OKPOLICY.ORG
Throughout the past week, we’ve highlighted multiple facets of poverty in Oklahoma. We hope we’ve demonstrated that while poverty is a complex issue, Oklahoma has the power to provide real solutions.
It’s true that it’s an uphill battle. As we’ve shared this week:
- A disproportionate share of Oklahoma children, especially children of color, live in high-poverty neighborhoods;
- Poverty is an adverse childhood experience that can rewire the body and brain; and
- Oklahoma’s poverty rates and uninsured rates continue to outpace the national average.
But while these situations were created and exacerbated by public policy, they’re also problems that we can leverage proven tools to solve:
- By restoring refundability of the Earned Income Tax Credit, we can help more low-income working families cover basic expenses like school supplies and groceries;
- By expanding Medicaid, we can ensure that parents get the health care they need to bring their best selves to their children and family;
- By continuing to increase education funding, we can make sure every kid can attend a high-quality school; and
- By continuing criminal justice reform efforts, we can free families from endless cycle of fees, fines, and arrests and help them get back on their feet.
OK Policy is committed to using these proven solutions (and others) to equip families to lift themselves into better circumstances. By joining our Together Oklahoma grassroots teams, you can work with us to ensure that every Oklahoman’s voice is heard at the Capitol and that we’re giving policymakers the help they need to take on our toughest challenges.
Together, we can make a difference. Join us.
