By Betty Casey

(Excerpt)

The 2020 report also found shrinking child care options, a whopping 60 percent in Oklahoma alone. That translates to the loss of 63,599 child care slots. Every mom knows how important the availability of quality child care is for her ability to remain in the workforce. The pandemic put a spotlight on the lack of accessibility and affordability of child care in the United States. This week’s stimulus bill, called the American Rescue Plan, provides $50 billion in relief funding for the child care sector. Oklahoma will receive a total of $589,772,813 in expanded child care assistance and child care stabilization funds. (https://www.clasp.org/publications/fact-sheet/child-care-estimates-american-rescue-plan)

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