OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is preparing to bring child advocacy professionals, nonprofit leaders and policy experts together for its annual Fall Forum, where participants will develop priorities for a “Children’s Legislative Agenda” ahead of the 2027 session of the Oklahoma Legislature.
The conference will combine virtual and in-person sessions focused on the condition of children in Oklahoma and the policy challenges facing organizations that provide services to families. This year’s discussions will place particular emphasis on how federal funding reductions could affect state programs and increase financial pressure on nonprofit organizations.
Fall Forum to Combine Virtual and In-Person Sessions
Fall Forum will begin with a virtual session on Monday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will then gather at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits in Oklahoma City on Wednesday and Thursday before the conference concludes with another virtual session on Friday, Oct. 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
During the opening online session, participants will receive an overview of the issues scheduled for discussion during the in-person portion of the conference. Participation in the initial virtual meeting is encouraged but is not required to attend the in-person sessions.
OICA said in-person participation will be limited to 100 registrants, while another 100 virtual registrations will be available.
The discussions are expected to help establish components of OICA’s Children’s Legislative Agenda, which will be submitted for consideration during the Oklahoma Legislature’s 2027 session.
Federal Funding Impact Takes Center Stage
OICA CEO Joe Dorman said the theme of this year’s Fall Forum is “FY-27: Federal Impact on State Programs and Nonprofits.”
Participants are expected to examine how federal budget reductions could affect Oklahoma’s ability to provide public services and how nonprofit organizations may be called upon to address resulting gaps.
Topics scheduled for discussion include food insecurity, economic well-being, education policy, health and insurance, and family and community issues. The latter category includes childcare, public broadcasting services and tobacco-use prevention.
“Our work is clearly cut out for us,” Dorman said. “Advocates who attend Fall Forum are the front lines of service providers for Oklahomans who need help. It is clear the government is not committing sufficient resources to many of those areas – especially in the areas of food insecurity and healthcare – and people are looking to nonprofits for help, at a time when nonprofits are struggling to meet financial needs.
“The fact is that many nonprofits are having a challenging time with fundraising because of the financial pressures being placed on our donor bases. It is a perfect storm of challenges, and Fall Forum is where advocates can converse on policies to navigate those challenges.”
Advocates to Bring Policy Experience to Lawmakers
OICA is positioning the conference as an opportunity for professionals working directly with children and families to share their experiences and help shape policy recommendations.
Dorman said lawmakers come from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds, making input from advocates with direct experience particularly important when the Legislature considers policies affecting children.
“We as child advocates have a responsibility to help policymakers better understand the importance of children’s issues,” he said. “Children rarely have a voice regarding policy, which is why OICA was created and the reason we continue our mission. Now, we invite advocates from across the state to stand with us to be the voice of Oklahoma’s children during the Fall Forum. Many elected officials rely upon those with real world experience to help guide them and now is a critical time to share those stories.”
Registration, Awards and Networking Planned
Registration for Fall Forum costs $125, with discounted options available for students and virtual participants. OICA individual and organizational members receive one complimentary conference registration as part of their $100 annual membership dues.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for individuals, organizations and businesses interested in supporting the conference.
Beyond the policy sessions, Fall Forum will feature an awards luncheon recognizing child advocates. Participants will also have opportunities to network with policymakers receiving recognition from OICA.
The conference comes as advocacy organizations prepare for another legislative cycle in which funding, health care, education, economic security and family services are expected to remain significant issues for Oklahoma children and the organizations serving them.
