helpful resources for child care providers

Licensing

OKDHS Oklahoma Child Care Services  has the responsibility of making sure Oklahoma's children and their parents have access to licensed, affordable, high-quality child care where children have the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment.

Licensing - In Oklahoma, child care is licensed and regulated by Oklahoma Child Care Services (OCCS), a division of the Oklahoma state Department of Human Services. This site includes links to licensing requirements, sometimes called standards, for various types of care. 

Reaching for the Stars - An Oklahoma initiative to improve the level of child care quality using a tiered system of quality and reimbursement provides incentives for programs that meet the Stars criteria. The Reaching for the Stars Program has four levels of rating facilities in which specified criteria must be met.

Professional Development

Online Child Care Training

CECPD - Center for Early Childhood Professional Development supports the individuals who work in licensed child care settings in Oklahoma.

Scholars for Excellence in Child Care - The Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education is helping to improve the quality of child care in Oklahoma by providing educational opportunities for child care professionals.

REWARD - provides education-based salary supplements to teachers, directors, and family child care providers working with young children in child care settings.

Oklahoma Registry of Professional Development Ladder verifies that individuals have met all State of Oklahoma Department of Human Services entry-level and continuing education training requirements.

Other Helpful Resources

 NAEYC - National Association for the Education of Young Children promotes excellence in early childhood education.

The Circle of Inclusion -Provides information regarding effective practices of inclusive educatonal programs for children from birth to age 8.

OICA - Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy creates awareness, takes action and changes policy on behalf of children and youth.

Warmline- Offers free telephone consultations to child care providers on numerous topics of concern. Consultants refer providers to appropriate services and resources within their communities.

Zero to Three - Provides a host of information from parent education resources to literature on child development from age zero to three.