OKFutures is 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 is 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 is working with state agencies and stakeholders to guide the implementation of this grant. Specifically, three committees are each focused on an important component of the grant including: Family and Community Engagement, Professional Development and Quality Improvement.
To learn more about OKFutures, click here. Or to download our original grant application, click here.
This piece of OKFutures will focus on assessing the availability, quality and alignment of existing health, early care and learning, and family education and support programs. This evaluation will help 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 will link policies, practices and funding that impede equitable access to resources.
To learn more, click here.
OKFutures will create a five-year comprehensive, strategic plan by engaging stakeholders in at least eight geographically diverse Oklahoma communities and utilizing parent voice. This plan will include specific strategies that provide curriculum and instructional support. In addition, the strategic plan will expand partnerships in communities through schools, libraries, community centers, faith-based organizations and more.
To learn more, click here.
One of OKFutures' priorities is to increase parent awareness about the resources and supports available in Oklahoma's early childhood system. Specifically, OPSR will work 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 will build community capacity by expanding existing parent education resources.
To learn more, click here.
Throughout OKFutures, OPSR will leaverage partnerships to learn successful strategies that inform systems improvements. In doing so, OKFutures will create a one-year, cross sector professional development plan to expand capacity for implementing evidence-based practices.OKFutures will also work to increase the skills and capacity of classroom management, coaching, mentoring and consultation.
To learn more, click here.
OKFutures will make systems-level recommendations to improve the overall quality of Oklahoma's early childhood system. OPSR will address challenges and seek consultation with external experts. And OPSR will review 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.
To learn more, click here.
Our committees are 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 convene 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.
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Program Coordinator - Quality Improvements
Torri is an attorney from Oklahoma City, Okla., who brings experience as a public policy professional and community organizer to OPSR. Prior to joining OPSR, she worked in business litigation and counseled nonprofit start-ups. Torri also previously served as the state advocacy and public policy director for Oklahoma’s food bank network, where she advocated in support of vital childhood nutrition programs, oversaw federal contracts and grants implementation and worked to improve systems of care for under-resourced children across the state. Torri enjoys spending her free time with her family, board gaming, and serving as pro bono counsel for OU Law’s Center for International Business and Human Rights.
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As administrative coordinator, Courtney work on OKFutures, a grant that is focused on aligning Oklahoma's existing services and programs for children and families. She has four years of experience working in business management and earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and management with a minor in marketing from the University of Central Oklahoma. Her other interests include cosmetology, and she has her cosmetology and esthetics license from Meridian Technology Center. Born and raised in Guthrie, Courtney is happy to be a part of the OPSR team and continue her passion for helping Oklahoma's youth to ensure they have a bright future.