The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) vigorously promotes positive changes in programs and policies that affect large numbers of children. With particular concern for very vulnerable children, OICA is committed to improving conditions for all children.
Our mission is to provide leadership throughout the state to stimulate change for children and youth to affirm the value and vulnerability of children and youth by raising awareness of their needs, and by promoting public policies, programs and preventive strategies to ensure that they reach their full potential.

Do state preschool programs make a difference for kids? In a word: yes, according to a rigorous assessment from the National Institute for Early Education Research. In a study of 5,071 kindergarten-age children in five states -- Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and West Virginia -- those who attended state-funded preschool programs scored higher on early language, literacy, and math tests. The differences were statistically significant, and applied to children of all economic backgrounds.

High-quality early childhood programs can produce broad, long-term societal benefits -- including increased employment and associated tax revenue, reduced crime, and reduced dependency on social welfare systems. Many states are moving toward providing universal pre-K to all children. This RAND report describes eight states' efforts to create statewide systems of high-quality pre-K.

Human service professionals and others can find timely information, training, technical assistance and more through this University of Oklahoma project. The site features an online library of information on youth transitioning out of foster care and an online map that identifies state initiatives to help foster youth move on to higher education.