Cuts in Oklahoma's child care subsidies

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Child advocates warn that inadequate funding for child-care subsidies in the 2005 budget could hurt Oklahoma families financially. <br><br>The Department of Human Services delayed

Wednesday, March 10th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Child advocates warn that inadequate funding for child-care subsidies in the 2005 budget could hurt Oklahoma families financially.

The Department of Human Services delayed a plan last year to increase child-care subsidy copayments that would have resulted in many parents seeking alternative care or some quitting their jobs.

The proposal would've required a parent earning $6 an hour who paid $27 per month in child care to pay $75 per month. The higher the wages, the larger the copayment.

Members of the Child Care Coalition said as many as 10,000 families could lose assistance.

``We've not had an increase in subsidies in three or four years now, and we're not asking for an increase now,'' Kathy Cronemiller, the owner of six child-care centers in the metro area, said Tuesday. ``We're simply asking that you keep us where we are.''

Cronemiller, legislative representative of the Oklahoma Child Care Association, said the announcement of copayment increases last year panicked some parents.

DHS Director Howard Hendrick said the Human Services Commission will decide in June whether to increase the copayments, effective in September. An increase may be needed if money for the copayments isn't included in the agency's budget, officials said.