340:40-1-6 Philosophy and goals of the child care program

(a) Strengthen the family and promote early childhood development. Subsidized child care is a benefit provided for children as a means to strengthen the family and promote early childhood development. Providing safe and affordable child care benefits for low income families: (1) enables parents or caretakers to participate in employment, training, or education-related activities to become more self-supporting; (2) promotes early childhood development and school readiness through rules that support continuity of care and stability of child care placement; and (3) helps prevent neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children in certain critical situations. (b) Promote choice. Parents or caretakers can choose between a licensed and contracted child care center or family child care home, or a contracted in-home child care provider when deciding on the type of child care that best meets the family's needs. (c) Provide consumer education. The Child Care Subsidy Program encourages parents and caretakers to become educated on choosing a provider that best suits the needs of their families through online resources at www.okdhs.org and through the local Child Care Resource and Referral agency. (d) Achieve independence. Affordable, quality child care is a necessary work support to help move families receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) families cash assistance to self-support through employment or TANF Work activities. (e) Encourage collaboration. The Child Care Subsidy Program encourages collaboration with all agencies and programs that help to strengthen families and increase resources available to them.