Dec. 11, 2024

Members		Present	Absent			Designee	Present	Absent
Krysti Alexander			x
Lynn Anderson			x
Angela Blanton		x				Olivia Cosper		x
Paula Brown			x			Meshel Richmond		x
Peggy Byerly		x
Gayla Carnagey			x			Angela Whisnant	x
Darla Cheek (Vice-Chairperson)			x			Wendy Swatek		x
Jana Cornelius		x				Sarah Albahadily	x
Terri Davis		x				Mandi Coleman	x
James Fullingim		x
Emma Hood		x				Angie Avila		x
Rose Jackson		x				Shade Jalo Jared Weigand		x x
Harold Jergenson		x
Jeannie Jones			x			Misty Warfield		x
Keri Laxton			x			Michelle Glover	X
Amanda Leonhart				x		Jaremy Andrews		x
Sharon Morgan	x					Rori Hodges Yvonne Rossiter	x	x
Terry Owens				x
Shanese Peachlyn	x
Jaesha Quarells (Secretary)	x					Carole Turner	x
Kelly Ramsey (Chairperson)	x
Eric Shachau	x					Cesiley Bouseman		x
Jennifer Sneed	x
Janell Wheat	x					Tammy Maus Christy Kastl	x x
Stephen Weise	x					Teri Blanton	x
Carrie Williams				x		Stephanie Lippert Amber Cuyler	x	x
Shaunda Williams				x		Tina Feltman Katie Quebedeaux	x	x

Others Present:

CCS / DHS	CCS / DHS	VISITORS	VISITORS	VISITORS
Audrey Charlson	Mitzi Lee	Ally Jones	Lindsey Thomas	Leticia Battles
Amy Cornelson	Robin Stafford	Carey Sykes	Tim Kelly	Teresa Widick
Ashley Ousley	Violetta Mumford	Rachel Proper	Nicole Taylor	Aaron Hanes
Mindy Yoder	Dione Smith	Jill Goyette	Gabrielle Moon	Charlotte Hollarn
Denise Anderson	Michelle Spears	Nicole Watkins	Katie Shearer	Kristina Allen
Misti Denton	Kelly Harrison	Heidi Hague	Stephanie Krug
Deanna Nichols	Gabriella Evans	Amie McDaniel	Joan Day
Deborah Smith	Sandy Grace	Gina McPherson	Angie Clayton

Meeting Notices:

·      The Agenda and Meeting Notice was posted on the Secretary of State website on 2/14/25.

Call to Order:           

·      Kelly Ramsey called the meeting to order at 10:00 am and invited everyone to introduce themselves. 

·      Deborah Smith introduced new CCS Director Jaesha Quarrels.  Jaesha shared her background with the group.

Approval of Minutes:

·      Corrections notes for 9/11/2024 minute:       

o   The header date on the minutes should be September 11, 2024, not June 12, 2024

·      Terri Davis made a motion to approve, and (unable to hear who) seconded the approval.  There were no objections.

Standing Subcommittee Reports:

Membership Subcommittee – Peggy Byerly

CCAC Membership Subcommittee Meeting, November 21, 2024

In attendance: Gayla Carnagey, Peggy Byerly, Kelly Ramsey, Harold Jergenson, Bonnie Clift, Audrey Charlson. 

1) We discussed the results of the membership form that was sent out electronically. Thank you for filling out the form and sending it back. There are currently 27 members. 16 members checked YES for the question “Are you currently working in a Program that is a DHS Licensed Program?” therefore, we meet the requirement in the bylaws that states “the majority are DHS-licensed program representatives”.

2. Voting Item: Darla Cheek is willing to serve a 3rd and final year as Vice-Chair.  Peggy Byerly nominates Darla Cheek for Vice-Chairperson. The nomination was 2^nd by (unable to hear) and approved by committee and the motion was passed. 

3. During our meeting in September, Carrie Williams asked that the membership subcommittee discuss the possibility of the State Early Childhood Advisory Council serve on the CCAC without term limits. (Their newly assigned term limit is September 2026.)  This would require a change to the bylaws and was discussed at length at the membership subcommittee meeting. It was decided not to implement any changes to the bylaws at this time.

4. Emma Hood is the new representative for OSBI. Emma has been approved by the Director of DHS.

5. Those in today’s new member orientation: Jaesha Quarrels, Mandi Coleman, James Fullingim, Tina Feltman and Emma Hood.

Family Child Care Homes Subcommittee – Shanese Peachlyn

·      Our meeting was held on 11/7 at 1 pm with about 20 providers and a DHS employees including Deborah Smith who received several questions and answered every single one of them and often links or information pertaining to the question was immediately shared in the meeting notes by a DHS staff member.  The questions covered several topics including the grievance process, need help with daycare hoppers, daycare shortage, no one answers the subsidy phone #, forms on DHS website do not all work, frustration on rapid changes being made by OKDHS that affect providers negatively, charging late fees, false allegations made by parents, etc, 

QRIS Subcommittee – Katie Q

·      The QRIS subcommittee met via Zoom 11/13/24 at 1 pm.  Both center and home providers from across the state, DHS and OPSR staff attended.  Approximately 100 people were in attendance. 

·      There were 4 polls conducted during the meeting and we can share the full information with anyone interested. 

·      Some topics discussed included an overview of CCAC, a few providers expressed concerned in being encouraged to open in a lower star level but given the debt that would be detrimental to them financially.  Many of them felt as though they were being held in the proposed emergency rules that were pulled rather than the current rules.  Many providers brought up their experience with the star's reduction process, and some of these comments included who they've been talking to about the stars reduction, how it's determined, what level the stars are reduced to, and then some providers discuss that they have been waiting several months to. Other topics discussed regarded master teacher requirements, told their star will be reduced but not receive other information, is there a specific checklist for providers, do we know if there are plants to allow the scholars program to be funded at 100%?

·      DHS representatives Deborah Smith, Dione Smith and Misti Denton were very helpful in addressing concerns and answering questions. Carrie Williams was also available during the meeting to answer questions. 

Child Care Facilities (centers) Standing Subcommittee – Janell Wheat

·      Two virtual meetings were conducted.  One on 11/11/24 with 50 providers and another on 12/5/24 with 67 providers (DHS employees were in attendance for the 2^nd call). 

·      Below is a summary of the topics and formal requests made.  Full minutes can be provided upon request. 

1)    Loss of staff child care: Formal request to this committee: fund free child care for staff and support legislation.     

2)    School age code B23 affects: Formal request to adjust B23 reimbursement to account for the loss.

3)    Parents Case approval issues. Formal request to adjust review/resolve response times for cases. 

4)    General communication from DHS staff.    Formal request to clarify with OKDHS staff and have consistent information in the field.  Use the monthly newsletter to communicate current projects and possible upcoming changes.   

5)    CECPD – Formal request to review CECPD processes for improvement and less stringent for approved training vendors.

6)    DHS Subsidy App.  Formal request to review make changes to App to make it useable/efficient for providers.

7)    Child Care Locator.  Formal request to review changes to Child Care locator

8)    Federal Block Grant Waiver.  Formal request to not wait until Aug 2026 to do something.  Find funding somewhere to become compliant.  Providers are dependent on it. 

9)    Financial Discussion.  Formal request to review perform complete financial review of all vendors, services and staffing.  Request the legislature invest in child care more than the Federally required match. 

10) Special Needs.  Formal request to review this process for burden of approval.  Also, consider that having a child with disabilities is already hard enough and needing quality care shouldn’t be another obstacle.  Parents need quality child care and providers need support.   

11)  Complaint reform and self-reporting.  Formal request to review complaint and self-report process and make changes/improvements.  Providers committed to continued discussion on this for solutions.

12)  Proposed Rules. 

13)  CCAC Meeting.  Formal request to allow Zoom (virtual option) for both CCAC representatives and public comment.

14)  Providers Well-being and Morale.  Formal request to consider the above in all touchpoints with providers.

Residential Standing Subcommittee – Terry Owens

·      Not in attendance/ no reported meeting this quarter.

Legislative Update: DeAnna Nichols

·      DeAnna provided an overview of the report which is included in the handout.  Child care dates should be noted. January 7th is Organizational Day at the capital and February 3rd is the first day of the first session of the 60^th legislation.

Licensing Sanctions Report – Carole Turner

·       Carole provided an overview of the report which is included in the handout. This report covers July 1- September 30, 2024.  Carole shared she is retiring effectively at the end of December.

Old Business:

·      None.

New Business:

·      Jaesha Quarrels provided an overview of the Entry-Level Child-Care Training Survey (ELCCT).  We encourage teachers to do the survey so we can learn how the training benefits them and what can be improved.  Please look for the survey in the upcoming provider newsletter.  Questions can be emailed to Jaesha.Quarrels@okdhs.org

·      Deborah Smith provided an overview of the Proposed Emergency Rules Updates with a PowerPoint presentation which was emailed to CCAC members and designees on 12/16/24 from Audrey Charlson.

Public Comment: 

·      Lindsey Thomas– declined to comment

·      Tim Kelly – declined to comment

·      Nicole Taylor- declined to comment

·      Stephanie Krug – I am concerned about how easily you can be reduced and how financially detrimental it can be if you are reduced and how long it could take to recover. 

·      Joan Day– I am Stephanie’s mother.  I want consideration for the national accreditation and what will happen.  We let the accreditation go when the 5-star system came in.  We were told we didn’t need to be accredited and now we are being told we need to.  And now 1,000’s providers are trying to get it done and will be told it cannot be done in time.  I am asking for subsidy consideration for the single parents going to school and what the school hour requirements will be.  I also want to confirm the concern my daughter talked about regarding serious non-compliance.  Also- if we self-report that it isn’t being held against us for being transparent.   

·      Angie Clayton - I own two 5-star centers.  1) Since October my facilities have been losing $12,000 a month each. We do not have the money to cover any more costs associated with DHS budget cuts that have already taken place since Sept. 2) Not allowing centers to open as a 5 star or allowing centers which are sold as 5 star to remain 5-star removes are ability as a certified business to operate. A permit to open a center takes anywhere from 6 months to a year. So, selling center as a 5 star and not allowing them to operate as a five star until the permit is approved or 12 months, destroys our financial ability to survive. Centers cannot operate at 1,2,3 or even 4-star rates.  The rates are not enough to keep the facility operating. Reducing that star status alters our ability to function and pay our 5-star employees. If a center is certified as a nationally accredited center, you should allow the business to be sold as such. There is no requirement that imposes this financial demise besides DHS budget short falls. 3) Requiring centers to be nationally accredited and to adhere to all 5-star QRIS guidelines require double accreditation. We cannot take any more expense to be doubled accredited which is what this is asking . QRIS and national accreditation do not have the exact same processes. We must be one or other. You should be able to adhere to national accreditation and carve out the standards that are not licensing requirements. 4)We have not even received the rules yet and you have already given us a cut off notice for comments of Jan 8. I thought we had 30 days. Not allowing 30 days is not fair.

·      Rachel Proper – I want to eco the sentiments that school ages rate has not been considered for a long time.  We are hoping there will be some relief in master teacher qualifications, so far this has not occurred.  I am asking for a possible update at the start of the new year on the EBT process; several providers rely on them, and it is an old system. OCCA legislative forum on Nov 16, received comments from providers who do not understand how to participate in QRIS.  Congratulations to the membership subcommittee for getting all the spots full, as a prior member I know how challenged that is.   

·      Gina McPherson– Scholars program has hired Ally Jones- Scholarship Specialist II

·      GEER Funds will continue to cover 10% for those pursuing an AA/AS/AAS and bachelor’s degree.  OPSR Contract has been renewed and will continue to cover the 10% for those pursuing a Certificate of Mastery, Pathway to Your National Credential coursework, and CDA Assessment fee.  Spring 2025- eligibility has changed for the scholarship.  To pursue a Certificate of Mastery, associate degree or bachelor's degree the child care center must be a 2 star of higher. 1-star centers are only allowed to pursue the CDA.  FCCH- all-star levels qualify for any credential being pursued.

·      Katie Shearer- We recently released an updated Safe Sleep course. It will be free in both the classroom and online in January. I intend to continue my commitment to offer Safe Sleep for free 2x per year. We are also looking forward to integrating the feedback from the upcoming survey to improve ELCCT. We currently have more than 180 approved training sponsors, so I am proud of both the accessibility and quality of training we make available to the state.

·      Sarah Albahadily – If we do what we’ve always done, we will get what we’ve always gotten. Many of the rules are so wordy and sometimes less is more. Grateful that many of the proposed licensing changes are grammatical changes and removing wordiness. I am also hopeful that the new people coming in will help us navigate all the uncertainty. Grievances: I hope we can look at self-reporting and how this shouldn’t hurt providers, requesting a clear list of accreditation providers, think it’s unfair that if you are a 5 star and you sell your business the rating drops to 1, 2 or 3 for 6 months while on permit. Also, if you open a new place, you can’t be 5 stars.

·      Tammy Maus – I want to echo what others have been saying about self-reporting.  Small business owners, I absolutely believe we need to be good stewards with money; however we have to consider their need for cash flow.  Peer review and advisement being confidential; it leaves providers in the dark.  I have served on this committee for 6 years and am a provider.  I suggest CCAC bring this to vote and make it a part of the process.  Detail needs to be a part of it for the providers.  Regarding selling 4- and 5-star programs, it does devalue a program when we must go down to 1 star, it makes our business worth less. I want consideration in streamlining national accreditation to make it less time consuming.

·      Tina Feltman – Absent pay, we have a center in our area that has been hit hard by this, losing $4-5K because the children were not going to be there.  That is huge for a program.  Many of our schools have 4-day programs; a lot of our centers are just closing out school age care.  We have a school district that is going to have 4- & 5-year-old care at the school and not available when school is out, and we get calls from parents looking for just 1 day. Programs cannot step in and fill this void.  We hire humans who make mistakes; we need consideration on this when this happens.

Next Meetings:

·      Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Sequoyah Building

·      Wednesday, June 11, 2025, TBD

Meeting adjourned at 11:52 am

 made a motion to adjourn, seconded the motion.  There were no ob