“Advocacy is putting pressure on those who have the power to give you what you want,” Melanie Bridgeforth, Executive Director of Voices for Alabama’s Children, told me during my recent visit. We are all born advocates. When you were a… Read More
Data in Advocacy
If you’re interested in advocacy, it’s probably because there is an issue you’re passionate about, and you want to make a positive change in your community. As part of your advocacy effort, you may have a compelling personal story… Read More
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly After Key Legislative Deadline
Last Friday marked the end of what political insiders call “deadline week” at the Oklahoma State Capitol. It is the last opportunity this year for legislation to pass in the chamber (House or Senate) where it was originally introduced. Legislation… Read More
Grass: the Roots and the Tops
I’ve spent most of this week in Montgomery Alabama. If you think Cowboy/Sooner fever rages hot you should try spending a day in Alabama without hearing someone shout “Roll Tide!” I’m here to visit the amazing child advocacy group, Alabama Voices.… Read More
Two legislative fixes that would improve child safety
The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy and Sunbeam Family Services were proud to announce this Monday that Audrey Patton of Mustang will be the 2017 Kid Governor. Audrey, a fifth-grader at St. John Nepomuk Catholic School, has been a volunteer… Read More
Child Advocates Criticize Proposed Rollback of Criminal Justice Reforms
For Immediate Release March 9, 2017 Media Contact: Joe Dorman; jdorman@oica.org or 405-892-9205 Child Advocates Criticize Proposed Rollback of Criminal Justice Reforms OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) CEO Joe Dorman today expressed disappointment with House… Read More
Sunbeam Family Services and OICA Name New Kid Governor
For Immediate Release March 16, 2017 OICA Media Contact: Joe Dorman; jdorman@oica.org or 405-892-9205 Sunbeam Media Contact: Erin Engelke; eengelke@sunbeamfamilyservices.org or 405.609.2311 Sunbeam Family Services and OICA Name New Kid Governor OKLAHOMA CITY – Sunbeam Family Services and the Oklahoma Institute for… Read More
The Lobby of Lobbying Lobbyists
When bills make it to the floor, in front of the entire House or Senate body, it’s a big deal. (Read last week’s post to see all the hoops that bills have to jump through to get there!) To view… Read More
Keep Partisan Politics Away from Non-Profits
At the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), we advocate for policies that make kids safer, healthier, and happier. We have passionately pushed reforms and improvements within the Department of Human Service’s Child Welfare Services division, for instance, and against… Read More
I’m Just a Bill
Do you remember those Reader’s Digest articles with lists of strange laws in America? There were things like, “it’s illegal to walk an alligator down the street in Florida”, or “you can’t walk backwards while eating a hamburger in Oklahoma”,… Read More