Oklahoma is witnessing a crisis that threatens not only individual businesses but also the very fabric of our communities.

As child care providers, we play a critical role in supporting working families, enabling parents to pursue employment and education with the confidence that their children are in safe and enriching environments. Recently, these providers have been grappling with severe financial strains due to continuous reductions in the state's child care subsidy program, managed by OK DHS. This program, meant to support working families by making child care affordable, has seen significant cuts, leaving many providers on the brink of closing their doors. Many have already closed.

Oklahoma's economy and workforce depend heavily on accessible and affordable child care. When subsidies are slashed, it does not only affect the providers but ripples throughout the workforce, impacting parents who cannot afford full-price child care options. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, labor force participation for mothers with children under the age of 6 stands at 65.8% as of 2022, highlighting the reliance on child care services. Indeed, for many families, child care is not a luxury, but a lifeline. Without access to these essential services, our state risks stalling economic growth and harming the very children who are our future.

The solution lies within the hands of our lawmakers. The Oklahoma Legislature has the power to revise the budget, restoring and increasing funding for the child care subsidy program immediately. This act would not only stabilize existing providers but also encourage the development of new child care centers, ensuring every community can meet the demand. Increasing subsidy funding can also reduce the burden on low-income families, providing them equitable opportunities to thrive.

This is a crucial moment for action. By standing together, we can urge state legislators to prioritize the well-being of our youngest residents and the economic stability of Oklahoma. We need immediate, bold actions to reverse the cuts and build a robust child care system our families can count on.

Join us in calling on the Oklahoma Legislature to restore and increase child care subsidy funding. Sign this petition and help ensure our children's future is protected, our providers stay in business, and our communities prosper.