Save the Date! HEROES BALL set for July 27!

The Anne Roberts People’s Choice Award celebrates an individual and an organization serving youth in our state. It is named for the longest serving executive director for the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA). Please go to our website https://www.oica.org and vote for your favorites until Saturday afternoon! Here are the nominees: Sarah Herrian – As the director for the Foster Care Association of Oklahoma, Sarah’s passion for her work helping foster children and their foster families is lifechanging. A Jaye Johnson – A Jaye is the VP at the Boys and Girls of Oklahoma County and acts as a mentor for children that have no father figure in their life. Te’Ata Loper - As the founding executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association, Te’Ata has over 20 years of experience shaping impactful programs and policies. Shelby Lynch - Shelby Lynch has been the Director of Education at The CARE Center and has spearheaded the nonprofit’s vision to end child abuse in Oklahoma County through prevention education. Pamela Neeley -Pam works with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc., providing civil legal assistance to low-income persons throughout Oklahoma, works in Kid Space, and represents and helps many families across Oklahoma with pro bono services. Mary Beth Talley - Mary Beth has taught for 18 years and is but one of the many early childhood educators in OK who deserve recognition, and her award would be symbolic for all educators in our state. Angels Foster Family Network has been fighting for better policies, procedures, and outcomes for children in foster care since 2008. Their model of care is unique in that we only place one child or sibling group per family so that we can help create strong trust, bonding and healing for children and families. Anna’s House Foundation is a faith-based organization whose mission is to provide immediate, stable, and loving homes for Oklahoma's children in state custody, offering a future of hope and faith to foster children and foster families by providing housing, support, training, and resources in a Christian community setting. The Comeback Kid Society is a nonprofit that teaches young people of all ages that are at high risk for incarceration. The organization meets kids in every component of where they are at: Juvenile Detention centers, treatment centers, schools, foster home, and group home facilities. The Demand Project fights child trafficking in Oklahoma. From rescuing children from trafficking situations to working with legislators to tighten child pornography laws, they are making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth. Parent Promise has helped more than 7,500 Oklahoma families develop loving and nurturing homes where children can flourish into healthy adults since its inception in 1988. They collaborate one-on-one with parents to provide resources and guidance through free, voluntary programs administered by child development professionals. Peaceful Family Oklahoma has provided care to children living with addiction in their homes, usually one or both parents, and sometimes a sibling for 10 years. Based on the same therapeutic model used for children at the Betty Ford clinics, PFO provides a free program that helps children understand the addiction is not their fault, that their job is to be a kid, and that it is OK to love the person but not the addiction. The Toby Keith Foundation encourages the health and happiness of pediatric cancer patients and to support OK Kids Korral, a home for children battling cancer. The Toby Keith Foundation has been helping children with cancer since 2006 and has streamlined its efforts around no-cost housing for children with cancer.  These individuals and organizations are wonderful Oklahomans doing very important work. OICA is proud to celebrate each!

On Saturday, the world stopped as we saw the images of an assassination attempt on the life of a former President who is running for that office once again. Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped serious injury or even death by mere millimeters when a bullet went by his head, leaving a nick in his right ear, leading to a bloody image captured by media as Secret Service agents took him to safety. Two spectators at the rally in Pennsylvania were critically injured, while a former fire chief from the area, Corey Comperatore, was killed as he shielded his family from the attack. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to each who was impacted by this terroristic act. There are certain memories which spark a “where were you then” moment, no matter what age you are. On March 30, 1981, I was sitting in a classroom when news traveled around the school that newly elected President Reagan had been shot. As he was leaving a meeting, John Hinckley, Jr. fired at the President and his security team. Reagan was wounded, along with Press Secretary James Brady, Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy, and policeman Thomas Delahanty. The would-be assassin got off six shots in 1.7 seconds. It was discovered that Hinckley was suffering from severe mental illness, compounded by a lack of sleep and the effects of medication, on the day he shot President Reagan. To this day, I still remember my shock and sadness as a 10-year-old that this could happen. We still do not know much about the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, or why he did this. Reports say he was a high school graduate, a registered Republican who had donated $15 to a liberal group during his high school years and was an enthusiast of shooting sports. In strange irony, he had tried out for the school’s rifle team but was turned away because he was a bad shooter. In an interview with another student at the time, Jason Kohler, he said that Crooks was bullied in school. He sat alone at lunch time and other students mocked him for the clothes he wore, which included hunting outfits. I do not say any of this to build any sympathy for him, but facts need to be known to find ways to prevent future such attacks. Unfortunately, his tale sounds too familiar when compared to other shooters over the past two decades who had similar stories – bullying, mental health concerns, and isolation. Following this, I fear for our nation and what might lie ahead. Just like every other similar situation, people will point to a variety of responses, such as mental health program expansion, improved school counseling services, changes in gun laws, increased security standards and many other points. The problem is that nothing substantial ever seems to happen. “Lone wolf” shootings have become so commonplace in our society, that now it seems most officials respond with a statement for “thoughts and prayers” for the victims, and then nothing else. It is time for that to change. I hope that following this, voters will demand that politicians at all levels call for real and substantial support services to help lessen the risk of emotional issues escalating with young Americans, and this time officials deliver on it. Prevention standards need to be seriously reviewed and resources adequately delivered to schools and families in need. Many other actions obviously also need to happen, but this is a starting place. I hope in November, whoever wins in whatever office, that this shooting serves as more than just a footnote in history, but instead a rallying cry for preventive support services for all ages.

Joe Dorman, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA, released the following statement following the shooting at the rally for former President Donald Trump: “We at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy are horrified at the shooting at the rally for former President Trump. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the former president, and to the family of the spectator whose life was lost as well as those who were injured during this ghastly attack. “There is no place for political violence in this nation, and condemnation of this heinous act should be universal. “Finally, we are deeply grateful the former president is safe, and his injuries appear minor. We are thankful for the Secret Service and law enforcement who neutralized the shooter and secured the scene. We wish to extend heartfelt condolences to the family of the spectator who passed, and we wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. No person in this nation should fear a terroristic act at a peaceful assembly.”

Joe Dorman, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), released the following statement following yet another accidental shooting of an Oklahoma child by another child who found a gun: “First, we are incredibly grateful the injuries in this instance were not life-threatening. Sadly, however, we continue to see stories like this, where one child accidentally shoots another. Far too often are the results not as positive. “The real tragedy is that these are wholly preventable incidents. A gun lock would have prevented a child from discharging a weapon they find. “A few years ago, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy sought and received a grant from the National Shooting Sports Federation to provide free gun locks. We still have a supply and are happy to share these gun locks with Oklahoma families who want to safeguard their firearms. “We will continue to advocate the use of gun locks when children are in the home so that tragedies like this can be avoided 

Child abuse and neglect – otherwise known as maltreatment – should not just be a grave concern; it should be a call to action for every person to do what they can to help those youngest among us. Child abuse and neglect are associated with physical injuries, psychological issues, and in the most extreme cases, death. Statistics from the federal Administration for Children & Families, Child Trends, and the last annual Oklahoma Human Services (OHS) report are telling. Nationwide, the federal Administration for Children & Families reports an estimated 1,990 children died from abuse and neglect in FY 2022. Incidents increased across the 50 states over a five-year period. Looking at Oklahoma cases, there were 42 child fatalities in 2020 attributed to maltreatment, with 15 counted the following year. Oklahoma had a rate of 1.6 deaths per 100,000 children, with the national average listed at 2.4. Some might say that comparison is positive; however, we all should agree that any child death due to maltreatment is horrific. Child maltreatment was perpetrated 80 percent of the time by parents and 20 percent by non-parents. Non-parents are often not strangers; they are often people dating a parent, someone in the family, or even a trusted adult through some connection. According to OHS, there are five types of findings with investigations. Substantiated findings would show the investigation determined there was abuse or neglect. Unsubstantiated findings show a lack of evidence of abuse and neglect. A finding ruled out has determined that no abuse or neglect has occurred. A finding of failure to cooperate means the person responsible for the child’s health, safety and well-being does not cooperate in an assessment or investigation. Finally, a finding of reasonable parental discipline means the person being assessed or investigated used ordinary force and age-appropriate discipline. This results in an expungement of the records. In their most recent annual report, OHS had 33,603 investigations into maltreatment assigned, with 58,972 child victims involved; the difference in numbers is due to multiple children being many of the homes. Of those, 14,273 were substantiated; 36,542 were unsubstantiated; 2,237 were ruled out; 4,237 listed as failure to cooperate; 1,678 recorded as unable to locate; and the five remaining were not listed in any of the categories. Over the FY 2021 data reviewed by Child Trends, the number of child victims who received post response treatment in Oklahoma was 12,669, or 88 percent. The number of non-victims receiving services was 34,203, or 71 percent. It should be noted that the numbers for victims and non-victims can be duplicate counts; a child is counted each time that a Child Protective Services (CPS) response is completed, and services are provided. This data includes 26 types of services, including but not limited to adoption, foster care, family preservation, mental health, and substance abuse. For these Oklahoma children entering foster care, 3,151, or 22 percent, were substantiated victims of child maltreatment and 1,290 (3 percent) were not victims of maltreatment. Current rates for state support of traditional foster care are: Age 0 to 5: $17.72. Age 6 to 12: $20.42. Age 13+: $22.62. Rates go up for support with therapeutic foster care (TFC) for children 3-18 with specific needs. That amount is $19.76 per day due to intensive therapy needs. If you suspect a child is being abused, or if you are a victim and reading this, please call the statewide abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-522-3511. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent for a child, please go to https://okfosters.org/foster-care/apply-now/ to learn more. We need more good people who can help these children in need.

Choctaw Nation, Coach Switzer Among Announced Honorees

Each year, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) holds a gala to celebrate our state’s champions for children. At this event, we recognize those whose good works have provided a significant benefit for the youth of Oklahoma. This year, our award winners will be celebrated in several categories. The Kate Barnard Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Barry Switzer. I am certain each of you will recognize him as the former football coach for the University of Oklahoma and the Dallas Cowboys. What you might not know is that he has been the honorary coach for Special Olympics Oklahoma for more than four decades and continues to do many good works that benefit young people. For this, our board felt he was very deserving of this recognition For the OICA Organizational Child Advocate of the Year, we selected the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. From their deep roots in southeastern Oklahoma, this sovereign nation has had a tremendous impact on providing support for not only the young citizens of their nation, but also to all children who fall within their lands. This year, with the release of “Echo,” a Marvel Comics television series, increased recognition for recognizing the culture of their people and of all sovereign nations has been enhanced. With the Jay Scott Brown Individual Advocate of the Year, former OU and Olympic gymnast Maggie Nichols was chosen. This award is named after our former board president who dedicated his life to helping at-risk youth. As an Olympian, Maggie faced sexual assault by the organizations team doctor, Larry Nassar. For Maggie’s courage to report him and help those many others to find their voice who were also assaulted by Nassar, she is certainly deserving of this honor. Her book “Unstoppable!: My Journey from World Champion to Athlete A to 8-Time NCAA National Gymnastics Champion and Beyond” showcases the need for raising awareness and helping others to have the courage to come forward and report crimes against young people. We also present two other awards, the Henry Bellmon Public Servant Award, given to a formerly elected Republican official who has continued to do good work for children, and the Laura Boyd Public Servant Award, which recognizes a Democrat with the same criteria. Those awards will be given to former House Speaker Kris Steele and former House Speaker Steven Lewis. OICA also takes nominations from the public for our people’s choice award for individuals and advocates. Named after our longest serving executive director, Anne Roberts has continued working to increase opportunities for young people. Our board of directors takes the nominees and narrows them down to finalists. Those are then put out for a public vote, with attendees to our Heroes Ball on Saturday, July 27 receiving a paper ballot to cast one last round of votes. Each year, the selection has come down to that final vote in at least one category. Here are finalists for the Anne Roberts People’s Choice Awards in Child Advocacy for 2024: Individual: Sarah Herrian, Ajaye Johnson, Te’Ata Loper, Shelby Lynch, Pamela Neeley, and Mary Beth Talley. Organizational: Angels Foster Family Network, Anna’s House Foundation, the Comeback Kid Society, the Demand Project, Parent Promise, Peaceful Family Oklahoma, and the Toby Keith Foundation. You can go to our website at https://www.oica.org/ and choose “Awards” to vote for your choices daily for each category. In the coming two weeks, I will highlight the work of each of these individuals and organizations. Their information will also be published on each of our social media channels to raise awareness about the excellent work done by each. We hope you will be able to join us for the Heroes Ball to help recognize each of these champions for children. 

In the works for a year, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) has announced that registration is now open for its inaugural Advocacy Boot Camp. The year-long program will focus on making those interested in being a voice for children even more effective, said Joe Dorman, OICA’s CEO. “Oklahoma’s children need for adults to be their collective voice, both when it comes to advocating and voting,” he said. “The Advocacy Boot Camp, or ‘ABC,’ is a great way for today’s child advocates to learn to be more effective and make a difference immediately.” The Advocacy Boot Camp is a spin-off of a program operated by OICA from 1995 to 2010 called the Kids Count Leadership Program. Several inaugural sponsors participated in this original program and have made it possible for the cost to attend ABC to be reduced for participants. Among those sponsors are Potts Family Foundation, Sarkeys Foundation, Paycom, AT&T, Centene Corporation, and EdChoice. “We are incredibly grateful to the initial sponsors for their investment in a brighter future for Oklahoma’s children,” Dorman concluded. “We certainly would welcome assistance from other organizations and businesses to sponsor and have employees attend, and we anticipate some will cover the tuition for their own employees to be in the inaugural class.” According to Renee Herrman, OICA’s program director, the seven-session program will provide coursework on how participants can be stronger advocates on key issues relating to children. “This will be the primary goal of the ABC,” she said. The sessions will be held in several state locations, including Sequoyah State Park in September, Lawton in October, Oklahoma City in November and January 2025, Stillwater in April, and Tulsa in May. Among the topics which participants will study will be the dangers of toxic trauma and how to protect children, support services for youth and families, the legislative process including how to communicate effectively with policymakers, and how to better utilize the resources already in place to improve children’s lives. “This inaugural class will be the next generation of policy leaders,” Dorman said. “Trained advocates will leave with 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 possibly even run for an elective office.” Similar to the Leadership Oklahoma program, members of this inaugural class will learn leadership skills and then put that knowledge to work by mentoring the subsequent class of the Advocacy Boot Camp. “The connections developed statewide will allow participants to learn a myriad of advocacy tips, and how to effectively work for better laws,” Dorman said, himself a former state legislator. “The most important lesson they will learn though is that one does not have to be an elected official to be an effective advocate for Oklahoma’s children.” OICA is partnering with the Potts Family Foundation to have Anne Roberts, OICA’s longest-serving executive director, lead much of the advocacy training for the program. “Anne is a legend in child advocacy in Oklahoma,” Dorman said. “Her knowledge and experience will give the inaugural class unmatched insight into the litany of challenges Oklahoma’s children face. In addition to their mentor role, each class member will be tasked with returning to their community to serve in a leadership role with a youth nonprofit organization to help in elevating that organization’s work. “A saying that I have tried to set as a standard is that in public service, one goal should be to ‘leave the woodpile just a little bit higher than you found it’ during your life,” said Dorman. “I know each of these people who are interested in this program also live by that, but we want to give them the tools through ABC they will need to do the job even better.” The cost to apply for the program is $50, and for those accepted that money goes towards your registration fee of $500. These events will be multi-day events with hotels and food included for the entirety of the event over multiple months. There are limited spaces available. To register for OICA’s inaugural Advocacy Boot Camp, go to https://www.oica.org/abc .

Growing up as a child in the 1970s, I enjoyed my fair share of television shows. One of my favorites was “Happy Days,” celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. “Happy Days” starred Ron Howard, a Duncan native, who played Richie Cunningham. The show followed the Cunningham family and friends, one of whom was Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli. Fonzie epitomized coolness for his teenage neighbor, and a lot of kids like me. In Season 5, a three-part episode included a plot where Fonzie jumps over a shark on water skis. The term “jumping the shark” came to mean any creative work that is out of ideas and relies on extreme exaggeration. Oklahomans saw many candidates “jump the shark” with their campaign literature and promises this year. People running for office made extreme overstatements on how bad their opponents are, or they promised policies that simply cannot happen without drastic changes. The side effect of this type of campaigning discourages many middle-of-the-road, or moderate, Americans – frustrated with the extremist rhetoric – from even voting. As evidence, only 20 to 25 percent of registered Republican voters bothered to vote, with the only statewide race garnering just over 237,000 total votes. Democrats had no statewide elections, so turnout was even more sparse with just local races occurring. Expect the turnout percentage to be even less in the August 27 runoff elections. What is dangerous about the campaign rhetoric is that the candidates want to appeal to the few they know will show up, moving policies farther to the extreme positions. Case in point, you will hear much about rejecting federal funds for operating government services, and you will also hear candidates want to cut taxes. Our state government runs on a finite amount of money based upon our state tax collections. Some of those programs receive matching funds from federal taxes collected, including education/schools, children’s support services, road building, and health care programs, with the latter sometimes getting a seven-to-one match from federal appropriations. If federal funds are rejected, the state must either drastically cut services or raise state taxes to pay for those programs. Here is the kicker, those federal funds many candidates say they do not want…that is our money, taxes we have paid to the federal government. If we do not accept them, you can bet some other state will. One example is the rejection by the state of funds to provide food support in the summer for children who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. The nonprofit sector is simply cannot meet the demand of hungry children, so the Legislature allocated more than $8 million of state money to assist with needs this year, a much-needed boost, and thank you to the state lawmakers who did that. That $8 million of state dollars is only a fraction of the $42 million in federal matching dollars that was turned away. That difference of $36 million was taken from Oklahoma families who would have spent it in local grocery stores, making it an even bigger boost to our economy. Instead, it went to other states’ children. Be wary of the rhetoric when it starts back up in August and again for November 5, the General Election; do not fall for exaggerations, and certainly do not sit out by not voting. Voters need to elect reasonable, rational candidates who will vote on policies for the best interest of Oklahomans, and especially for children who cannot vote for themselves. If a candidate is going to “jump the shark” with their campaign promises, do you really want them to make decisions all Oklahomans?