ReadOKC is working to improve access to reading for all children in Oklahoma City by placing “Little Free Libraries” throughout the community. A Little Free Library operates on a take-a-book, leave- a-book basis, and ReadOKC is working to place more than 100 of these libraries in public gathering spaces. Specifically, the Little Free Library project focuses on providing more access to books outside of elementary schools and in public parks. Local businesses and organizations can champion a Little Free Library by providing a one-time donation of $750 for the purchase and installation of the library. ReadOKC is also recruiting adults to serve as “Reading Buddies” to students throughout the district. Volunteers sign up to spend about one hour per week reading with OKCPS students, working to improve reading skills and overall attitudes towards reading. Reading Buddies spend consistent time with students to increase self-esteem, foster self- The Compact’s mental health task force, headed by Debby Hampton of United Way of Central Oklahoma and Terri White with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, launched an important program that will place evidence-based social and emotional learning programs in the schools that need them the most. Embrace OKC used data collected by the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment to develop a comprehensive mental health plan with the understanding that addiction and other behavioral disorders are driven by the presence or risk factors in one or more domains – individual, peer, family, school or community. The strategies behind Embrace OKC aim to reduce risk across all domains and focus on addressing high-risk behaviors, psychological stress and substance abuse. Using the data, the team identified three tiers of programming and services that should be implemented to help match students to prevention and treatment based on need. All students are motivation and promote responsibility. SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH
included in Tier 1, which includes universal prevention strategies that will help prevent mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Tier 2 intervention strategies are for those students showing early signs of mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders; Tier 3 strategies are for those students with treatment needs. The group also identified evidence- based programs to implement within schools, with a focus on community and family interventions. In addition to areas of need, the survey also showed areas where the district can build on existing strong protective factors. White said that these data points represent opportunities to leverage what is going well in OKCPS. Superintendent McDaniel made implementation of the Embrace OKC recommendations one of his top three priorities. EmbraceOKC will provide one of the critical “trade ups” that are part of the district’s Pathway to Greatness reinvention plan. SUPPORTING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY At the end of the 2018 school year, district officials asked the Compact to help identify efficiency measures that would help the district face an impending $3.5 million shortage for the 2019 school year. The Compact formed a task force of finance and accounting professionals from both the public and private sector to analyze the budget and administer an audit. The group’s research helped identify $1.4 million that OKCPS could use to mitigate the shortfall. The group also helped shape the district’s discussions about how declining education funding could be addressed in the future. “Because of the Chamber, I see this city in a whole new way. It’s a different Oklahoma City than when I came out of college in 1996. Young professionals are staying here and that gives me confidence about the future for my kids. I also want to do my part to make this a top city.”
- J O L E N E C U R R Y MA R K E T I NG D I R E C TO R , MA SSMU T UA L O K L A HOMA
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