Oklahoma Organization Works to Address Childcare Shortage Amid Back-to-School Rush

As school-age children head back to class, many parents with younger kids are left on their own to look for childcare options.

One local organization is doing everything they can to help. 

Carrie Williams, the Executive director of Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness, said parents in our state are struggling to access affordable childcare.

"There is not enough childcare available to meet the needs of working families," said Williams.

Not only is it scarce, it's also expensive.

"We also live in a time where the cost of childcare has surpassed inflation. So we have seen about a 20% increase in the cost to provide care in the past two years," said Williams

Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness is working to help parents. Offering resources such as Rainbow Fleet.

"They have a database of every childcare option in the state, including their rates, hours of operation, whether they transfer to and from school," said Williams

OPSR is also working on future legislation.

"A Tri-share model where the employer will pay a portion of that childcare for their worker so that they can send their child to childcare so they can go to work," said Williams

A tri-share model would be an even split between the state, the employer, and the employee. It's already being done in states like Michigan

The organization is also working to make subsidized childcare for childcare workers permanent. 

For now, though parents are advised to plan ahead,

"You really need to start looking as soon as you are pregnant. Sometimes the waitlist are a year-long especially for infant and toddler care in Oklahoma," said Williams.