Too many foster youth enter the adult world without a safety net (Guest post: Brandon Crawford)

Brandon L. Crawford s one of four 2014-2015 OK Policy Research Fellows. Brandon is a Sociology Ph.D. student at the University of Oklahoma’s Norman Campus. He is also a research assistant at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ Office of… Read more [More...]

How to strengthen nutrition and health for Women, Infants & Children (Guest Post: Monica Barczak)

Monica Barczak is Director of Innovation Lab at CAP Tulsa, where she leads a small team responsible for a variety of research and program design and improvement efforts. A child’s successful growth and development depends on many factors, including good… Read more [More...]

Court-ordered monitors find Oklahoma falling short in efforts to fix foster care system

Almost two years after finalizing an historic plan to transform its child welfare system, a new report finds that the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is falling short of making “good faith efforts to achieve substantial and sustained progress”… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma protections for abused children still a long way from the pinnacle

In October, findings were submitted by the outside experts monitoring the Pinnacle Plan, Oklahoma’s court-mandated effort to fix its child welfare system. Their report raises serious concerns about the plan’s implementation in its first year.  In particular, the report makes… Read more [More...]

Reforming the child welfare system: A progress report

One year after Oklahoma finalized an historic plan to transform its child welfare system, significant changes have been put in place. However, major obstacles remain and the ultimate success of the Pinnacle Plan will depend on many more years of… Read more [More...]

The Economic Impact of Infant Mortality in Oklahoma

The State Department of Health convened a leadership summit in October 2012 to address a public health problem that is as tragic as it is entrenched in Oklahoma: infant mortality.  The summit is part of a statewide initiative to raise… Read more [More...]

What really happened with WIC?

The Oklahoma State Health Department (OSDH) recently terminated Planned Parenthood’s contract to administer a federal program called Women, Infants & Children (WIC).  The notification letter sent to Planned Parenthood does not provide a reason for ending the contract.  Planned Parenthood… Read more [More...]

Infant Mortality: It’s everyone’s responsibility

The State Department of Health recently convened a leadership summit to address a public health problem that is as tragic as it is entrenched in Oklahoma: infant mortality.  The summit is part of a statewide initiative to raise awareness about… Read more [More...]

Interview with Steven Dow: Rules are rules

Note: In September, the Attorney General’s office issued a letter addressing whether the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services had acted improperly in approving changes to the state’s child care subsidy program at a June meeting without going through the official… Read more [More...]

Child abuse and neglect numbers moving in the right direction

We’re out with our latest Numbers You Need bulletin for June, tracking economic and fiscal trends in Oklahoma and the nation. While the bulletin focuses on monthly and quarterly data on jobs, inflation, work support programs, and the like, each… Read more [More...]