With a variety resources and partners, OPSR works with both local and national private funders as well as the state and federal government to achieve its mission to lead Oklahoma in coordinating an early childhood system that strengthens families and ensures all children are ready for school. Our projects rely on the expertise and guidance of parents, community leaders, early childhood providers, state-level organizations and leadership. Together, we can make an impact and improve the well-being of young children.
OPSR's current projects are ones that we're working on now or have worked on in the most recent fiscal year, and we can't wait to see what else is ahead of us!
In response to COVID-19, OPSR and over 40 early childhood stakeholders developed seven recommendations for our state to ensure equitable access to early childhood care and education (ECCE) for Oklahoma children.
By sharing information, an Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) can answer key questions that help parents, teachers, providers and decision-makers be better equipped to support child well-being. Since FY18, OPSR has worked with national and state experts to assess, plan and outline next steps to make progress on this innovative project.
Project HOPE (Harnessing Opportunity for Positive, Equitable Early Childhood Development) is designed to generate real progress toward equitable outcomes for young children and their families. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Project HOPE is working with Nemours Children’s Health System to create a long term plan to improve well-being and reduce inequities around infant mortality.
Under the coordination of OPSR, Oklahoma joins 31 other states that support and implement the Pyramid Model for Promoting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children. This model promotes the skills necessary for young children, birth to five, to understand and manage their emotions. In addition, it addresses disparities in discipline practices; promotes family engagement; and fosters inclusion of children with, and at risk for, developmental delays and disabilities.
OPSR's past projects are ones that fall outside the current or most recent fiscal year, but still have made a big impact in our state!
OPSR's community-based projects focus on empowering communities to shape policies and programs that are needed in order to see young children and families thrive.
Oklahoma's Early Learning Inventory (ELI) provided teachers with a snapshot of a student’s skills and development at the beginning of kindergarten. In addition, information gained by this assessment also served as a guide to families, community partners and policymakers on how to enhance early learning opportunities.
Since 2018, OPSR has worked with LENA (Language ENvironment Analysis) to improve child outcomes through early talk in Oklahoma. LENA's mission is to help communities accelerate language development in children birth to three in order to improve their cognitive, social, and emotional health and to close opportunity gaps.
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. Awarded to OPSR by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education and administered by the Administration for Children and Families, OKFutures had five major focus areas: a needs assessment, strategic plan, maximizing parent choice, sharing best practices and quality improvement. While this grant has concluded, OPSR still continues to move forward with implementation of the OKFutures Strategic Plan and cultivating partnerships for a better future for Oklahoma children and families.
OPSR has partnered with Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell and the Center for Public Partnerships and Research at the University of Kansas to collect your stories via the Oklahoma Standard Story Bank. We believe your stories of challenges, resilience and hope during COVID-19 will help Oklahoma become stronger in the uncertain days ahead of us.
Project SHINE (State-level Home Visiting Integration with Early Childhood Data Systems) was supported by Child Trends and focused on integrating home visiting data with other early childhood data for better-informed decision-making and policymaking.