Please Vote Early or on Tuesday, November 3rd

Following the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) Fall Awards Luncheon, the winners pose with OICA CEO Joe Dorman (back row, far right). The winners are, first row from left, Seth Paxton, representing Paycom; Cara Carllson; Jami Jackson Cole; Clayton Rohla; Shannon Luper, accepting for Girl Scouts Behind Bars; (back row, from left) Lt. Ryan Woodard of the Oklahoma City Fire Department; Trisha Koelsch, accepting for Calm Waters; M. Scott Carter; Bill Anoatubby, Governor Emeritus, the Chickasaw Nation; Randy Turney; Scott Savell; and Dorman. The awards lunch was held during OICA’s Fall Forum policy meeting of child advocates from across the state held in Oklahoma City on Oct. 14-15. (OICA Photo by Ragan Franklin) Over four days last week, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) held our annual Fall Forum conference where we assembled advocates to shape a legislative agenda for 2027. This will be released in the coming weeks. We also recognized our selected honorees at our awards luncheon who have done tremendous work to improve the lives of Oklahoma’s children, so thank you once again to each of them. Their work truly makes a positive difference for children. We also were joined by Brian Bergman of North Star as our keynote speaker. His firm helps advise businesses across the United States in ways to improve their strategies, work products, or company environment. We were extremely fortunate that he could join us and share thoughts about a successful future for our individual organizations. The question which he posed, “What Stops If You Stop,” was presented to us about our work and why we must make this relevant to those who believe in our individual missions. For OICA, I dwell on this frequently. I worry about our state, especially because of the many statistics which show we are not doing fine for our children. I have read stories about what Oklahoma looked like for children prior to our creation in 1983, including the narrative provided about the horrific treatment of children from the book Throwaway Kids by Terry Smith (a member of our Board of Directors) and Bob Burke (one our honorees this year). It took advocates calling for legislative change creating safeguards and reporting standards to ensure better treatment of these youth. For 43 years, OICA has worked with lawmakers to create policies which move the needle toward quality of care and treatment. If our organization stopped, and as we are the sole nonprofit statewide which focuses the entirety of our work on youth policy and outcomes, I fear for what might happen if we were not there to educate advocates and policymakers alike. We appreciate our state policymakers for the work they have dedicated to many conversations in hopes of implementing positive legislation. OICA is engaged with several legislative studies this summer and fall and monitored others which impact children and families. Many good ideas will be coming in 2027. Our team works each day at the State Capitol to help guide bills from our legislative agenda, providing updates regarding bills which need improvement or are simply bad ideas for child welfare overall. Our entire team is at the Capitol providing information to help lawmakers see what legislation would do if passed, or sometimes to show data where something has or has not worked in other states. OICA also works with state agencies, both to raise awareness about the services they deliver, and the issues faced when challenges arise. We worked recently with several agencies to help them share information about how Oklahomans can cut down waiting times and get back onto services under the social safety net more quickly. We also appreciate the opportunity to meet with them and share concerns from Oklahomans who are facing challenges to help them better understand when things need to improve, especially now as many Oklahomans have lost access to eligible benefits that help them survive. If OICA stopped, this weekly column, which reaches thousands of Oklahomans each week through newspapers and our online newsletter, would go away, along with the information presented at our website, https://oica.org . Our efforts help educate and activate advocates to mobilize on issues, along with the action alerts which we send when it matters to help move a policy.  I ask those of you who work with a mission you strongly support, what would stop if you stopped? What would happen if your favorite nonprofit organization ceased? OICA will continue the fight if you believe in our mission. We exist on support from caring Oklahomans like you; we are not going to stop fighting for children, and we ask you not to give up on us.

This is a busy week at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA). We kicked off our annual Fall Forum, a policy conference with more than 100 attendees conducting a deep dive into children’s issues. OICA uses this conference each year to prepare a “children’s legislative agenda” for consideration and the 2026 topic is the federal legislation designated H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” approved by Congress and signed by President Trump. Under this law, states must review applications for services provided under the social safety net, such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid Advantage, and other programs. While errors must be prevented and fraud punished, there should not be excessive barriers in place for Oklahomans who legitimately qualify for services to help them get back on their feet, or for seniors who receive these services to help them remain in their homes or be able to survive independently. Some suggest nonprofits and churches take up the burden of the services slashed by the bill. This is simply impossible: church attendance is declining so tithing is shrinking; and for nonprofits, donations have decreased due to the difficult economy and rising prices for just about everything. Neither churches nor nonprofits can pick up the slack with fewer resources coming through the doors. Everyone should visit a town hall meeting before Election Day on November 3 or even drop an email to your own lawmakers to share your burdens. Elected officials must understand the reality of what these policies have created. Following Fall Forum, the 2027 OICA Children’s Legislative Agenda will be distributed for state and federal lawmakers. We hope policymakers take these thoughts and shape legislation which will benefit our youth, and we will be there to assist with informational resources and advocacy efforts. At Fall Forum, we also recognize tremendous advocates who make a difference in children’s lives. I recently highlighted the winners nominated by Oklahomans and selected by our board of directors. You can see that list at https://www.oica.org/fallaward26 . I also want to recognize two winners of the OICA CEO’s Public Service Award and our Volunteer of the Year. The CEO Award winner is the Honorable Loyd Benson, former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Speaker Benson has been actively engaged in his community of Frederick since leaving office, and he has been instrumental in ensuring accessible health care is available in his home region of southwestern Oklahoma. His efforts to help grow the local hospital has been vital for that area and we salute him for his work. The second CEO’s Award goes to John Armitage, M.D., the president and chief executive officer of Our Blood Institute (OBI). OBI is the seventh-largest independent blood center in the nation, with 17 donor centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. OBI is the nonprofit blood provider for patients at more than 280 hospitals, medical facilities, and air ambulances across all three states. Dr. Armitage has been instrumental in aiding the nonprofit sector with collaborative partnerships. OICA appreciates all that he does. Our Volunteer of the Year is Cara Carllson, a domestic violence survivor who has actively been working in the community to raise awareness and support programs which assist those who are fleeing harmful situations. Her volunteerism has truly made a difference in the lives of all ages, and as a recent graduate of OICA’s Advocacy Boot Camp leadership program, Cara dedicated many hours to helping our organization and she elevated our Heroes Ball to a new level through her skillful work. Thanks to a reader of this weekly column who caught an error in a previous edition. I highlighted voter turnout in my column the week of August 31 and I accidentally provided two dates for elections but listed them as the Monday before the election instead of the actual Tuesday election date. I was in a rush to add that and looked at the wrong day. I certainly appreciate that catch and am sorry for missing that on my re-read. 

As Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) continues our series on navigating the policy changes by state agencies to reduce error rates and potential fraud, let’s focus this week on childcare. We appreciate Oklahoma Human Services, or OKDHS, for providing information to hopefully help you seek available assistance. OKDHS Child Care Services works to support childcare providers and families across the state so Oklahoma’s children can experience safe and quality childcare. The agency supports qualifying families with the Child Care Subsidy Program funded federally through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), while also overseeing the following: Child Care Licensing for all childcare facilities across the state protects the health, safety, and well-being of children from birth through age 12 who receive care outside of their homes. All childcare facilities in Oklahoma must be licensed through the agency’s Child Care Services Division to operate. Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) - encourages providers to move beyond minimum licensing requirements and pursue increasingly higher levels of quality. Through Oklahoma's Star Rating System, providers may earn a one- to five-star rating, a change from the former three-star rating which was made a few years ago. Provider Professional Development - provided through statewide training, technical assistance, coaching, leadership development, and educational partnerships. Program Integrity and Compliance - oversees policy development, federal compliance, program oversight, fiscal accountability, risk management, and strategic planning. Federal Compliance and Policy Development. Continuous Quality Improvement. There are approximately 2,874 licensed childcare facilities in Oklahoma and approximately 31,190 children across Oklahoma receive childcare subsidy payments through the agency. Tootris reports the annual average cost for childcare in Oklahoma ranges from $10,809 for infants to $7,326 for school-age children before and after school in centers. Home-based childcare costs about $9,399 and $7,990 for those same ages. Childcare subsidies are available through the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) as administered by OKDHS. You can learn more about qualifications at https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/services/adult/ccsubsidy/child-care-subsidy.html . There, you can submit an application if you qualify. The program’s mission is to support parents’ ability to participate in the workforce and strengthen early childhood development in areas where it is costly without this assistance. Both are critical areas for growing the state’s economy and future opportunities for children. Challenges remain: On April 6, 2026, the pandemic-era $5 per day add-on ended for all recipients. This was viewed as temporary enhancement funded through time-limited federal resources that are no longer available. Likewise, on Feb. 1, 2027, income eligibility to qualify for childcare subsidy will return to pre-pandemic levels, making fewer families eligible. The expiration of temporary federal COVID-era funding, coupled with rising enrollment rates statewide, resulted in several changes which have led to frustration by providers and parents alike. Lawmakers have investigated this situation. The Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) recently reviewed Oklahoma’s childcare subsidy program and found that the program's quality control measures exceed those in many other states. These measures contributed to LOFT’s findings that Oklahoma is unlikely to experience large-scale fraud from bad actors operating as childcare providers unlike what many states have seen. Independent review and oversight are important to maintaining public trust and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used appropriately. Lawmakers are looking to make improvements. House Bill 1979 established the Early Childhood Task Force to examine Oklahoma’s early childhood service delivery system and identify opportunities for improvement. The Task Force will review coordination of services across state agencies and programs and provide recommendations for improvements. OKDHS encourages families to use their “Child Care Locator” to find licensed childcare in their communities, or to monitor their current childcare program for compliance with health and safety regulations. The Child Care Locator may be accessed at https://childcarefind.okdhs.org/ and is available 24/7 online. If you have faced issues with securing childcare or meeting the need for cost, please reach out to your local lawmakers to share your story. It is important they understand how this impacts your family so they can address this issue.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) is launching a fundraiser capturing the spirit and intensity around one of college football’s greatest rivalries to benefit its Kid Governor® program. OICA is selling a limited-edition T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Arch Nemesis” on the front, a nod to the fact the University of Oklahoma Sooners are the “arch nemesis” of the Texas Longhorns’ quarterback, Arch Manning.  The shirts are available for $25 at Bush League Sports Tavern, located in the Shoppes at Northpark at 12252 N. May Ave. in Oklahoma City. They will also be for sale during the WWLS Bevo Bash in the parking lot at Treasure Valley Casino, located on Exit 55 on I-35 on the way to the Cotton Bowl on Friday, Oct. 10. The back of the shirt says, “Beat Texas in child well-being and football” and the link to OICA’s website at www.oica.org . The back of the shirt also will include logos from the efforts’ sponsors. “The University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns are a pair of ‘blue bloods’ in college football,” said Joe Dorman, OICA’s CEO. “Both rank among the top college football teams in the nation almost every year. “However, both our states lag when it comes to overall child well-being. Hopefully, the friendly competition this shirt will generate awareness and help improve both states’ rankings in child well-being statistics.” According to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Oklahoma and Texas are tied, ranking 44th among the 50 states. “If either OU or Texas ranked this poorly in football, it is no exaggeration to say, ‘Heads would roll’,” Dorman said. “Both our states owe it to our children to do better because it is our future that is at risk, and just like with fans of football, it takes advocates calling for better results.” All proceeds from the T-shirt sales will benefit OICA’s Kid Governor® program. In spring 2022, OICA partnered with The Connecticut Democracy Center to bring the award-winning Kid Governor® civics program to Oklahoma in participating fifth grade classrooms. For the past eleven years, OICA has sponsored or co-sponsored an Oklahoma’s Kid Governor program. Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, the program expanded to be a full Kid Governor® civics program for fifth graders across Oklahoma, teaching them importance of civic duty and voting, while allowing them to run for and vote for the state’s Kid Governor®. “With the ‘Arch Nemesis’ campaign, Sooner fans have a chance to show their true colors, proudly wear crimson, stand behind their team, and help make Oklahoma a better state for its children,” Dorman concluded.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) is pleased to announce our Fall Forum conference agenda, bringing together child advocacy and policy experts to examine the “State of the State” for children and how best to improve it. Fall Forum will be held in two segments: virtual meetings on Monday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and on Friday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In between, the participants will gather in Oklahoma City at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and Thursday, Oct 15 to discuss children’s issues and develop the components of OICA’s “Children’s Legislative Agenda” for submission to the 2027 session of the Oklahoma Legislature. During the online session, participants will lay out an overview of the agenda to be discussed during the in-person meeting the next week. Registered participants will be provided with the link for the meeting. While it is suggested to participate in the online session, it is not necessary in order to attend the in-person component of Fall Forum. In-person attendance is limited to 100 registrants, with an additional 100 virtual registrations allowed OICA CEO Joe Dorman said the theme for this year’s event is “FY-27: Federal Impact on State Programs and Nonprofits.” Participants will conduct an in-depth examination of the impact of federal budget cuts on the ability of the state to meet its responsibilities to the citizens, as well as the strain placed on nonprofits to fill the gaps caused by the federal cuts. Among areas advocates will examine include such topics as: Food insecurity. Economic well-being. Education policy. Health and insurance. Family and community, including childcare, public broadcasting services, and tobacco use prevention. “Our work is clearly cut out for us,” Dorman said. “Advocates who attend Fall Forum are the front lines of service providers for Oklahomans who need help. It is clear the government is not committing sufficient resources to many of those areas – especially in the areas of food insecurity and healthcare – and people are looking to nonprofits for help, at a time when nonprofits are struggling to meet financial needs. “The fact is that many nonprofits are having a challenging time with fundraising because of the financial pressures being placed on our donor bases. It is a perfect storm of challenges, and Fall Forum is where advocates can converse on policies to navigate those challenges.” Dorman noted this is important because lawmakers are our servant leaders coming from many backgrounds. “We as child advocates have a responsibility to help policymakers better understand the importance of children’s issues,” he said. “Children rarely have a voice regarding policy, which is why OICA was created and the reason we continue our mission. Now, we invite advocates from across the state to stand with us to be the voice of Oklahoma’s children during the Fall Forum. Many elected officials rely upon those with real world experience to help guide them and now is a critical time to share those stories.” The cost to register for Fall Forum is $125, and discounted tickets are available for students and virtual attendance. Registration and the tentative agenda can be found on the OICA Events page at https://www.oica.org/events on the OICA website. Individual and organizational members of OICA are provided with a complimentary conference registration which is included in their annual dues of $100. In addition to registration, the link includes sponsorship opportunities for those individuals, organizations, or businesses that wish to support the event. In addition to the meetings, Fall Forum will include an awards luncheon on October 14 to recognize various child advocates and an opportunity for advocates to network with policymakers who will receive recognition from OICA that evening.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) presents awards at our Fall Forum. The luncheon is Wednesday, Oct. 14 in Oklahoma City; we are excited about the winners. The Burnes/Lichtenstein Journalism Award honors journalism covering children’s issues. Our 2026 winner is M. Scott Carter, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Lawton Constitution/Southwest Ledger. The Dr. Dwight Sublett Healthcare Award goes to a medical provider that improves youth health. We had a tie this year: Calm Waters, a central Oklahoma nonprofit organization which provides grief support services for children and families, and Dr. A.D. Hopkins, a pediatrician and the Chief Medical Officer for Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, will be honored. The Gene Rainbolt Corporate Citizen Award recognizes a business going beyond their work to benefit children in Oklahoma. The award goes to Paycom. We also congratulate Paycom CEO and founder, Chad Richison, for his recent recognition as one of Forbes 250: America’s Most Successful Living Builders who has shaped America’s business landscape. The Jari Askins Justice for Children Award goes to a member of the legal community who supports youth. This year’s honoree is Oklahoma City attorney Bob Burke, the co-author of Throwaway Kids, a history of Oklahoma’s Human Services. The Jon Hansen Public Servant Award is named after the former OKC Fire Chief and Director of the Council on Firefighter Training. This year, it goes to Ryan Woodard, a lieutenant with the Oklahoma City Fire Department who, working with the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, developed a first-of-its-kind CLEET-approved autism training for emergency professionals. The Laura Choate Resilience Award is named for a plaintiff in the “Terry D.” lawsuit, the legal action which helped create OICA, and a current OICA Board Member. The award honors one who overcame childhood adversity and gives back to others as an adult. Darryl Savell is this year’s honoree. He is founder of Savell Consulting, helps organizations fix broken intake and follow-up systems. The Jasmine and Melvin Moran Kidizenship Award honors Melvin and the late Jasmine Moran of Seminole. This award recognizes Oklahomans under 18 who benefit other young people. The dual winners are: “Mighty” Miller Hines, a young Oklahoman who recently passed from leukemia after creating a mission to provide blankets for hospitalized children; and Clayton Rohla, an Oklahoma 4-Her, for raising money for MD Anderson Cancer Research, donating food to families in need, supporting the Roff Senior Citizen Center and Mercy Cancer Center, and purchasing 150 flags for veterans’ graves at the Roff East Hill Cemetery for Wreaths Across America. The Ray & Pat Potts Community Leader Award recognizes a community leader of distinction. Chickasaw Gov. Emeritus Bill Anoatubby is the 2026 recipient. For decades he worked to advance missions through the Chickasaw Nation, including support for feeding children over the summer months when federal support programs stalled. The Senator Judy Eason McIntire Inclusion Award bears the name of a former lawmaker who has striven to break down race barriers in Oklahoma. This year it goes to Carnegie School Superintendent Randy Turney who works to improve relations and partnerships with tribal entities, breaking traditional norms that have historically negatively impacted Native American students. The Steven A. Novick Award for Child Advocacy is named after the attorney who led the “Terry D.” Lawsuit and goes to an unsung hero in child advocacy. Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, an initiative of Girls Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma which works to support children who have incarcerated parents by providing support services, is this year’s recipient. The Honorable Sandy Garrett Award is for excellence in education. Jami Jackson Cole, a southwest Oklahoma educator is the 2026 recipient. She also runs Oklahoma Edvocates, a social media outreach with more than 65,000 followers with the mission of encouraging teachers to engage in public policy. Congratulations to these deserving winners and thank them for improving the lives of Oklahoma’s children! 

Advocacy Boot Camp (ABC) Class III begins its activities over their year-long course learning the lessons of how to make a difference in their communities and their state. ABC Class II graduated this week in Stillwater, as ABC Class III began their work. (Courtesy Photo) STILLWATER, Okla. – Each year, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) sponsors its Advocacy Boot Camp – also known as “ABC” – a year-long program focusing on making those interested in being a voice for children even more effective This week, members of the third class of advocates, ABC Class III, began their journey to become better voices for the causes important to them during their inaugural meeting in Stillwater. As that third class began its work, ABC Class II graduated in a ceremony held at Stillwater’s Hideaway Pizza. “Oklahoma’s children need for adults to be their collective voice when it comes to both advocating and leading,” said Joe Dorman, OICA’s CEO. “Participants in our ABC classes improve their skills as advocates and become even more productive in their communities.” The Advocacy Boot Camp is an update of a program operated by OICA from 1995 to 2010 called the “Kids Count Leadership Program.” ABC has proven to be a valuable resource for those who want to learn more about the resources available in Oklahoma to improve the quality of life for its children and its citizens. “The foundation of any community, any state, is caring people willing to learn and then put that knowledge to work,” he said. “Advocacy’s primary purpose is to raise awareness, influence decision-makers, and bring about positive social, legal or systemic change – ABC provides participants with the tools to be even more effective in that effort.” According to Licia Walters, OICA’s program director, each year’s multiple-session program provides coursework on how participants can be stronger advocates on key issues relating to children. “This is always the primary goal of the ABC,” she said. “Knowledge is power in advocacy, and ABC is designed to make sure participants have the knowledge they need to make a difference.” The sessions for ABC Class III will be held in several state locations, covering both urban and rural areas of the state, beginning in Stillwater, and then traveling to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lawton, Tahlequah, and Ada. The final session will overlap with the incoming Class IV for the next year. “Our first two classes are proving to be the next generation of policy leaders for our state; we expect nothing less from those participating in Class III,” Dorman said. “Trained advocates are a renewing natural resource that have the skills to lead organizations in communities across the state, working at the grassroots level to make Oklahoma a better place for its youngest residents, and some of our participants already have even run for an elective office.” The members of ABC Class II who graduated were: Te’Ata Loper of the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association; Cara Carllson of Swanky Door Decore; Delainna Percifield and Madison Thompson of CREOKS; Clotiel Howard of Hope for the Future, Inc.; Suzanne Hughes, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Children, Inc.; Erika Johnson of American University; Lillian Bocquin of Honestly, an OKC nonprofit; Aanahita Ervin of Oklahoma Policy Institute; Meghan Hollingsworth of Pioneer Library System; Melissa Klink, CEO of the Center for Children and Families in Norman; Chaunte’ Gilmore; Nicholas Kindelt of Tulsa Area United Way; Rebekka Lucas, OICA Board Vice President and Director of Operations and Finance for the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts; and Anthony Hernandez-Rivera of the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General. ABC Class III includes: Emily Oberg and Molly Ziriax of CREOKS; Chantal Rocha of Western Plains Youth and Family Services; Nena Walker of the Center for Children and Families; Michele DeBerry, Director of The Tolbert Center for Developmental Disabilities and The Oklahoma Autism Network; Marny Dunlap of OU Health; Haley Ann Hegwood and Diego McCollum of the Potts Family Foundation; Kathleen Bates of KB Custom Solutions, LLC; Jennifer Hunt of Great Plains Child Care Resource and Referral; Abbie Stewart, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Arc of Oklahoma; Terrell Johnson of Pivot, Inc.; Claudia Swisher, a retired educator; Erika Wright of Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice; Shelley Hawkins of OKC Market for Family & Children’s Services; Drew France, Senior Director for CAP Tulsa; Julia Smith, Pediatric Pandemic Network hub site manager at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital; Zac Swartz, USDA Rural Development Director; Col. Kevin Roland (retired, Oklahoma Army National Guard), the State Youth Programs Director for Sooner Job Challenge; and Ashley Helm, OICA intern.

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma (right) visits with Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy in the congressman’s Washington office. Dorman made the trip to the Nation’s Capital Sept. 14-16 as part of a group of advocates to visit with Oklahoma’s congressional delegation about ways to combat hunger in the state. (Courtesy Photo) Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, visits with U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Oklahoma, (left) in the congressman’s Washington office during a trip to D.C. Dorman was in the nation’s capital with a group of Oklahoma advocates to discuss hunger issues with federal lawmakers. The trip occurred Sept. 14-16, 2026. (Courtesy Photo) U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, (center) poses with a delegation of advocates from Oklahoma concerned about hunger in the state during a meeting in the Nation’s Capital. Among the group in D.C. during the week of September 17 was Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (Far Right). (Courtesy Photo) Last week, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of our federal delegation regarding issues created by federal mandates placed upon states to reduce error rates in the social safety net. This “anti-hunger” gathering was organized by Hunger Free Oklahoma and included the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the Eastern Oklahoma Food Bank, local providers of food support, and the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA). The “One Big Beautiful Bill” requires states to reduce paperwork errors to ensure Oklahomans fully qualify. This created backlogs in people calling help lines, confusion about what paperwork is needed, and growing frustration causing many individuals to simply give up on services. Our trip showed the seriousness of the situation faced by hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans. I appreciate the members of the delegation who personally met with us and the dialogue we had with their staff members. I am also thankful that Oklahoma Human Services (DHS), our state agency overseeing this, takes this seriously. DHS is working with OICA to help share information to assist Oklahomans on how to navigate the challenges created by the federal law and regain support. Latest numbers show 943,377 Oklahomans are 60 or older, or about 23 percent of the state's population. By 2034, that population is projected to grow another 21.3 percent, and for the first time, adults 65 and older will outnumber children in the state. Many older Oklahomans are called upon to care for younger generations, such as grandparents raising grandchildren. In Oklahoma, 109,221 children live in homes where a relative is the head of household, and 61,000 are being raised by kin with no parent present. More than 43,000 grandparents are the head of households and responsible for grandchildren living with them. For every child raised by kin inside the foster care system, 22 more are raised by kin outside of foster care, meaning most of this caregiving happens without any state involvement or support. Oklahoma Human Services' Community Living, Aging, and Protective Services division has identified four significant challenges facing older Oklahomans: financial security, appropriate housing, the state's capacity to meet increasing service needs, and simply knowing how to find available help. Much support happens through a network of local partners, including 11 Area Agencies on Aging across Oklahoma. For help, call the Statewide Aging and Disability Info-Line at 1-800-211-2116. Calls are routed to the appropriate local resource based on the caller’s needs. The ADvantage Waiver is a critical part of support. This program helps eligible older adults and adults with disabilities receive long-term services and support at home rather than entering a nursing facility. Services can include personal care, case management, skilled nursing, home delivered meals, respite, home modifications, specialized medical equipment, and adult day health. To qualify, individuals must meet financial requirements, the program's medical level of care requirements, and age or disability requirements. Eligibility is individualized. An online application is available through DHS. Anyone unable to complete it online can call 1-800-435-4711 to arrange a telephone application or visit a local DHS office. After applying, applicants may need to verify citizenship or immigration status, income, other financial resources, and Social Security number. They will also select qualified providers in their area and complete a medical eligibility assessment. Agency instructions tell applicants to respond within 10 calendar days of the postmark in any follow up letter, or the application cannot continue. Medicare can be difficult to navigate, especially when comparing Medicare Advantage plans, prescription coverage, supplements, or programs designed to lower health care costs. The Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Medicare Assistance Program, known as SHIP, provides free, objective counseling from trained counselors: 800-763-2828. 2-1-1 and Be A Neighbor are avenues to seek help. By calling 2-1-1, navigators can assist with a variety of resources. Be A Neighbor is a statewide online resource directory where people can enter their ZIP code and search for assistance. I will continue sharing information in coming weeks to assist in navigating these issues.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) is continuing to work with Oklahoma Human Services (DHS) to shed light on how to help those in our state who qualify for services to be able to retain them or apply due to economic situations. I have been helping my mother navigate renewing her services with the additional requirements established by the federal law passed last year. I want to thank our local funeral home for assisting us with assigning her life insurance policy over to a funeral plan. They told us three people had come in the same day we visited to do the same with paperwork. I also appreciate our local Realtor® for drafting a letter accurately listing the value of a piece of property which she and I jointly own. It will take some time to ensure that all paperwork is sufficient to restore services, and if you know of someone who is struggling, please help them to either file forms online or visit one of the local DHS offices. More information will come next week on how to best navigate the process, and I appreciate DHS leadership for working with OICA to help get this information out. This week, I will be in Washington, DC, visiting with members of our congressional delegation about this process. Far too many Oklahomans, an estimated one quarter of our population, or one million people, receive support from these government programs. While I agree that there is a need to ensure verification, it should not come with increased difficulty for those who are elderly, infirm, or children who legitimately receive a benefit. Most receive these benefits temporarily, but for those senior citizens who have retired or are unable to work, they are owed this benefit for their years of hard work in jobs which did not provide sufficient, if any, retirement benefits. I mention this age category, knowing that I primarily advocate for youth, because Oklahoma consistently ranks as one of the top states in the nation for grandparents raising their grandchildren or taking on family placement cases through Human Services. I am looking forward to the visits this week so those of us present can share the stories we have heard so often over the past few months from those who reach out to us or the many we serve as nonprofit organizations. I would encourage you to reach out to policymakers to share your own story, as that is why advocacy is so important. If our elected officials do not hear how laws impact citizens, it is unlikely things will change. I will share more on the OICA social media accounts as we navigate the halls of Congress. This week will also celebrate Constitution Day across our nation. September 17 is designated as the day on which we recognize this document, created by our founding fathers, and amended by the people through the years to guarantee life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. OICA has the great pleasure of supporting this education through our Kid Governor® program. Fifth grade students have the chance to learn through free prepared lesson plans provided to teachers to help them present how the process of state government works, why it is important to vote when children turn 18, and it also provides an enhanced option where the students themselves go through a classroom election, present ideas for bettering our state, and the youth vote to see who will win. Thank you to classrooms in Allen, Ardmore, Bethany, Colcord, Collinsville, Commerce, Cushing, Del City, Duncan, Durant, Enid, Erick, Forgan, Lawton, Marble City, Marlow, Marietta, Moore, Mustang, Oklahoma City, Pond Creek, Putnam City, Roland, Tulsa, Tupelo, Wanette, and Wayne for signing up. If you do not see your school on here and you have a fifth grader, please reach out to your child’s teacher with the information from https://ok.kidgovernor.org/ or reach out to our program director, Licia Walters-Davis, at lwalters@oica.org for information on how to sign up by Friday at 5 p.m.