December 8, 2021 Issue, Page 6 of 8

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6 News December 8, 2021 OPSR Working to Address Oklahoma’s Child Care Crisis Completion of Project HOPE Sheds Light on Unmet Needs of Families Oklahoma Partnership and local coalitions. who needed parenting classes,” tion. OPSR has already begun strengthens families and ensures For more information, visit ok- for School Readiness, whose The stories collected said a Department of Human reviewing the information col- all children are ready for school. schoolreadiness.org. board of directors serves as through OPSR’s Project HOPE Services representative. “She lected from Project HOPE and the state’s Early Childhood Ad- can help communities make did not have reliable child care, has developed a strategic plan visory Council, reported that decisions and create solutions and therefore she frequently of action to address inequities the majority of families receiv- that address infant mortality struggled making it to class on in Oklahoma’s early childhood ing services in Oklahoma have and increase equity. time or at all. This was a barrier system.” trouble accessing affordable, Funded by the Robert because it prolonged the time OPSR completed Project quality child care. Wood Johnson Foundation, it took for her to complete the HOPE in Nov. 2021 and the Now the organization, the project was led by a con- class and was a hindrance to information and stories col- funded by both public and pri- sortium of three partner or- her truly learning the material lected from the project can be vate dollars, is working on a ganizations – Nemours Chil- because she was often stressed found at OKSchoolReadiness. plan to address the alarming dren’s Health, Boston Medical about child care issues.” org. child care crisis that blankets Center’s Vital Village Network “The COVID pandemic both rural and urban commu- and the Build Initiative. highlighted the reality that About Oklahoma Partnership nities in Oklahoma. Oklahoma was one of four child care is essential infra- for School Readiness (OPSR) By partnering with six states selected to participate structure and access to high community organizations in 2018. Of the more than 400 quality, affordable child care In 2003, throughout Oklahoma, OPSR stories collected, the majority is a necessary component of a House Bill 1094 created the gathered feedback about ex- of respondents reported that thriving economy,” said Carrie Oklahoma Partnership for School periences related to preg- their most unmet need was Williams, executive director of Readiness was created in 2003 nancy, birth and the first year access to affordable child care. OPSR. “It also provides chil- from House Bill 1094, adding of a child's life. Project The data is bolstered by OPSR’s dren the opportunity to grow Oklahoma to a growing list of HOPE, Harnessing Opportuni- annual report that emphasizes and prepare for school. states that recognized more action •Residential •Commercial • Faucet Repair ty for Positive, Equitable Early how more than half of Okla- In the first 2,000 days, is required to successfully support • Drain Cleaning •Gas Piping Childhood Development, is homa is considered a child care brain architecture is forming families and children from birth designed to generate progress toward equitable outcomes for desert. Other unmet needs include transportation, health and creating a foundation for all future learning. The envi- to preschool and improving school readiness. Today, through public Jason Jones Plumbing young children and their fami- care, housing or utilities, safe- ronment, experiences and re- and private partnerships, they 580-214-0404 or 580-323-0405 lies by supporting state lead- ty and food. lationships a child has will lead lead Oklahoma in coordinating Clinton Oklahoma ers, cross-sector state teams “I was working with a mom to a strong or weak founda- Jason Jones - Owner/Operator | [email protected] an early childhood system that Crossword Current puzzle answers Get Fuzzy Drabble Dailies Pearls Before Swine Garfield Dilbert