CATOOSA, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation created a task force to find out what tribal members need in their communities.
Childcare services are a big issue especially in areas considered daycare deserts, like Catoosa.
2 News took a deeper look into 'childcare deserts.' Those are considered areas lacking availability of daycare centers meeting the needs of families, according to Oklahoma DHS.
ODHS also found in their most recent survey that 34 out of the 77 counties in the state are considered childcare deserts.
Data from the Center for American Progress (CAP) showed 55% of the Sooner State lives in a childcare desert. One county considered a child care desert is Rogers County.
To help their communities, the Cherokee Nation started construction on several daycare centers, including a site in Pryor to open early next year.
After reviewing concerns from their community, the Cherokee Nation decided to build a location in Catoosa.
The nation hopes to finish its construction by fall of 2025- barring any setbacks.
Jakob Keller is a member of the Cherokee Nation and plans to use the new daycare center once it is built.
He and his fiancé have two children and need to make sure they can keep safe.
Kelller said it's tough to do so when so few daycare centers are open when he needs them, “I’m always calling family members like ‘hey, can you look after the kids for one or two hours. I may not even be getting back into town until 7 and my fiancé, she works at 3:30.”
Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. said the center aims to stay open and running for as long as possible.
“We will be building towards making this operation as close to 24/7 as we can," he said. "It will take a while because we have to build up that capacity.”
He said depending on demand and employees, the new center will try to cater its hours around the schedules of parents.
While Chief Hoskin said he hasn't had to worry about daycare for his own children in some time, he is excited to be able to provide state-of-the-art facilities for his fellow tribe members.
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