Joe Dorman, OICA CEO

Happy deadline day for the Oklahoma Legislature! We are appreciative of the hard work done by Haley Faulkenberry and Dennis Adkins at A & A Advocates on behalf of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy with bill tracking and assisting us in advocacy work on policies that matter for Oklahoma's children! If a bill has not been heard in the "house of origin" by the end of this deadline, those pieces of legislation must be carried over to 2022 without a hearing. Thank you to the lawmakers who have worked hard for their constituents this session, in the middle of a pandemic, to shape a better future. If you would like to see our daily calendar page, please follow our Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy Facebook or Twitter page!

Well, I managed to almost make it the full year before COVID-19 got me. In addition to those I mentioned in my column, thanks to those who have dropped off care packages for me to help me make it through this week. I still feel miserable, but nothing like Friday night, and am thankful to still be here! Keep up your precautions; I assure you that you do not want this virus! As Yogi Berra Said, It Ain’t Over til It’s Over https://oica.org/oica-column-03-08-2021/

It is okay to not feel okay. Please read.

My column this week. Please remember, there are many advocates at different levels trying to find solutions to the problems facing Oklahoma's children. We need you to also help find those answers by providing the stories of what works and what does not.

Now, more than ever, we need advocates who understand the process and can speak confidently with a voice for the issues important to them. Please join us for this four-day Zoom training to better equip you with the knowledge of our state legislative process. Tickets and sponsorships are still available, and the event will be recorded. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oica-legislative-learning-lab- - OICA Legislative Learning Lab