S.o.s - Edmond,OK

Have you tried the daycare at Tinker? Even if you're separated, if you're not divorced yet, you still have rights to military benefits. What about the daycare at your school? Other than that, you may just have to spend a day on the phone trying to find another daycare. Some places may even offer a military discount. It's worth a shot!

Hi J.

I wish I had an answer for you. It seems as if you are doing all the right thigs and just can't seem to get ahead. I understand, it seems like life is good at taking a couple of steps forward and then falling ten back.

I don't know very much abot the military, but I thought your husband woul have to help you. I know when my sister married a navy boy, they had a child and then seperated and the navy took the money right from his check and sent it to my sister. Have you contacted the navy about their policy. Also, you might think abot contating DHS to see about getting help payng for child care. I know a lot of it is based on financial need. I also know they are willing to help, or they seem to give more assistance to people in school. Then it woud be just a matter of finding a child care that takes DHS. There are a lot of them.

If it where me in the situation I would call the navy to find out what can be done to make your husband help financialy, call or go to the DHS office that handles assistance (you may be able to get other finanial help besides child care), call WIC, because they can offer help too as far as w/ food and formula, call and vists child cares s you can find one you like and get on a wait list if their is one (find one you like that also takes DHS, so if you get assisance you are ready), I would explainf to your mother in law all that you are doing and start giving her some time lines so she can have an idea that you are working to get on your feetand as to when she may be done watching her grand daughter. I would stay in school and keep your job. Thhose are two positives that will only help you, so don't give them up.

Also, depending on where you work, live and go to school (which I am assuming is in Edmond) it be less expensive if you look into a child care outside of edmond. Edmond is a rather expensive town. You might aso check where you go to school, they may have child care on campus, or a child development enter used for student teachers. You also might find on an announcement board college students looking for some part time babysitting jobs. That might help you w/ days and times child cares are not open. One other option is churches, a lot of them have mothers day out programs. They are only one or 2 days a week and only a portion of the day like 9-2. I know some of them take chidren under 1yr, and no as expensive as regular childcare. Some like that would give your mother in law a break too.

I know all of that can be time consuming and frusating. You might want to let your boss know what you are doing incase you have to take a lot of time off for visits to day-cares, DHS, WICand if they call you at work you will not get in trouble for personal calls.

Anyway, I hope some of that helps and I also know it is easy to sit here and map out advise when I am not the one dealing w/ it all. If I can help w/ anything more like phone numbers or anything let me know. I wish you all the best, keep up the good work.

Keep us posted on your progres and what has worked and all the good stuff. Stay well and keep in mind you are doing great!

T.

Hi J.,
Have you tried www.ok.gov? They have a Oklahoma benefits questionaire there that you can take to see what benefits you are eligible for.
I hope this can help you some.
Et

Have you tried to get help from DHS? DHS will help with paying for daycare. Depending on your income, they may pay for all of it or you could have a co-pay. You can google DHS OKlahoma and there is information on childcare. You can also look them up in the yellow pages and call them.
Good Luck!
D.