Category: Press Releases & Statements

New KIDS COUNT® report shows need for immediate action to help Oklahoma children and families 

A new report from KIDS COUNT®, a program of the Annie E. Casey Foundation focused on child well-being, shows how the COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on Oklahoma’s children and families. The report — entitled “Kids, Families and COVID-19: Pandemic Pain Points and The Urgent Need to Respond” — also highlights the outsized impact of the pandemic on our state’s children and families of color.   Many Oklahoma families have directly dealt with the illness itself; far more, however, have found themselves facing the pandemic’s economic and emotional toll from lost wages, lack of child care, and school closures. Too many Oklahoma families are asking themselves regularly: Will my family have enough food to eat? Will I be able to pay our rent on time? How will I afford medical treatment if we get sick?  [More...]

New OK Policy report shows intricate, fragile interconnectedness of public assistance programs for Oklahomans in need

A new report from the Oklahoma Policy Institute — entitled “Plateaus and Cliff Effects in Oklahoma” —  is among the first of its kind to examine how public supports and income interact to impact low-income Oklahomans. [More...]

Public being denied opportunity for input about significant change to Oklahoma health care policy 

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is shutting out Oklahomans from voicing concerns about a major change for health care for most SoonerCare members. On Nov. 12, the OHCA Medical Advisory Committee voted to condemn the agency’s efforts to transition the… Read more [More...]

OK Policy announces Angela Monson as Outreach and Legislative Director

The Oklahoma Policy Institute announced it has hired former Oklahoma lawmaker Angela Monson to help engage Oklahomans and elected officials with its work to make our state a place where everyone can thrive.  [More...]

OK Policy statement cutting short Census field operations

On August 3, the Census Bureau announced it would cut short its operations timeline as it works to ensure a full and complete count for everyone living in the United States. The Census Bureau previously announced it would have enumerators… Read more [More...]

Statement Regarding President’s Executive Order About Census

On July 21, President Trump issued an executive order to exclude some residents from the 2020 Census count. Statement from OK Policy:  The Constitution requires that every person living in our nation must be counted through the Census. Today’s executive… Read more [More...]

Statement Re: Passage of State Question 802

Statement from the Oklahoma Policy Institute: Oklahomans made the right choice Tuesday by passing SQ 802, which will provide life-changing health care coverage for more than 200,000 Oklahomans and create a significant economic stimulus when implemented. OK Policy is grateful… Read more [More...]

Statement: Gov. Stitt press conference about June 25 Medicaid audit findings

Below is the Oklahoma Policy Institute’s statement regarding Gov. Stitt’s press conference today about the Medicaid audit he ordered nearly 16 months ago:  “The Oklahoma Health Care Authority provides quality care, delivered efficiently, to hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans. The… Read more [More...]

New analyses from OK Policy and Families USA quantify benefits of Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma

Organizations show impact of proposed initiative to cover more people and draw down more federal dollars Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma will create jobs, help the state budget and change lives, according to two new reports released by the Oklahoma Policy… Read more [More...]

KIDS COUNT 2020: Oklahoma ranks 45th for child well-being

Oklahoma children continue to lag behind most states when it comes to major health and well-being indicators, according to the 2020 edition of the KIDS COUNT® Data Book published annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Oklahoma ranks 45th overall… Read more [More...]