Author: Lauren Turner

Lauren Turner joined Oklahoma Policy Institute in October 2018 as the mental health policy analyst and coordinator of the Mental Health Policy Fellowship. She is a native Tulsan who has spent the entirety of her career working in social services in Northeastern Oklahoma, including work in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, the HIV/AIDS community, and anti-trafficking efforts in the Tulsa area. She was a research assistant and Knee Center for Strong Families Scholar at the University of Oklahoma. She received a B.S in Family and Human Services from John Brown University in 2010 and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2016. She became a Licensed Master Social Worker in July 2016.

Recent Articles

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

By: Lauren Turner
July 13, 2019 // Updated: July 25, 2023

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events experienced before age 18. They include parental divorce or separation; living with someone who had an alcohol or drug problem; neighborhood violence victim or witness; living with someone who was mentally ill, suicidal… Read more [More...]

Substance use disorders are a public health crisis in Oklahoma. Expanding health care coverage will help.

By: Lauren Turner
April 18, 2019 // Updated: April 18, 2019

Accepting federal funds to expand access to health care--which Oklahoma has not done-- is one of the most effective tools states have to combat the opioid crisis and other forms of addiction. Expanding access to care will provide Oklahomans with a pathway to recovery and make Oklahoma a healthier state. [More...]

Unity Bill hits a high note with legislators and advocates

By: Lauren Turner
March 21, 2019 // Updated: August 27, 2019

Governor Stitt signed the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act - also called the "Unity Bill" on March 14th. This legislation is the result of months of work by the bipartisan medical marijuana working group, and it passed easily through both the House and the Senate. [More...]

Money matters for child development. Healthier finances means a healthier future for children in Oklahoma.

By: Lauren Turner
March 6, 2019 // Updated: November 4, 2019

Policies that support low-income families improve the well-being of children. Policymakers have a number of options for improving economic prospects for Oklahoma’s working families and in turn improving health - including their mental health. Two practical changes are to restore the refundability of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and increase the minimum wage. Both of these policy changes would provide more economic stability for families, reducing the risk of childhood trauma and poor mental health outcomes that stem from these adverse experiences. Improving the financial well-being of families creates healthier and economically thriving communities. [More...]

We’re hiring! Apply for the Mental Health Policy Fellowship

By: Lauren Turner
February 8, 2019 // Updated: February 8, 2019

OK Policy is excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the 2019-2021 cohort of the Mental Health Policy Fellowship through March 1, 2019. The Mental Health Policy Fellowship is intended to equip professionals in Tulsa and the greater Oklahoma community to be passionate, knowledgeable advocates for mental health and addiction policy reforms. [More...]

Want to improve the mental health of Oklahomans? Expand Medicaid.

By: Lauren Turner
January 9, 2019 // Updated: May 14, 2019

Oklahoma is in crisis. While need for mental health care climbs, Oklahomans overwhelmingly lack access to the care needed to address these sometimes preventable, always treatable conditions. This has serious consequences: untreated mental illness can mean increased risk for other… Read more [More...]