02/10/2026
I don't personally accept subsidy for my child care business, and it's because of what I experienced when I accepted tribal pay for a year (tribal goes off of DHS subsidy rates, so subsidy is subsidy). For my private pay rate, I get paid roughly $4.44 per hour to provide care - minus expenses for toys, supplies, food, utilities, curriculum, etc. Subsidy rates, depending on your quality star level, are literally a FRACTION of what I charge in private pay. Now, think about all the home facilities and child care centers who rely on subsidy for income. It's insanity. No wonder hundreds of child care programs have had to close, right? Increasing requirements without increasing compensation is not the way to stabilize the child care industry.
I'm sharing this petition even though I don't accept subsidy because the child care industry affects all of us.
Please sign. Please share. Please help bring attention to the problem so legislators have to acknowledge that this state is failing our families, our children, and our providers.
Tell Oklahoma Leaders that funding child care supports Oklahoma's Workforce
