Child Care & Development Services
Contact Information
Physical Address
239 West 12th, Pawhuska, OK 74056
Phone: 918-287-5377
Fax: 918-287-5220
Email: childcare@osagenation-nsn.gov
Carrie Rogers: 918-287-5363
Kendra Jones: 918-287-5306
Michelle Harding: 918-287-5317
Ashlee Walker: 918-287-5296
Destinie Lookout: 918-287-3325
CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Osage Nation Child Care Program provides low-income Native American families with child care assistance and aids families in finding quality childcare providers that are licensed through the State of Oklahoma DHS and by the Osage Nation Child Care Program. The Child Care Assistance Program is funded by a Federal Grant through the Department of Human Services and Administration for Children & Families. Certain requirements of the Child Care Program are necessary because of the federal regulations of the funding source. None of the funds used for childcare assistance are tribal monies. If you need further information, please call Carrie Rogers at 918-287-5363 or email carrie.rogers@osagenation-nsn.gov.
The Child Care Assistance Program services Native American children between 6 weeks to 12 years old.
Eligibility Guidelines:
- Children must be under the age of 13
- Meet the definition of “Indian Child”
- Reside within Osage County
- Reside with a family whose income does not exceed 85% of the GMI for a family of the same size
- Reside with a parent/guardian who is working, attending job training or an educational program, or resides with a parent/guardian who receives protective services
Definition of “Indian Child”
A Native American Child with a CDIB and/or a tribal enrollment card from a federally recognized tribe accompanied by a certificate of live birth; a birth certificate accompanied by the CDIB(s) and /or an enrollment card(s) of the biological parent(s); or an official tribal letter from a federally recognized tribe that states it does not issue CDIB cards, but can provide proof of descendency, by official letter, from a federally recognized tribe or is a foster child of a member of a federally recognized tribe; any child that is a stepchild living in the home of a member of a federally recognized tribe.
Required Documents:
- State Certified Birth Certificate
- State or Tribal Child Welfare records; and/or
- Court Records: Final Divorce Decree, Adaption Records, Guardianship Records
- Social Security Card for all members in the home
- CDIB card or tribal membership card; a letter from Tribal Enrollment/Registration verifying eligibility for membership
- Parent CDIB, Tribal Membership Card, or letter from the Tribal Enrollment Office
- Proof of residency (must live in Osage County)
- Income Verification
- Work schedule/school verification
Child Care Assistance Application
Osage Nation Child Care Providers
Client copays are paid through CCDF and/or CRRSA Funds through May 31, 2022.
LICENSING
The CCDF grant also allows the Osage Nation Child Care Department to license facilities and homes of child care providers. Child Care monitors and licenses all childcare providers participating in the Child Care subsidy program. To be approved, the provider must submit and agree to a health and safety inspection at the facility where the child(ren) is being cared for. They will be visited a number of times per year to ensure their compliance with these laws and standards. If you need additional information, please call Michelle Harding at 918-287-5317 or Ashlee Walker at 918-287-5296.
Licensed Child Care Centers and Child Care Homes must be currently licensed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Child Care Centers must meet a minimum of a 1+Star Rating.
Licensed Provider Application: Once a parent/guardian whose child(ren) is determined eligible for assistance by our program and a parent requests care for that child(ren) in your home or center, you can fill out the Licensed Provider Application and submit it to our department.
OKDHS Licensed Child Care Center & Family Home Application
Relative providers are the grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, or adult siblings who are over 18 and do not reside in the home with the child. Relative Providers are exempt from DHS licensing. Relative providers must meet the tribe's Health and Safety Standards of Operation and Quality of Service.
Child Care Relative Provider Application
Monitoring Component: Each caregiver/provider that contracts with our program will be subject to unannounced visits/inspections of their home or facility by our compliance officer. These inspections are done with the Oklahoma Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that state licensing requirements are followed.
Although Relative Providers are not required to have a license through the State, our compliance officer inspects the home for health and safety requirements and other Tribal requirements.
Search for people restricted from working in Child Care using the Child Care Restricted Registry (Joshua's List).
Use the Child Care Locator/Summary of Program Monitoring to view a summary of program monitoring reports for your child care program or to search for quality child care in Oklahoma.
Websites that assist child care programs in meeting minimum licensing requirements and improving the quality of care:
Child Care Advisory Office of the State Fire Marshal
Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral
Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS)
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association for Family Child Care
The Center for Early Childhood Professional Development offers conferences, training opportunities, a video lending library, a trainer/consultant registry, Child Care Careers, and accreditation support.
The Scholars for Excellence in Child Care Program awards scholarships to eligible childcare professionals to complete child development or early childhood education coursework.
https://www.okhighered.org/scholars/
PARENTING CLASSES
Parenting Classes are educational courses that teach parents general parenting skills and help them develop and maintain positive relationships with their children. The primary goals of parenting classes include improving relationships between parents and their children, developing and practicing positive discipline techniques, and teaching parents how to deal with the daily responsibilities of maintaining a home and family in positive ways. We take referrals from Osage Nation Social Services, Osage County Court, and OKDHS, but anyone can sign up and receive parenting classes free of charge.
Love and Logic, Parenting the Love and Logic Way.
This program is designed to work with parents whose children are between the ages of 7 to 18 years old. The Love and Logic approach is dedicated to making parenting fun and rewarding instead of stressful and chaotic. This program provides practical tools and techniques that help adults achieve respectful, healthy relationships with their children.
Children learn the best lessons when given a task and are allowed to make their own choices (and fail) when the cost of failure is still small. Children's failures must be coupled with love and empathy from their parents. Parents can apply it immediately to a wide range of situations. This curriculum is a six-week program, once a week, each lasting approximately 1 ½ hours. If you would like to know more about Parenting the Love & Logic Way, call Kendra Jones at 918-287-5306.
Love and Logic, Parenting the Love and Logic Way Application
Love and Logic, Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun!
This program is designed to work with parents whose children are between the ages of birth to six years old. When parents start Love and Logic early in their children's lives, they dramatically up the odds that the teenage years will be fun…instead of frantic. Parents learn the easy techniques and skills to discipline without anger, lectures, threats, or repeated warnings. This curriculum is a five-week program, once a week, each lasting approximately 1 ½ hours. If you would like to know more about Love and Logic, Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun, call Kendra Jones at 918-287-5306.
Love and Logic, Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun Application
Love and Logic, 9 Essentials Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom.
Are you an educator seeking to spend more time teaching and less time disciplining? This program is designed to provide educators an opportunity to make a lasting and positive influence in their school and their community. Love and Logic’s professional development curriculums for teachers and educators offer solutions and helpful ways to maximize impact in the classroom. Develop the classroom management skills necessary to take full control of time and resources, redirecting energy consumed by dealing with student arguments into positive, productive learning. If you would like to know more about Love and Logic, 9 Essentials Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom, or to register for this educator’s course, call Kendra Jones at 918-287-5306.
Nurturing Parenting Programs
The Nurturing Parenting Programs are a family-centered, trauma-informed initiative designed to build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive and neglecting parenting and child-rearing practices. The Nurturing Parenting Programs target all families at risk for abuse and neglect with children birth to 18 years. The programs feature activities to foster positive parenting skills with nurturing behaviors, promote healthy physical and emotional development, and teach appropriate role and developmental expectations.
Lessons from the curriculum are customized to meet the specific needs of the families. Nurturing Parenting Programs are evidence-based programs that have proven effective in treating and preventing the recurrence of child abuse and neglect. The Nurturing Parenting Programs are recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Registry for Evidence-based Parenting Programs (NREPP), and a number of state and local agencies as proven programs for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. If you would like to know more about Nurturing Parenting Programs, call Kendra Jones: 918-287-5306.
Nurturing Parenting Program Application
Crossroads of Parenting & Divorce
Crossroads of Parenting & Divorce is a five-step seminar designed to prevent divorce abuse—a specific type of emotional abuse that divorcing parents cause when, in their anger and bitterness, they lose sight of their child’s needs.
This video-based seminar will help parents become aware of how their actions may inadvertently harm their children, show how to establish positive post-divorce co-parenting relationships and provide them with the skills they need to stay child-focused while minimizing poor choices amidst conflict and loss.
This seminar combines video, skill development, and discussion and lasts 4-5 hours, with certificates of completion for all attendees. If you would like to know more about Crossroads of Parenting & Divorce, call Kendra Jones at 918-287-5306.
Crossroads of Parenting & Divorce
Please note: All programs are designed to be taught in a face-to-face setting. No internet-based teaching of the programs is allowed.
BOOKMOBILE
The Book Mobile is a library on wheels. Our Resource Specialist visits schools and early learning facilities throughout Osage County to supply them with books and DVDs that can be checked out for two weeks. There are currently over 3,000 books on the bookmobile. If you would like to be added to the Book Mobile schedule, please contact Kendra Jones at 918-287-5306.
Book Mobile Terms and Conditions 2022
Book Mobile Request Service Form
RESOURCE MOBILE PROGRAM
The Resource Mobile is a Resource Room on wheels. Die cuts, borders, pencils, glue, construction paper, craft supplies, and more are housed inside the Resource Mobile. If you are an Osage Nation licensed child care provider within Osage County, you may request to be added to the schedule. Please contact Destinie Lookout (Resource Specialist) at 918-287-3325 or destinie.lookout@osagenation-nsn.gov for more information.
Resource Mobile Terms and Conditions 2022
Resource Mobile Service Request Form 2022
LITERACY PROGRAM
This is a literacy program that works with physicians in Osage County. The physicians promote literacy with children and parents through age-appropriate books during their appointments.
What happens during the first few years sets the stage for the rest of a child’s life. Spending time together while reading aloud helps to create strong parent-child bonds and promotes healthy brain development. Children who are read more often have improved language and listening skills.
The Literacy Program is designed to be implemented by medical professionals who provide primary care to children from infancy through 12 years old. Both pediatric practices and family practices that deliver pediatric care may participate in our program. The medical professional introduces a new, developmentally appropriate book for the child to take home, building a child’s home library, into the visit. OSAGE NATION CHILD CARE PAYS FOR ALL BOOKS! If you want to be on our program or more information, call Michelle Harding at 918-287-5317.