Scholarships Available for Youth Organizations to Attend Fall Forum

OKLAHOMA CITY – For more than two decades, child advocates from across the state have come together to learn about the latest issues in advocacy and to help develop the annual Children’s Legislative Agenda. This event is the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy’s Fall Forum.

Not even the global pandemic prevented advocates from assembling, albeit virtually, in 2020, and it will not prevent them this year. The 2021 OICA Fall Forum will be held – again virtually – Wednesday, October 20^th – Friday, October 22^nd, with a final session on Monday, October 25^th.

While OICA has worked to keep the cost reasonable for youth organizations across the state, there have been times when groups could not participate due to cost. To ensure that does not happen this year, when so much is on the line for Oklahoma’s children, OICA has secured funding for youth organization scholarships to the Fall Forum.

“We know how important Fall Forum is to set the tone for the next legislative session, and we know how important it is for youth organizations to be a part of that,” said Joe Dorman, CEO of OICA. “That is why several generous companies and foundations have stepped up to sponsor Fall Forum attendance for youth organizations across the state.”

To apply for a Fall Forum scholarship, go to https://oica.org/fall-forum-scholarship-application/ and fill out the form. The sponsoring organizations will select the youth organizations they wish to sponsor. Dorman said those who have already agreed to sponsor scholarships are Schusterman Family Foundation, Merrick Family Foundation, Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, Paycom, and Arnall Family Foundation, with others still to be named.

The theme of this year’s Fall Forum is “There is No ‘I’ in Quaranteam.” Workshops will be held on a variety of children’s issues followed by advocate feedback sessions to begin developing a legislative agenda to present to lawmakers before the 2022 session of the Oklahoma Legislature.

Among the topics to be discussed are:

• A presentation led by the Healthy Kids Coalition.
• Children’s mental health.
• Food insecurity.
• Federal relief funds.
• Economic stability for Oklahoma families.
• Child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
• Technology use/broadband access.
• A panel discussion with elected state lawmakers.

The Fall Forum also includes a keynote address and will conclude with a final report on the 2022 Children’s Legislative Agenda to be presented to lawmakers. Dorman said the event provides a stronger voice for Oklahoma’s children the more organizations and individuals who participate.

“This is every child advocate’s chance to let lawmakers know the critical issues in their communities,” Dorman concluded. “The more who attend, the more comprehensive the final product will be. Our sponsoring organizations have removed the greatest barrier for many organizations to participate, so let’s get busy making an even brighter future for Oklahoma’s children.”

Full information, and links to sponsorship opportunities, ticket purchases, and scholarship applications for Fall Forum are available on oica.org.

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