Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth

Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth File a complaint today: 405-606-4936 or oklahoma.gov/occy.

OCCY conducts oversight (OJSO), reviews child deaths (CDRB), monitors foster care (PARB), supports state child abuse review teams (FSMDTs), coordinates services (P&C) and more.

“How are you handling this in your state?” That question came up often during three days at the Children’s Trust Fund Al...
09/29/2026

“How are you handling this in your state?” That question came up often during three days at the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance Annual Meeting in Atlanta, where our team sat down with peers from the East Coast to as far as Hawaii and Alaska to talk about what’s actually happening in their communities.

We compared approaches to engaging parents, using research, addressing digital safety, strengthening prevention efforts and navigating changes in federal policy, and we heard firsthand what others have tried, what they’ve learned and what Oklahoma can learn from it, too.

Take a look through the photos, and you’ll see more of those conversations and connections happening. And now, when we run into a challenge at home, we know someone who's dealt with it before and can say, “Here’s what we tried.”

Oklahoma State Department of Health | |

Imagine being a child and watching your parent or caregiver get arrested. It can be scary and confusing, and what happen...
09/24/2026

Imagine being a child and watching your parent or caregiver get arrested. It can be scary and confusing, and what happens in those moments can stay with a child long after the arrest is over. That’s why OCCY and our Children of Incarcerated Parents Advisory Committee brought this issue to lawmakers, starting a conversation about how we can better support children and families while also supporting the officers working to keep our communities safe. A special thank you to Representative Tim Turner, for leading the interim study and to the legislators who joined the conversation, asked questions and heard directly from law enforcement, experts and Oklahomans with lived experience.

Take a look through the photos to learn more about the discussion, and read the full press release from the Oklahoma House of Representatives at okhouse.gov/posts/news-20260922_3

Think about the people you trust. Chances are, they’ve taken the time to listen, understand where you’re coming from and...
09/22/2026

Think about the people you trust. Chances are, they’ve taken the time to listen, understand where you’re coming from and respond in a way that makes you feel supported.

That idea was at the heart of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) training Sept. 15-16 in Durant, provided through a partnership between OCCY and Fostering Grace. TBRI gives professionals practical, evidence-based tools to better understand how trauma can affect behavior and relationships, and what they learn can shape how children and families are supported long after the training ends.

Thank you to Fostering Grace and everyone who joined us in Durant and took those tools back to the Oklahoma communities they serve.

Most parents have had that moment when their child needs help, and they have no idea where to start. Taking time for the...
09/16/2026

Most parents have had that moment when their child needs help, and they have no idea where to start. Taking time for these face-to-face conversations can help families find support sooner while showing decision-makers where help is still missing. Recently, OCCY staff and Parent Partnership Board members staffed a resource booth at the Oklahoma 21st Century Community Learning Centers Kickoff, where they shared information and connected with educators, families and community partners.

Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/2ebvrcwr

Bringing parent and state system leaders together creates opportunities to discuss issues affecting Oklahoma children an...
09/09/2026

Bringing parent and state system leaders together creates opportunities to discuss issues affecting Oklahoma children and families. OCCY’s Parent Partnership Board did just that today with Michael Williams, director of Child Welfare Services at Oklahoma Human Services.

Director Williams shared updates from Child Welfare Services, while parent leaders asked questions, raised concerns and shared perspectives shaped by their own experiences. Thank you to Director Williams for his time and for engaging with board members in the conversation.

The offices for the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, for Labor Day. We wi...
09/04/2026

The offices for the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, for Labor Day. We will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at 8 a.m. Need information while we’re away? Visit oklahoma.gov/occy

Sometimes helping a family starts with a meal, a safe place to sleep or someone willing to help figure out what comes ne...
09/04/2026

Sometimes helping a family starts with a meal, a safe place to sleep or someone willing to help figure out what comes next, and that’s what our team saw during a recent visit to Hope House Guthrie. Hope House provides shelter, meals, clothing, recovery support, employment and transportation assistance, and other resources that help individuals and families through difficult times.

Visits like this help OCCY better understand what Oklahoma communities are facing, and through our work with committees, community partners, policymakers and others across the state, we can take what we learn and help turn it into action for Oklahoma’s children and families.

Take a look through the photos from our visit and learn more about the work Hope House is doing in Logan County: https://www.hopehouseguthrie.org/

Your experience can help improve Oklahoma’s child-serving systems. OCCY’s Parent Partnership Board gives parents and car...
09/03/2026

Your experience can help improve Oklahoma’s child-serving systems. OCCY’s Parent Partnership Board gives parents and caregivers a chance to bring their real-life experiences to the table, share what’s working and what could work better, and help shape decisions that affect children and families across the state.

Want to learn more and see how you can get involved? Join us on Zoom for one of our upcoming informational meetings:

Sept. 25, noon to 1 p.m. | tinyurl.com/PPB-092526
Sept. 30, noon to 1 p.m. | tinyurl.com/PPB-093026

09/03/2026

What does better training mean for Oklahoma’s children and families? ChildFirst® Oklahoma gives professionals involved in child abuse investigations the chance to learn, practice and strengthen the skills needed to conduct forensic interviews with children. OCCY made this five-day training available at no registration cost, helping more professionals bring those skills back to the communities they serve.

Thank you to Vicki Boan for leading the training and sharing your expertise! Also, a special thank you to Compass Church OKC for providing the meeting space. Check out the video to see ChildFirst® Oklahoma in action and hear why this work matters.

Finding Words Oklahoma/ChildFirst | Compass Church OKC | Zero Abuse Project

We’re excited to welcome Grace Green to the OCCY team!Grace joins us as an Administrative Assistant, helping keep things...
09/03/2026

We’re excited to welcome Grace Green to the OCCY team!

Grace joins us as an Administrative Assistant, helping keep things moving behind the scenes as we work to serve Oklahoma’s children and families.

We’re glad to have you with us, Grace, and we hope you’ll join us in giving her a warm welcome!

Learn more about OCCY at oklahoma.gov/occy

Address

2915 N. Classen Boulevard, Suite 300
Oklahoma City, OK
73106

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14056064900

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share