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| OICA Agenda 2007Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy 2007 Legislative Agenda for Children and Youth Oppose the socalled “Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights” 1) Oppose measures to restrict the growth of state revenues and expenditures that would have negative consequences on the health, education and social services for Oklahoma’s children, youth and families. Protect Children from Abuse 2) Expand child abuse prevention / intervention and parent education services to families by increasing funding and supporting agency budget requests for: Office of Child Abuse Prevention, Children First, Child Guidance, OK Parents as Teachers, SafeCare (prevention for high risk parents) urban and rural pilots, and expand comprehensive homebased services (CHBS). Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies 3) Enhance quality of prenatal care by supporting the OHCA budget request for prenatal support systems, including developing outreach services, expanding SoonerCare benefits to include oral health and social work services, and providing payforperformance incentives to improve early and ongoing care. Enhance Quality of Childcare through Increased Provider Rates 4) Increase childcare provider reimbursement rates to respond to new market rate data, enhanced quality criteria and the need for improved teacher salaries. Address Schoolaged Health Needs 5) Provide funds to place nurses in schools to implement the CDC’s coordinated school health model, which includes comprehensive school health education, physical education, school health services, nutrition services, counseling services, healthy school environment, health promotion for staff, and family and community involvement. Expand Children’s Behavioral Health Services 6) Expand implementation of Systems of Care statewide by funding new communities and through effective partnerships, including positive behavioral intervention services (PBIS), early intervention through child guidance services, and wraparound services. Increase Workforce for Children’s Behavioral Health 7) Provide financial and educational incentives to increase the workforce specializing in children’s behavioral health, with an emphasis on underserved areas. Restrict Youth Access to Alcohol 8) Reduce youth exposure to alcohol by restricting placement and access in retail establishments and requiring clerks selling alcohol to be 18 years of age. Target Substance Abuse 9) Provide substance abuse treatment services for juvenile justice youth, including residential substance abuse treatment facilities, substance abuse outpatient services, and substance abuse prevention services. | | |
| DXM Legislation
The members for the Conference Committee on the DXM bill have all been named. The opposition wants to create a "study session" on the issue of teens abusing common household items. This is an attempt to steer the issue away from any legislation restricting the sale of DXM to youth. We need to let law-makers (and the public) know that this is NOT an undue burden on retailers.
All Rep Nance is asking is a ban on the sale to those under 18, and a limit on the numbers sold at one time to adults.
If one of the conference committee members represents your area, PLEASE contact them and let them know that DXM is a dangerous and emerging drug and we shouldn't put off taking this very reasonable action. If 1 youth dies from DXM use during the next year it is on their hands.
The opposition to this bill is VERY active, if they don't hear from you, then it will fail.
Senators : Laster, Cain, Shurden, Garrison, Justice, Coates
House: Nance, Steele, Cox, Pruett, Balkman, Wilt, Brown
Oklahoma Prevention Policy Alliance
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| OPPA Youth Leadership Day Success
The Oklahoma Prevention Policy Alliance's 1st annual Youth Leadership Day at the Capitol was a tremendous success. Over 60 youth were in attendance, and a wide array of speakers including Rep Thad Balkman, the Shawnee Youth Coalition, Rep Trebor Worthen, and the head of the Senate Public Relations/Media Dept shared information on alcohol prevention, how a bill becomes law, and how to talk with the media on youth access prevention.
Huge thank-you's to all the adults who brought youth, to Casey and Rep Worthen for covering the cost of lunch, and to OPPA Vice President Sabrina Mackey for coordinating speakers, and food.
For those who wanted to send youth, but couldn't due to the space limitations, we invite you to join us next year. Next years event will be even bigger and better, allowing for more youth to attend.
Youth squeeze into the room at the State Capitol
Shawnee Youth Coalition presenting alcohol facts
Student role-plays interview with a reporter
Youth who were able to stay for tour of the State Capitol
Rep Trebor Worthen discussing Prevention of Youth Access to Alcohol
 
Some of the OPPA Members.. camera shy as always..
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| ANNOUNCEMENT:
YOUTH LEADERSHIP DAY
WHO:
Youth leaders who want to make a difference. Must be in grades 9-12 and have an adult sponsor accompany them to the event.
WHAT:
Youth Day at the capitol! Participants will learn skills to talk to the media about issues, how a bill becomes law, alcohol facts and how the alcohol industry targets youth, and will tour the capitol.
WHERE:
Oklahoma State Capitol, Room 512A
WHEN:
November 30, 2005, 9:00am-1:00pm. Lunch will be provided.
WHY:
§ To empower youth to become involved in the legislative process in our state.
§ For youth to become aware of the issues surrounding underage drinking.
§ A hands-on experience fulfilling PASS skills requirements regarding state government.
PASS Skills Requirements:
§ Standard 1, #3: Make distinctions among propaganda, fact and opinion.
§ Standard 1, #4: Develop discussion, debate, and persuasive writing and speaking skills, focusing on enduring issues.
§ Standard 9, #1: Structures, functions and authority of state government.
§ Standard 11: The student will explain and give contemporary examples of how political parties, interest groups, the media, and individuals influence the policy agenda and decision-making of government.
§ Standard 16: The student will develop and practice the skills needed for informed participation in public affairs, including analyzing public issues, examining candidates for public office, evaluating the performance of public officials, and communicating with public officials.
Please RSVP to Sabrina Mackey (oppa_vp@yahoo.com) no later than November 15, 2005. Please include the number of students & adults you will be bringing. | | |
| OICA Legislative Agenda
 
Thanks to everyone who came to the Institute for Child Advocacy's Fall Legislative Forum. The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Substance Abuse workgroup developed two items that made it to the general OICA Legislative agenda (see below).
Please remember that the OICA Forum Follow-Up will be held Nov 16th from 1pm-4pm at the State Capitol. See here for more information: http://www.oica.org/policy_and_legislation/fall_forum/Follow-Up%20Reg.doc
We need everyone to come so we can work with other advocates to develop a plan for working on these issues. OPPA will obviously be playing a big role in the Preventing Youth Access to Alcohol campaign.
Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy
2006 Legislative Agenda for Children and Youth
Increase Prenatal Care
1) Assure access to quality health care for all pregnant women, which may include: increasing covered services, increasing the number of "safety-net" providers, providing coverage for more women through all insurance types, and providing incentives for predominantly Medicaid providers.
Reduce Childhood Obesity
2) Create a statewide Farm-to-School program that will improve school nutrition programs by: assisting local school districts in buying and using locally grown produce and expanding food and nutrition education programs in schools.
Increase School and Community Health Projects
3) Expand community-based abstinence programs and teen-pregnancy prevention programs, and support school health programs in urban and rural areas and tribal entities.
Maintain Child Care Subsidy Program
4) As federal funds decrease, ensure state funding to DHS for the child care subsidy program, and increase salaries for child care teachers.
Expand Children’s Mental Health Services
5) Increase community-based behavioral health services, including expansion of Systems of Care statewide.
Target Substance Abuse
6) Create the Prevention of Youth Access to Alcohol Act to suspend driving privileges for minors in possession of alcohol, increasing fines and penalties for adults who provide alcohol to minors.
7) Increase funding for substance abuse services for adolescents and pregnant and parenting mothers, including residential and community-based treatment, and explore alternative sources of funding.
Provide Treatment for Juveniles
8) Increase funding for mental health services for juvenile justice youth, including residential and community-based programs, utilizing evidence-based treatments, specifically functional family therapy and multi-systemic therapy.
Protect Children from Abuse
9) Mandate annual comprehensive training for all school and licensed child care personnel in the prevention, detection and reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect, and its long-term effects.
10) Provide services to additional families by increasing funding for child abuse prevention programs, such as Children First, Office of Child Abuse Prevention, Oklahoma Parents as Teachers, Child Guidance Services and the Safe Care Rural Pilot. | | |
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