| | Oklahoma ranks 46th in 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, highlighting lawmakers' misplaced priorities Oklahoma ranks among the bottom five states for overall child well-being in the 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing child well-being in post-pandemic America. Oklahoma ranked among the top half of all states in only two of those 16 indicators. The data show Oklahoma leaders must do more to invest in the well-being of Oklahoma children and families, including proven programs and services that can help them thrive. [OK Policy] |
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You're invited to join a Community Listening Session near you! This summer, the Oklahoma Policy Institute and Together Oklahoma are hosting in-person listening sessions across the state to hear directly from Oklahomans about the issues that matter most in their communities. These free, public events offer a chance to connect with neighbors, share your experiences, and speak with policy experts. Participants will receive compensation for their time. Make your voice heard—find a session near you and join the conversation. |
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48th - Oklahoma's ranking in education, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book. This ranking was based on the number of young children (ages 3 & 4) not in school, fourth graders not proficient in reading, eighth graders not proficient in math, and high school students not graduating on time. [2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Oklahoma] 27% - About 256,000 Oklahoma children, or 27% of all children in the state, live in households with a high housing cost burden. High housing costs weigh more heavily on low-income families, which are more likely to struggle with finding affordable housing, often spending more than 30% of pretax income on a home, whether they rent or own. [2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Oklahoma] 43rd - Oklahoma's ranking in overall child health, reflecting persistent challenges such as high rates of low birthweight, teen and child mortality, obesity, and lack of health coverage. These poor health outcomes threaten children's ability to learn, grow, and thrive. [2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Oklahoma] 21% - The percent of children in Oklahoma growing up in households that struggle to afford basics like food, housing, and healthcare — a number that has risen since 2019. Living in poverty during childhood increases the risk of long-term challenges to health, education, and economic security. [2025 KIDS COUNT Data Profile for Oklahoma] 245,000 - The number of immigrant residents in Oklahoma, many of whom contribute to the state's workforce, economy, and communities. About 6% are under 18, and many live in mixed-status households. [Migration Policy Institute] |
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"If we are viewing things like this as indicators on a dashboard of child well-being, what would we look like if we chose to say, 'Actually, this is unacceptable; this doesn't reflect Oklahoma values, and we're going to commit to being brave and doing better?'" – Carly Putnam, Policy Director at the Oklahoma Policy Institute, addressed Oklahoma's low ranking — 46th in the nation for child well-being — in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book. While Oklahoma often touts itself as a family-friendly state committed to children's welfare, Putnam points out that its dismal ranking tells a different story. [The Oklahoman] |
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Adverse Childhood Experiences Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events experienced before age 18. They include parental divorce or separation; living with someone who had an alcohol or drug problem; neighborhood violence victim or witness; living with someone who was mentally ill, suicidal or severely depressed; domestic violence witness; parent served jail time; being treated or judged unfairly due to race/ethnicity; or death of a parent. ACEs can disrupt brain development causing social, emotional, and cognitive problems throughout an individual's life, which increase the likelihood of risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, difficulty functioning at school/work, and even early death. Nearly two in five Oklahoma children (21.3 percent) have suffered Adverse Childhood Experiences, according to 2024 data reported by America's Health Rankings. This rate was higher the national average of 14.5 percent and the 3rd highest rate among the states. In 2021, 18.3 percent of Oklahoma children were found to have Adverse Childhood Experiences. Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. |
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Opinion: "One Beautiful Bill" Would Be a Tragic Setback for Indian Country The name "One Beautiful Bill" might sound harmless, charming, even, but for Indian Country, its passage would be nothing short of a policy earthquake. Behind the rhetoric of fiscal responsibility and government streamlining lies a sweeping assault on the foundational programs that uphold tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and the bare minimum of equitable federal support that Native Nations have fought to establish over generations. The common thread among targeted programs is telling: they are discretionary, equity-based, and uniquely tribal. They are not "wasteful government spending", they are the instruments through which tribal governments serve their citizens and exercise the rights promised to them by treaty and law. [Kevin J. Allis / Native News Online] |
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2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book: This year's Data Book tells a mixed story — steady progress in some areas, setbacks in others and opportunities to do better for kids and families. [Annie E. Casey Foundation] Mental health effects of poverty, hunger, and homelessness on children and teens: Census data show that children are more likely to experience poverty than people over the age of 18. Approximately one in six kids, 16% of all children, live in families with incomes below the official poverty line. Those who are poor face challenges beyond a lack of resources. They also experience mental and physical issues at a much higher rate than those living above the poverty line. This report summarizes the myriad effects of poverty, homelessness, and hunger on children and youth. [American Psychological Association] The Importance of Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Policies for Children and Families: Continuous Medicaid enrollment helps children and families maintain stable access to care. Gaps in coverage can disrupt treatment and worsen health outcomes, especially for low-income households. Policies that minimize coverage interruptions improve long-term health and reduce administrative burdens.[Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics] Poverty Matters for Children's Well-being, but Good Policy Can Help: Poverty has lasting effects on children's health, development, and future opportunities. Research shows that income instability can harm cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. Addressing child poverty through policy is essential to promoting equity and long-term success. [Child Trends] The President's Power to Call Out the National Guard Is Not a Blank Check: The president's power to deploy the National Guard without a governor's consent is limited — and historically rare. Legal scholars warn that while the Insurrection Act grants this authority, it is not a blank check. Deploying troops against protestors, especially without state approval, raises serious concerns about federal overreach, civil liberties, and the erosion of checks and balances in times of unrest. [The Brennan Center] |
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What's up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. |
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