reduced to one star, and three, four, and five star programs would drop to two stars.

If a high-rated child care center were dropped to a two-star rating, there would be a decrease in funding from DHS by almost half.

Childcare center owners tell News 4 it would take approximately two-and-a-half years to get back to a five-star rating.

We spoke with a childcare center owner who asked to remain anonymous. Her program is also rated five stars.

“It terrifies me to think that my life mission of child care, I’ve been in this a very long time, is being threatened. The state needs to get behind child care 100% because we are the bedrock and the foundation of our entire state,” she says. “Those rules state that if you have one serious non-compliance, you’re referred immediately down to two. And if you go to a two, you lose your DHS contract. If I make one mistake, who can work under that kind of stress?”

Moon believes childcare centers who do violate standards should be held accountable.

“Every child care director owner understands that they have to follow those policies. And we are very strict here. The five star is just upholding the minimum standards in the childcare centers,” Moon said.

Both believe putting the plan on pause is a step in the right direction.

“Step back and think what is a better way of getting our budgetary plan in order and making sure we have a balanced budget without affecting the foundation of our workforce, which is child care centers,” the childcare center owner said.

“I think it gives everybody a time to look at it again and reevaluate and see the best way to move forward,” said Moon.

Examples of violations and the category they are in can be seen in the image below.

DHS also tells News 4 programs can appeal any reduction in stars, which is also listed in the policy.

You can read the full policy here .

DHS has cancelled Friday’s hearing in the following statement:

After careful consideration, Oklahoma Human Services is withdrawing its proposed emergency rules for child care to address budget concerns and to allow more time for input from stakeholders.

Oklahoma Department of Human Services

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