Page 1 of 5 1/1/2023 Appendix C-4-B Child Care Provider Rate Schedule Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) contracts with licensed child care facilities to provide child care for families through the child care subsidy program. This appendix provides information regarding the rates paid to child care facilities and how these rates are determined. Child Care Rates The rates paid by OKDHS are determined by the:

o star status of the facility. Child Care Services (CCS) licensing staff determines the star status of a facility based on certain quality indicators. The higher the star status, the higher the reimbursement rate given by OKDHS. Increases in star status are effective the month after CCS licensing approval. Decreases in star status are effective four months after CCS notifies the provider of the reduction.

o settings in which child care is provided. Child care rates vary depending on whether care is given in a child care center, a child care home, or in the child's own home. The in-home child care rate is 90 percent of the rate paid to a one star child care home for a child of the same age. Refer to page 2 of this appendix for the one-star child care home rates.

o child's age. Age breakdowns are different for child care centers and homes. Age-driven rate changes are made effective the first of the month following the child's birth date. Per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:40-7-3, child care eligibility ends at the next renewal after the child turns 13 years of age. When needed, a child meeting the definition of a child with disabilities per OAC 340:40-7-3.1 or a child under court supervision may receive child care benefits until the next renewal after the child turns 19 years of age. OKDHS pays the same rate for the child's care as for a child between 73 months and 13 years of age.

o unit type that is approved:

o Full-time. The full-time daily unit type is approved when the child needs care more than four hours per day and fewer than 15 days or more than 23 days per month.

o Part-time. The part-time daily unit type is approved when the child needs four hours or fewer per day.

o Blended. The blended unit types are approved for a child 4 years of age or older when the child needs care Monday through Friday only (never on Saturday or Sunday); part- time on school days and full-time on school holidays. The traditional blended unit type is effective from August 16th through May 15th of each year and payment reverts to the weekly unit type beginning May 16th through August 15th.The extended school year blended unit type is effective for the entire calendar year. The blended unit type is not approved when the:

o facility is not open on school holidays;

o child requires more full time days in addition to school holidays;

o child does not need care on school holidays;

o child uses a different facility for school holidays;

o child only needs part time care;

o child uses more than one provider; or

o child uses an in-home provider that comes to child’s home;

Child Care Eligibility/Copayment Chart Appendix C-4 10/1/2026 Page 1 of 2 How Household Income, Family Size, and Family Share Copayments are Determined When a household applies for Child Care Subsidy benefits, Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) bases the household's income eligibility on the federal income eligibility threshold per family size. Per Section 98.20 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the federal income eligibility threshold cannot exceed 85 percent of the state median income per family size. Refer to Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:40-7-6 to determine who must be considered part of the household for income consideration and family size. Income thresholds by family size and family share copayment amounts are shown on page two of this appendix. The family share copayment is based on the household's adjusted monthly income and family size per OAC 340:40-5-1(8) and (9).

o The adjusted monthly income is the gross earned income plus unearned income, minus legally binding child support paid, rounded to the nearest dollar.

o The family share copayment is set at initial approval and is not increased until the next eligibility renewal is completed unless the household income exceeds the maximum income eligibility threshold resulting in closure of subsidized child care benefits.

o The client pays the family share copayment directly to the provider each month.

o OKDHS makes payments to the child care provider on the balance of care costs after the copayment has been deducted.

o The provider must return a portion of the parent's or guardian's family share copayment when the care used by the family (the daily rate per child times the number of days the child attended) is less than the family share copayment.