09/01/2026
We are saddened to hear that our community has lost another childcare center. Our hearts truly go out to the families who are now struggling to find a safe place for their children while they continue to manage work, life, and everything in between.
Unfortunately, we are not surprised to see this happening.
Childcare centers across Oklahoma are facing rising operating costs, staffing challenges, and inadequate funding through the OKDHS subsidy system.
More than 420 childcare centers across the state have closed since November 2025. And while Firm Foundation is strong, we want our families and our community to understand that we still need you to advocate for childcare and help us stay strong.
A FEW THINGS WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW:
Our childcare spots don't open very often. Typically, the majority of our openings happen in August when our preschoolers transition to public school.
And when a childcare center loses another center in the community, we often receive an overwhelming number of calls and emails from families desperately searching for care. We wish we could say yes to everyone. But we simply cant. We cannot just "add another child." We are bound by strict licensing requirements, including:
Child-to-teacher ratios
Classroom square footage
The number of toilets
Our licensed capacity
Yes even the number of toilets matter.
Right now, we are working hard to interview families and fill the few openings we do have as quickly and thoughtfully as possible. If you have reached out to us recently, thank you for your patience. We are receiving an incredible number of emails and phone calls, and our team is working through every message and responding to families as quickly as we can.
And if you are a Firm Foundation family, we ask you to continue to speak up, advocate, and support childcare in Oklahoma.
