Issues

It is the vision of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy that public policies at all levels of government—local, state, and federal—must further the positive and healthy development of all children in Oklahoma. Developing the policies needed to achieve this vision must be seen as a top priority and recognized as fundamental to Oklahoma's future growth and vitality.

 To achieve this vision, Oklahoma children must have:

• Quality health care
• Quality educational opportunities throughout their childhood
• Portection from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence
• A nurturing family in a supportive community
• Economic security and freedom from poverty; and
• Equal opportunities and freedom from racial disparities


GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Participants at the 2010 Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy's Fall Forum created these guiding principles to let lawmakers know what we consider priorities. We know tight budget times require them to make tough decisions. These principles are a succinct way of telling lawmakers how to best support children and families when dollars are tight. Use these principles as a guide in your communications with lawmakers. Use these principles to analyze policy and legislation to ensure lawmakers are proposing policies in line with our message: Protect Kids!

Because we believe: There should be a safe, healthy environment for every child, we offer the following principles to guide thinking about public funding and policy for children and families during these challenging budgetary times.  

• Preserve the quality of programs for children.
• Invest in prevention.
•  Protect services to high risk/high needs populations.
• Make targeted reductions rather than across the board cuts maximizing the leveraging of federal dollars through state matching funds.
• Pursue revenue generating ideas.
• The budget should not be balanced through cuts alone.
• Cutting programs that serve children, including the vulnerable adults in their families, should be the last place to look for savings.

 View and print a PDF version of the Guiding Principles here.

These principles are property of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. Altering the principles requires the permission of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a member of Voices for America’s Children. Donations can be made online at www.oica.org. All contributions are tax deductible.