Gillespie Appointed to Early Childhood Task Force

Gillespie Appointed to Early Childhood Task Force

Oklahoma Senator Christi Gillespie has been appointed to a new task force that will examine how the state provides services to young children and their families. Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton appointed Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, to the Oklahoma Early Childhood Task Force. The two-year initiative will study services for children from birth through age 5. “This is about making sure we are doing everything we can to give Oklahoma children the best possible start,” Gillespie said. “I look forward to listening, learning and working with the other members of the task force to develop meaningful recommendations that can make a real difference for families across our state.” The task force will examine the state’s early childhood system, including how programs are governed and coordinated and whether services can be streamlined. According to the Senate, Oklahoma families currently may have to navigate 19 programs across six state agencies to obtain services. The task force will look for ways to reduce administrative overlap, improve accountability and efficiency, and make programs more accessible to families. “Senator Gillespie is a thoughtful and dedicated legislator who understands the importance of giving Oklahoma children the strongest possible start in life,” Paxton said. “I’m confident she will bring a solutions-oriented approach to this task force and work to ensure our early childhood system is more coordinated, efficient and accessible for families.” The task force takes effect Nov. 1 and will use information gathered during its two-year review to develop recommendations for improving Oklahoma’s early childhood programs and services.