Office of Child Care

Mission

The Office of Child Care’s mission is to increase the availability, affordability and quality of child care for low-income families by providing financial assistance and consumer education for parents that are working, training or attending educational program. To provide a nurturing, wholesome and fostering environment for children that would enable them to attain their potential while in their most formative years – early childhood – and to provide a sense of security and confidence to parents that their children are receiving the utmost in development and facilitative care while entrusted to the child development center.

Child Care Assistance Program

To participate in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Office of Child Care Assistance Program the parent(s)/guardians must be working, training, or enrolled in an educational program.

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation serves all Muscogee (Creek) and other Native American families that reside that reside within our eleven-county boundary. All Muscogee (Creek) families are served within 100 miles near the eleven-county boundary of the Muscogee Nation in the State of Oklahoma. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has an active Muscogee (Creek) Community in the OKC area that services are provided.

Eligibility

To apply for assistance the parent(s) must submit a completed application with the following:

1. Current one-full month pay stubs and completed Income Verification Form.
2. The current class schedule lists the days and hours of attendance with financial aid or Bursar’s Student Account for each parent.
3. Submit all household income received.
4. Proof of residence (utility bill or lease agreement).
5. Copy of children’s State Certified Birth Certificate and Citizenship or CDIB cards.
6. Copy of each child’s current Immunizations (Shot Records).
7. Oklahoma DHS, other Tribal Child Care Assistance Program, or Muscogee Nation Tribal Town Closure Letter if the child has received child care assistance from any other programs.

The Child Care Assistance Application is available and accepted via e-mail, fax, office visit, USPS or e-form. In addition, all documents are available and accepted by e-mail, fax, office visit or USPS.

Child Care Assistance Update

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Office of Child Care Assistance Program is pleased to announce the continuation of the Family Share Co-Payment Waiver, Essential Employee Assistance & the Add-on Daily Rate. To benefit our children, parents, and child care providers the changes will be effective May 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.

• Income Eligibility – The Office of Child Care has increased the Monthly Income Eligibility and $300.00 per household parent deduction from the total household income. Effective May 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
• Over-Income Essential Workers – Child Care Assistance is available to those who work in the following essential work without regard to income eligibility: Effective May 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
  • health care & public health workers,
  • law enforcement, public safety, first responders,
  • child protective services workers, those who provide services in the child welfare system & other criterial social services workers
  • food & agricultural workers (including grocery store & restaurant workers & food truck delivery drives)
  • child care workers
  • utility employees
  • water and waste water employees
  • transportation and logistics workers
  • public works employees
  • communication and information technology workers
  • Other community-based government operations and essential function employees
  • Criterial manufacturing workers
  • Hazardous materials workers
  • Financial services employees
  • Chemical workers
  • Defense industrial base employees
• Family Share Co-Pays – The MN Office of Child Care will continue to waive the Family Share Co-Payments.
• Provider Daily Rates – Our Daily Rates align with the OKDHS QRIS Rates. We are paying an additional $10.00 per Child per Day to our OKDHS Centers & Homes and MN Tribal Homes.
• Agreement Submission – The Office of Child Care will continue to accept the Agreements via email, fax or USPS. Your caseworker will continue to acknowledge receipt of your monthly Agreements via email.
  The Certificates and Attendance Records are due within 15 working days after the child care services have been provided.
• Maternity Leave – The child care assistance can now be paid for up to 8 weeks of– THE PARENT CAN SUBMIT A STATEMENT REQUESTING MATERNITY LEAVE TO THEIR CASEWORKER WITHIN 10 WORKING DAYS.

Certificate System

The Office of Child Care operates a Certificate Program. The parent(s)/guardian(s) may choose a state licensed child care center; state family child care home; tribal registered child care provider; or select a family member or friend over the age of 18 that meet the registration requirements of the child care program. Child care cannot be provided in the child’s home. (Contact our Resource & Referral Unit for a current list of tribal registered child care providers).

The parents/guardians are approved for a 12-month Eligibility Period. Parents will be assessed a monthly family share co-payment to be paid to the child care provider. The family share co-payment is determined by the monthly household income and the number of persons residing in the household and is not based on child care usage.

When the child is approved for child care assistance the Child Care Assistance Caseworker will mail or email an Approval Letter to the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the child care provider. The Certificates and Attendance Records will be mailed or emailed to the child care provider after the Muscogee Nation Licensing & Monitoring have approved the child care provider.

Parent(s) will receive a Re-Certification Letter in the 9th month of their 12-Month Eligibility Period requesting their annual update documentation. The documentation is due by the 10th day of the 10th month even though the child care assistance expires the last day of the 12th month.

Parent(s) are responsible for reporting within 10 working days and submitting within 30 working days any changes in their household information that can affect child care assistance.

Job Search Service

Child Care Assistance can be provided for the parent(s)/guardian(s) who are searching for employment. An application must be complete and approved. The Parent(s)/guardian(s) do not have to register with the Workforce Oklahoma but must submit their unemployment benefit. The parent(s)/guardian(s) may contact the Muscogee Nation Employment and Training program.

Foster Children Assistance

The Child Care Assistance is available for foster children in the Muscogee Nation, OKDHS or another Federally Recognized Native American Tribe Custody. Contact the Office of Child Care for an application and to eligible, the foster parents must be working, training or enrolled in an education program.

Child Care Provider Payments

The Monthly Service Payment is made directly to the child care provider. Income received by the child care provider will be reported to the IRS. The Agreement must be submitted within 15 working days of the last date of service or will not be process for payment. Assistance paid for by the Office of Child Care cannot be claimed for any tax credit by the parent(s)/guardian(s).

For more information regarding child care assistance or to request an application contact one of the following Child Care Assistance Caseworkers:

For more information regarding child care assistance or to request an application contact one of the following staff:

Apply for Child Care Assistance

Child Care Assistance Application…

Licensing and Monitoring

The Office of Child Care monitors and licenses all child care providers participating on the Child Care Subsidy Program. To be approved, the provider must submit an application and agree to a health & safety inspection at the facility for the child(ren) in care. In accordance with the Tribal/State Agreement all inspections conducted at State Licensed facilities will be exchanged or shared with the State Licensing Workers.

Require Background Checks on everyone 18 years & older in the household; CPR & 1st Aid within 30 days and obtain a Physical.

For more information call or email:

Compliance Examiners

Community Outreach Program

Provider Training

Training Schedule: November

Provides training sessions for participating child care providers to maintain and promote quality child care.

• Classes are approved and credited toward DHS licensing requirements for Tribal & State licensed providers.
• CPR and First Aid-AED trainings are accredited by the American Red Cross for a nominal fee.
• No cost classes in Child Development, Nutrition and Health & Safety.
• CDA Classes are available.

For more information call or email Tammy Lewis at 918-732-7670 gyrjvf@zhfpbtrrangvba.pbz

Resource and Referral

Resource & Referral services are provided to parents or guardians searching for child care. Specialists are knowledgeable about all forms of child care.

A Resource Unit that providers can utilize with educational toys and other items for a month at a time free of charge. Also, a copy machine and a laminator that the providers can use at no charge. The resource unit travels to different communities within our service area each month.

For more information call or email Anita Branum at 918-732-7673 noenahz@zhfpbtrrangvba.pbz

Child Development Centers

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Office of Child Care operates 7 child development centers throughout the Muscogee (Creek) Boundaries. Ages accepted are 6 weeks through 12 years of age. All of our development centers currently participate in the QRIS Program and are at the 2 & 3 QRIS Level.

Open Monday thru Friday 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Becky Giddens, Centers Supervisor
(918) 732-7677 otvqqraf@zhfpbtrrangvba.pbz

For more information about child care services, fees or tours, please contact the center you are interested in enrolling.