Oklahoma daycare providers outraged after audit finds OKDHS mismanaged pandemic relief funds

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma daycare providers are outraged after the State Auditor’s Office found the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) mismanaged millions of dollars in federal COVID relief funds meant to keep childcare centers afloat during the pandemic. The findings came in a report State Auditor Cindy Byrd released last week, which confirmed concerns daycare providers have raised for more than a year. They say DHS promised money it could not sustain long term, and instead of addressing the problem, punished providers, forcing many out of business.

Last week, Byrd said the federal government gave DHS during the pandemic to support childcare providers, but OKDHS mismanaged how it distributed the funds.

“[The money was] To help child care facilities cover normal operatin