Pandemic funding working group requests proposals to address child care crisis

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Workforce and Economic Development Working Group for Pandemic Relief Funding issued a call Friday for proposals to address the child care crisis keeping many Oklahomans out of the workforce. Working group co-chairs, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, said they have heard repeatedly that the lack of accessibility and cost of child care has caused many parents to quit their jobs.

“For the last several months, we’ve heard from stakeholders across the state about the negative impacts of the pandemic on families and businesses. One of the most common themes is the lack of access to and affordability of childcare for those in the workforce and how that has contributed to our state’s workforce shortage,” Pugh said. “This one issue has had a crippling domino effect throughout our state’s workforce. Lack of availability and the enormous expense of child care are causing parents to make the difficult decision to stay out of the workforce, and we have to figure out solutions to help these families as well the business community that desperately needs employees.”       

The Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding voted on the first round of priorities for funding considerations based on the working group’s initial recommendations and identified these areas as their first priority.      

“Now that we’ve received input pinpointing areas of greatest need, I’m excited to see proposals that will help us make the most of these one-time federal funds,” Baker said. “We need a strategic and smart plan that will get people back into the workforce to fill open positions while solving their childcare needs.”          

The working group is requesting childcare proposals be turned in through the online portal by March 4, 2022, to be considered in the first round of recommendations. Proposals may be submitted at www.oklahoma.gov/ARPA.

The joint legislative committee was formed to help provide guidance on the state’s use of $1.9 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Under federal law, these funds can only be used to respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The committee receives and evaluates proposals through their four working groups, along with input from stakeholders, including members of the executive branch, state agencies, community organizations, and public submissions.

Sen. Pugh: (405) 521-5622 or Adam.Pugh@oksenate.gov
Rep. Baker: (405) 557-7311 or Rhonda.Baker@okhouse.gov