OKFutures was a grant designed to improve Oklahoma's early childhood system by building upon existing federal, state and local early care and learning services.
This grant was awarded to OPSR by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education and administered by the Administration for Children and Families. In one year, we'll complete five activities including: conducting a needs assessment, crafting a strategic plan, maximizing parent choice, sharing best practices and improving overall quality.
OPSR worked with state agencies and stakeholders to guide the implementation of this grant. Specifically, three committees focused on important components of the grant including: Family and Community Engagement, Professional Development and Quality Improvement each recieving additional guidance from our Steering Committee.
To learn more about OKFutures, click here. Or to download our original grant application, click here.
This piece of OKFutures focused on assessing the availability, quality and alignment of existing health, early care and learning, and family education and support programs. This evaluation helped determine the number and type of families who currently participate in Oklahoma's early childhood system as well as analyze data and identify stragies to reach our target population of Oklahoma's most vunerable and underserved families. Moreover, this assessment linked policies, practices and funding that impede equitable access to resources.
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OKFutures created a five-year comprehensive, strategic plan by engaging stakeholders in at least eight geographically diverse Oklahoma communities and utilizing parent voice. This plan includes specific strategies that provide curriculum and instructional support. In addition, the strategic plan expands partnerships in communities through schools, libraries, community centers, faith-based organizations and more.
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One of OKFutures' priorities was to increase parent awareness about the resources and supports available in Oklahoma's early childhood system. Specifically, OPSR worked with a communications firm on messaging that is relatable to and connects with all Oklahoma families. Additionally, in order to maximize parent choice, this grant built community capacity by expanding existing parent education resources.
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Throughout OKFutures, OPSR leaveraged partnerships to learn successful strategies that inform systems improvements. In doing so, OKFutures created a one-year, cross sector professional development plan to expand capacity for implementing evidence-based practices. OKFutures also worked to increase the skills and capacity of classroom management, coaching, mentoring and consultation.
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OKFutures made systems-level recommendations to improve the overall quality of Oklahoma's early childhood system. OPSR addressed challenges and sought consultation with external experts. And OPSR reviewed the needs assessment and strategic plan to develop an evaluation of system and program quality and effectiveness as well as successful outcomes for children and their families.
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Our committees were made up of dedicated professionals with expertise in each area of OKFuture's focus: Steering Committee, Family & Community Engagement, Professional Development, Quality Improvement and Evaluation. These teams convened to guide, inform and assist in the implemention of grant goals. And have representation from Head Start, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and Oklahoma's Native American tribes.
Click here for a PDF on the organization of these committees.
This committee guided and informed all of OKFutures' projects and objectives. Their feedback made OKFutures successful by helping put ideas into action. From creating a comprehensive picture of Oklahoma's early childhood landscape to prioritizing policies, this committee helped our state invest in young children and their future.
This committee informed the needs assessment and strategic plan from a family and community perspective. In addition, they guided plans to maximize parent engagement and oversaw the development of community and family engagement strategies, inclusion activities, community systems building and transition plans. Lastly, they developed a family engagement plan for subsequent OKFutures' application for continued funding.
This committee also informed the needs assessment and strategic plan and is responsible for projects related to sharing best practices and quality improvements. Moreover, they oversaw a cross-sector professional development plan while addressing gaps, developing training plans for coaching and mentoring, and monitoring continuing education hours. Lastly, they prepared a professional development plan for subsequent OKFutures' application for continued funding.
This committee informed the needs assessment and strategic plan and was responsible for a systems-level review of policies, practices, oversight, data and costs. In addition, they worked to reduce inefficiencies; increase program effectiveness; identify sustainable funding; and create policy alignment. This team also supported the alignment of program standards and monitoring practices to inform a toolkit for layering funding. Lastly, they developed a systems improvement plan for subsequent OKFutures' application for continued funding.
This committee measured the performance of OKFutures' lifecycle, including evaluating key conponents such as stakeholder collaboration and performance measures in the strategic plan.
Below are final reports developed by OPSR and our contractors during the course of OKFutures. These reports reflect the hard work and input of field experts, community members, agency leaders, providers, families, and OPSR Board and committee members, to improve Oklahoma's early childhood system.