Topic: Child Health & Safety

Child uninsured rate is a health care bright spot for Oklahoma

By: Carly Putnam
November 12, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Some new research highlights a rare health care success story for Oklahoma. A new report from the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families found that the United States’ child uninsured rate hit an all-time low of… Read more [More...]

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

By: Guest
February 5, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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)

By: Guest
October 3, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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

By: David Blatt
May 22, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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

By: David Blatt
November 6, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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

By: David Blatt
September 9, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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

By: Kate Richey
November 15, 2012 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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?

By: Kate Richey
October 24, 2012 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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

By: Kate Richey
October 8, 2012 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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

By: David Blatt
October 10, 2011 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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...]