State could get up to $20 million more for kids

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma could get an extra $19 million to $20 million to subsidize child care expenses of low-income working<br>families under a Clinton administration plan to be considered by Congress

Wednesday, April 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma could get an extra $19 million to $20 million to subsidize child care expenses of low-income working
families under a Clinton administration plan to be considered by Congress this fall, Health and Human Services Secretary Donna
Shalala said Wednesday.

Shalala took part in a meeting of a state task force on early childhood development, along with Gov. Frank Keating and first lady Cathy Keating.

She said $19 million to $20 million would be Oklahoma's block grant share of a $1 billion proposed appropriation to aid families which are struggling to pay for child care.

Howard Hendrick, director of the state Department of Human Services, said the proposed additional funding could help 3,000 to 4,000 low-income families in Oklahoma.

Shalala stressed the need to get children off to a good start in education, linking success of today's young people with the ability of the nation in the future to pay for such programs as Medicare, whose clients are expected to double as baby boomers retire.

"We can't afford to waste one young person," she said.

Shalala voiced support for quality early childhood programs. "We're not just interested in warehousing kids," she said.

But she said the administration wants families to have child care options, such as allowing parents to receive vouchers for kids kept in smaller settings, including neighborhood facilities that take in only a handful of children.

Perhaps states could work with those centers by providing materials and instruction to help development of children, she said.

She said she expects bipartisan support for that idea. Shalala suggested the task force develop early childhood programs that work best in Oklahoma, adding the administration
supports a diversified approach.

Keating said early development of children is an important part of the equation of improving Oklahoma's economy.

Jerry Regier, director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs and a Keating cabinet secretary, said he was impressed with Shalala's willingness to help the state, including her offer to send early childhood experts to Oklahoma to work with the task force.