Oklahoma Human Services announces grant to help child care deserts

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Oklahoma Human Services announced the Child Care Desert Startup Grant to increase accessibility to quality child care in areas of need around the state.

Thirty-four of Oklahoma's 77 counties are considered child care deserts, and 55% of the state's population lives in a child care desert, according to data from the Center for American Progress.

CAP defines child care deserts as counties where there aren't enough licensed child care providers to meet the needs of working families.

The hope is the Child Care Desert Startup Grants will provide funding for new child care businesses in child care deserts.

“We know there are significant needs in our communities for families to have a safe place for children to go while their parents work or pursue education,” said Brittany Lee, Director of Child Care Services. “With this startup grant, we are providing funding and startup capital for people to go into a child care desert and open up a new business by becoming a child care provider. Not only will this bring new jobs into communities across Oklahoma, but it will also enable parents and guardians to rejoin the workforce with the peace of mind that their child is in a safe and enriching environment.”

The Child Care Desert Startup Grant is available to individuals who are considering becoming licensed child care providers in identified desert counties.

See a full list of identified child care desert counties below:

• Adair
• Alfalfa
• Beaver
• Canadian
• Cleveland
• Comanche
• Cotton
• Creek
• Delaware
• Ellis
• Garfield
• Garvin
• Grady
• Grant
• Harper
• Johnston
• Kingfisher
• Le Flore
• Lincoln
• Logan
• McClain
• Okfuskee
• Oklahoma
• Okmulgee
• Osage
• Pawnee
• Roger Mills
• Rogers
• Sequoyah
• Texas
• Tillman
• Tulsa
• Wagoner
• Washita

Applications for the grants will be available until budgeted funds are depleted, or until July 31, 2023.

To learn more about the grant, click here.