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What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know.
This Week from OK Policy
Oklahomans should be watching LA immigration raid protests with concern (Commentary): The federal government’s use of tear gas and National Guard troops against protestors in Los Angeles should sound an alarm for residents in every state — including places like Oklahoma that are far from a border. These tactics may start in Los Angeles, but history tells us they won’t stay there. [Gabriela Ramirez-Perez / OK Policy]
Oklahoma ranks 46th in 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, highlighting lawmakers’ misplaced priorities: Oklahoma ranks among the bottom five states for overall child well-being in the 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing child well-being in post-pandemic America. Oklahoma ranked among the top half of all states in only two of those 16 indicators. The data show Oklahoma leaders must do more to invest in the well-being of Oklahoma children and families, including proven programs and services that can help them thrive. [OK Policy]
Policy Matters: Latest KIDS COUNT report shows we’re failing our future: Oklahoma’s kids are the canary in the coal mine — the first to suffer when our systems crack, the loudest warning bell when something is deeply wrong. And right now, they’re sounding the alarms. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
SB 1168 expands liability for government-caused injuries and property damage (Capitol Update): One of the more positive results of the leveraging between policy and budget issues at the end of the legislative session was the passage of SB 1168, which deals with the perplexing issue of sovereign immunity. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
OK Policy in the News
Report ranks Oklahoma as one of the worst states for child well-being. Here’s why: Oklahoma ranks 46th among 50 states in the annual Kids Count report, released Monday, June 9, by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Every measure of educational success tracked by the report has worsened in recent years. At the same time, economic insecurity has increased, with 21% of Oklahoma children living in poverty. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma again ranks poorly for child well-being, annual report says [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma ranks 46th in overall child well-being for third consecutive year [KGOU]
- Report: Oklahoma ranks 46th in nation for overall child well-being [KOCO]
- Oklahoma ranks 46th in national child well-being report [News 9]
- Oklahoma ranks 46 overall in new Kids Count Data Profile [Fox 23]
- Report: OK ranks 46th nationally in child well-being [Public News Service]
Oklahoma’s Poverty Crisis Deepens as Lawmakers Clash Over Solutions: Poverty is deeply woven into the fabric of Oklahoma history. Whether it is the result of tornadoes and dust bowls, oil industry booms and busts, a never-ending stream of bad guys or a century of ugly political feuds, poverty and its byproducts have shaped the Sooner State. [Oklahoma Watch]
Some ‘debtors’ prison’ fees have been eliminated for Oklahoma defendants: Oklahoma may be emerging as a leader among states in eliminating court-ordered fees that in the past have essentially left many former inmates in “debtors’ prison” long after their time of incarceration has been served. [Tulsa World]
Weekly What’s That
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 or severely depressed; domestic violence witness; parent served jail time; being treated or judged unfairly due to race/ethnicity; or death of a parent.
ACEs can disrupt brain development causing social, emotional, and cognitive problems throughout an individual’s life, which increase the likelihood of risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, difficulty functioning at school/work, and even early death.
Nearly two in five Oklahoma children (21.3 percent) have suffered Adverse Childhood Experiences, according to 2024 data reported by America’s Health Rankings. This rate was higher the national average of 14.5 percent and the 3rd highest rate among the states. In 2021, 18.3 percent of Oklahoma children were found to have Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here.
Quote of the Week
“If we are viewing things like this as indicators on a dashboard of child well-being, what would we look like if we chose to say, ‘Actually, this is unacceptable; this doesn’t reflect Oklahoma values, and we’re going to commit to being brave and doing better?’”
– Carly Putnam, Policy Director at the Oklahoma Policy Institute, addressed Oklahoma’s low ranking — 46th in the nation for child well-being — in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book. While Oklahoma often touts itself as a family-friendly state committed to children’s welfare, Putnam points out that its dismal ranking tells a different story. [The Oklahoman]
Op-Ed of the Week
Opinion: “One Beautiful Bill” Would Be a Tragic Setback for Indian Country
The name “One Beautiful Bill” might sound harmless, charming, even, but for Indian Country, its passage would be nothing short of a policy earthquake. Behind the rhetoric of fiscal responsibility and government streamlining lies a sweeping assault on the foundational programs that uphold tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and the bare minimum of equitable federal support that Native Nations have fought to establish over generations.
The common thread among targeted programs is telling: they are discretionary, equity-based, and uniquely tribal. They are not “wasteful government spending”, they are the instruments through which tribal governments serve their citizens and exercise the rights promised to them by treaty and law.
Numbers of the Week
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48th – Oklahoma’s ranking in education, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book. This ranking was based on the number of young children (ages 3 & 4) not in school, fourth graders not proficient in reading, eighth graders not proficient in math, and high school students not graduating on time. [2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Oklahoma]
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27% – About 256,000 Oklahoma children, or 27% of all children in the state, live in households with a high housing cost burden. High housing costs weigh more heavily on low-income families, which are more likely to struggle with finding affordable housing, often spending more than 30% of pretax income on a home, whether they rent or own. [2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Oklahoma]
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43rd – Oklahoma’s ranking in overall child health, reflecting persistent challenges such as high rates of low birthweight, teen and child mortality, obesity, and lack of health coverage. These poor health outcomes threaten children’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive. [2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Oklahoma]
- 21% – The percent of children in Oklahoma growing up in households that struggle to afford basics like food, housing, and healthcare — a number that has risen since 2019. Living in poverty during childhood increases the risk of long-term challenges to health, education, and economic security. [2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Oklahoma]
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245,000 – The number of immigrant residents in Oklahoma, many of whom contribute to the state’s workforce, economy, and communities. About 6% are under 18, and many live in mixed-status households. [Migration Policy Institute]
What We’re Reading
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2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book: This year’s Data Book tells a mixed story — steady progress in some areas, setbacks in others and opportunities to do better for kids and families. [Annie E. Casey Foundation]
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Mental health effects of poverty, hunger, and homelessness on children and teens: Census data show that children are more likely to experience poverty than people over the age of 18. Approximately one in six kids, 16% of all children, live in families with incomes below the official poverty line. Those who are poor face challenges beyond a lack of resources. They also experience mental and physical issues at a much higher rate than those living above the poverty line. This report summarizes the myriad effects of poverty, homelessness, and hunger on children and youth. [American Psychological Association]
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The Importance of Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Policies for Children and Families: Continuous Medicaid enrollment helps children and families maintain stable access to care. Gaps in coverage can disrupt treatment and worsen health outcomes, especially for low-income households. Policies that minimize coverage interruptions improve long-term health and reduce administrative burdens.[Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics]
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Poverty Matters for Children’s Well-being, but Good Policy Can Help: Poverty has lasting effects on children’s health, development, and future opportunities. Research shows that income instability can harm cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. Addressing child poverty through policy is essential to promoting equity and long-term success. [Child Trends]
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The President’s Power to Call Out the National Guard Is Not a Blank Check: The president’s power to deploy the National Guard without a governor’s consent is limited — and historically rare. Legal scholars warn that while the Insurrection Act grants this authority, it is not a blank check. Deploying troops against protestors, especially without state approval, raises serious concerns about federal overreach, civil liberties, and the erosion of checks and balances in times of unrest. [The Brennan Center]
