Tulsa County has approved $1.4 million in federal coronavirus relief funds for the nonprofit Opportunity Project to offer no-cost or low-cost child care.
County spokesperson Devin Egan said officials have heard the need for that right now is great.
"This money will help provide hubs, if you will, throughout the county where people can have their children go to do their distance learning or their virtual learning with adults in the room who can help care for them so these kids aren’t stuck at home alone if a parent is required to go to work or something like that," Egan said.
The Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency will also help the nonprofit acquire things like gloves and masks.
"TAEMA and Tulsa County can get a lot of PPE for a reduced amount of money than the Opportunity Project could probably get it if they tried to get it themselves. So, we also hooked them up with TAEMA as part of this process to get their PPE and the necessary supplies that they need for these hubs at a reduced cost," Egan said.
Tulsa County and the City of Tulsa are also offering similar, low-cost day programs at select parks.
The city's offerings are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are posted on the city's parks website.
Tulsa County's "School of Rec" program is available at Chandler Park, Bixby Park, LaFortune Park and SoCo recreation centers and is in session Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parents must call the location of their choice for an enrollment appointment.
Chandler Park: 918-591-6053
Bixby Park: 918-366-4841
LaFortune Park: 918-496-6220
SoCo: 918-746-3780
