OKLAHOMA LIFE SKILLS: SPECIAL KIDS LEARNING CENTER

PROJECT PURPOSE

Special Kids Care fills a gap in licensed childcare services for families who have a child diagnosed with a developmental disability. Our program offers families who could not access care in typical facilities the opportunity to work or attend school. Special Kids is a full inclusion program. Accepting typical children allows siblings to attend childcare together allowing all children to benefit from the diversity this creates. Our facility and playground is accessible. We welcome therapists to see children on site and work hard to assist families in whatever way we can. Special Kids serves primarily very low to moderate income families. We are located in north Tulsa and have served the Tulsa community and surrounding areas since 2003. Special Kids struggled to remain open during the shutdown and throughout the pandemic. Many of our parents were essential workers but because of their children?s diagnoses they could not find care elsewhere. COVID was and is still difficult for the program. Between losing 70% of our population during the shutdown, quarantines and safety precautions we are slowly recuperating.

EVIDENCE

According to the National Library of Medicine the pandemic has caused extensive burdens on families of children with special needs. "Actions from policymakers and early intervention service providers are urgently needed to mitigate these impacts." The National Center of Children's Health statistics demonstrate the difficulties parents and caregivers who have a child with special needs face in sourcing childcare and maintaining employment. This was an issue prior to COVID but more so with the child care crisis in Oklahoma. In 2008, there were 6,000 licensed child cares in Oklahoma. This year, that number is closer to 2,300.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Special Kids is located in north Tulsa. Per the ASPE the COVID-19 crisis has disparately harmed low-income households. Systemic inequalities in employment, wage-earning, health, and well-being have been strained for sub-populations facing poverty or near-poverty conditions. For families caring for a child with special needs these effects are exacerbated. Their ability to work hinges on their ability to source care for their children. This is why we have fought so hard to be present for our families. Childcare has been severely impacted by both the pandemic and the great resignation The Center for American Progress, states that 63,599 licensed child care slots in Oklahoma (60%) are at risk of disappearing. Responding to a NAEYC survey, 196 child care providers in Oklahoma reporting that 27% would not survive without significant public investment that would allow them to compensate and retain staff, pay rent, and cover other fixed costs. Sadly, while much is expected of them, daycare employees are also low, hourly wage earners. They were severely impacted by the pandemic. Our goal is to offer a fair living wage to our employees so that we can build and retain appropriate staff teams.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The Special Kids program will utilize evidence based outcomes by collecting data on income levels through the application process, conducting caregiver surveys, and documentation of children receiving therapeutic interventions. Special Kids will also document levels of staff training.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma