Family Resource

Types of Care

Types of Care
The three main types of care are Family Child Care Homes, Large Family Child Care Homes, and Child Care Centers

Child Care Center
A facility which provides care for 8 or more children and operates for more than 30 hours per week and must be licensed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS).
Family Child Care Home
A residential home where care is provided for 7 or fewer children for part of the 24 hour day. Family child care homes must be licensed for DHS.
Large Family Child Care Home
A residential home where care is provided for no more than 12 children for part of the 24 hour day. Ratios apply for ages of children and in most cases an assistant is required. Large family child care homes must be licensed by DHS.
Preschool
A facility which provides care for 8 or more children which operates less than 30 hours per week. If operating more than 15 hours per week, the program must be licensed for DHS.
Part time/Drop in
Care for children usually on a temporary or emergency basis, for part day or part week (ex. Mother’s Day Out, support groups for parents, or drop in centers). Programs operating more than 15 hours per week must be licensed by DHS.
School Age Care
Care for children age 6 or above that operate when school is not in session (ex. before/after school, summer break, school holidays). Most school age programs operating for more than 15 hours per week must be licensed by DHS.
Camps (Summer)
Programs that offer full or part day summer activities. Many camps must be licensed by DHS.
Nanny Services
Care in the child’s home by a certified nanny. The nanny may or may not live within the home. Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies can refer you to the nanny placement agencies.

Southeastern Child Care Resource & Referral Agency – 1-580-745-2105

Oklahoma licensing standards have specific requirements for the ratio of adult caregivers to children. The number of children per adult is important because it has a direct effect on how much individual attention your child receives.

Child Care Centers

Ratio and Group Size at Child Care Centers
Age	Staff/Child Ratio	Maximum Group Size
Infants (up to 12 months)	1:4	8
Toddlers (12 to 23 months)	1:6	12
Two year olds	1:8	16
Three year olds	1:12	24
Four and Five year olds	1:15	30
Six year olds and over	1:20	40

Family Child Care Homes

Childen to Adult Ratios in Family Child Care Homes
Adult Caregivers	Children under 2	Childen 2 & up	Total # of children
1	0	7	7
1	1	6	7
1	2	5	7
1	3	3	6
1	4	1	5
1	5	0	5
2	3	4	7
2	4	3	7
2	5	2	7
2	6	1	7
2	7	0	7

Large Family Child Care Homes

Children to Adult Ratios in Large Family Child Care Homes
Adult Caregivers	Total # of Children	Ages of Children	Staff/Child Ratio
1	5	Any age	1:5
1	6	No more than 3 under 2	1:6
1	7	No more than 2 under 2	1:7
1	7	All age 2 and older	1:7
1	8	All age 3 and older	1:8
1	10	All age 4 and older	1:10
1	12	All age 5 and older	1:12
2	8	All under age 2	1:4
2	12	No more than 6 under age 2	1:6
3	12	No more than 8 under age 2	1:4

(All information was taken from www.okdhs.org)

Quality Rating Scale

Quality Rating Scale (Reaching for the Stars)

Reaching for the Stars is Oklahoma’s quality rating scale for child care. There are four levels.

1 Star Overview
Programs meet and maintain minimum licensing requirements that ensure the basic health and safety of the children in care. PDF IS at the Top
- Child Care Centers
- Family Child Care Homes
2 Stars Overview
Programs meet all 1 Star criteria plus quality criteria such as staff have enhanced education and training in child development and other topics related to their work with children and offering ways for families to join in their child’s education and development, including partnering with families to plan for individual children’s needs.
- Child Care Centers
- Family Child Care Homes
3 Stars Overview
Programs meet all 1 & 2 Star criteria and additional quality criteria such as providing rich, hands-on activities and equipment that interest the children and sharing this information with families.
- Child Care Centers
- Family Child Care Homes
4 Stars Overview
Programs meet 1, 2 & 3 Star criteria and additional quality criteria such as lesson plans that meet the interests and developmental needs for each child and providing regular program-wide activities that promote basic skills and higher-level thinking.
- Child Care Centers
- Family Child Care Homes
5 Stars Overview
Programs meet 1, 2, 3 & 4 Star criteria and additional quality criteria such as adding their choice of five or more program-wide practices which could include child and family orientation, daily playground safely checks, and working with schools (with parental permission) about children’s heath and wellness.
- Child Care Centers
- Family Child Care Homes

Family Involvement

Being involved in your child’s learning can make a huge difference in his/her life. Visiting and participating in events at the child care facility will send a strong message. This will show your child & provider that you care about what your child is doing. The following are examples of how you can stay involved:

Open Communication
Honesty & Trust
Consistency
Understanding

Caregiver Information & Turnover

Caregivers Qualifications

Ask about the caregivers’ training and education. Caregivers with degrees and/or special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn.

Turnover

How long have the current caregivers been there? It’s best if children can stay with the same caregiver for at least a year. This helps children and caregivers maintain a better learning environment.

Health & Safety

You want to make sure that the facility looks clean and safe for your child. Pay attention to the surroundings, so that you know your child will be safe and healthy at all times. When your child is in a safe child care setting that you can count on, you won’t have to worry while you’re at work. You know that your child is getting the care they need to be healthy and safe.

Accreditation

Accreditation Organizations

Is your child care program interested in pursuing the Three-Star rating in Oklahoma’s Reaching for the Stars program? Click below or call directly those agencies your program is most interested in pursuing to find out more information about the accreditation agencies recognized by the State of Oklahoma.

ACSI – the Association of Christian Schools International supports institutions housed within a religious affiliated child care program. 1-800-367-0798. Click here to go to the ACSI web site .

AdvancED– AdvancEd provides accreditation for early learning schools. 1-888-413-3669 Click here to go to AdvancED website.

APPLE – the Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment. 1-877-634-9874. Click here to go to the APPLE web site.

COA – the Council on Accreditation is for licensed behavioral health programs. -212-797-3000. Click here to go to the COA web site.

NAC – the National Accreditation Commission For Early Care and Education meets two and three Star criteria for Child Care Centers. 1-800-537-1118. Click here to go to the National Accreditation Commission web site.

NAEYC – the National Association for the Education of Young Children supports child care centers that care for children ages six weeks to school age. 1-800-424-2460. Click here to go to the NAEYC web site.

NAFCC – the National Association for Family Child Care supports only family child care homes. 1-801-269-9338 or Toll Free 1-800-359-3817. Click here to go to the NAFCC web site.

NECPA – the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation supports child care centers that care for children ages six weeks to school age. 1-855-706-3272. Click here to go to the NECPA web site.

OPSR– the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Click here to go to the OPSR web site.

Annual Reports

FY 2020 Annual Report

FY 2021 Annual Report

OKDHS Child Care Services

Financial Assistance

DHS Subsidy

How does OKDHS help me pay for Child Care?

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services will pay all or part of your licensed and contracted child care while you work or attend school. You might pay a portion of child care costs based on your household income. To apply for assistance, contact your local Oklahoma Department of Human Services office or call toll-free: 1–888–521–2778 or visit the OKDHS website

Tribal Subsidy- Choctaw Nation

If you as a parent/guardian have C.D.I.B. (Certificate Degree of Indian Blood) from a federally recognized Indian Tribe, or if your children have a C.D.I.B. card, you may apply for Choctaw Nation Child Care Assistance. There are four ways you can obtain an application:

Call 1–800–522–6170 and ask for the Child Care Assistance Department
Visit the office at 16th and Locust in Durant, Oklahoma
Visit any Choctaw Nation Tribal Field Office
Visit the Choctaw Nation website: http://www.choctawnation.com/and look under programs for child care assistance

Child Care Tax Credits

If you work and have children, you could be eligible for up to thousands of dollars for you and your family. Find out more today! For more information, and to find out where to get free tax preparation assistance, call the Internal Revenue service toll-free at 1–800–TAX1040 or 1–800–829–1040. and the Oklahoma Tax Commission at 1–405–521–3160.

DHS Newsletters

Child Care Connection

Child Care Centers

Family Child Care Homes

Large Family Child Care Homes

Turnover

Accreditation Organizations

How does OKDHS help me pay for Child Care?

Tribal Subsidy- Choctaw Nation

Child Care Tax Credits