Child and family advocates from across the state met at the Annual Fall Forum in Edmond on October 9-10, 2007. The theme for the conference was Magnify the Possibilities. Forum participants heard from a number of state and national experts on topics such as child mental and behavioral health and the state of Oklahoma education. Workgroups in ten key areas prioritized possible legislative solutions to problems identified by Forum participants. These priority items were then placed on a ballot, and the entire assembly of Forum participants
voted to elect the following items:
CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Support the multi-agency Children's Behavioral Health Initiative, including a 5-year comprehensive budget request, encompassing prevention, early intervention, community-based services, inpatient and residential, group homes and therapeutic foster care, serving children
0-21.
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Require private health insurers to include coverage of expenses associated with treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
Implement workforce development to improve access to care, such as loan forgiveness and tax-incentives for providing care to underserved populations, using a ranking system to determine greatest need; fully funding existing programs such Physician Manpower Training Commission
and Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program; and expanding programs and funding to include maternal / child subspecialties and behavioral health.
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
Reduce child abuse and neglect in Oklahoma by supporting state agency budget requests to strengthen the existing continuum of prevention services offered by Oklahoma State Department of Health, (such as Children First, Office of Child Abuse Prevention Fund, Child Guidance); DHS (such as Safe Care); Department of Education (such as Parents as
Teachers).
SCHOOL AGE HEALTH AND SAFTEY
Require 120 minutes per week for health and physical education, K-5, to include: 60 minutes per week of physical education instruction; 30 minutes of additional physical activity through fitness breaks, recess, and classroom activities; and 30 minutes for health education based on
the national standards for health education.
OUT OF SCHOOL TIME
Make funds available to support after school programming that demonstrates collaboration with community partners. Programs to include evidence-based physical activity and nutrition components.
EARLY CHILDHOOD ISSUES
Increase safety and quality of child care through lower child/staff ratios, improved teacher qualifications, and adequate child care reimbursement rates to address improved quality, and increases in marketrates and minimum wage.
ALCOHOL TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS
Change the Social Host Law, which prohibits adults from providing alcohol and drugs to minors, to include an increase in fines regardless of child death or injury and require assessment, community service and/or treatment.
CHILD ABUSE INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT
Oppose more tax cuts or one-time rebates until Oklahoma meets national standards regarding: statewide child welfare caseloads, foster care and out-of-home placement reimbursement rates, and paid, trained respite care for resource parents.
GET INVOLVED!
These nine items will form the lobbying agenda of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy for the 2008 Legislative Session. Mark your calendars for the Fall Forum Follow-Up, which will be held Wednesday, November 7 in Oklahoma City at the State Capitol. At this strategy session, advocates will begin to organize and mobilize to support these issues.
For Fall Forum Follow-Up registration information, please visit
www.oica.org or call 405-236-KIDS. Come join us!
