With the opening of the 57th Legislature, the Potts Family Foundation has been busy rebuilding its Early Childhood Legislative Caucus with returning and new members alike. Membership comes from both sides of the aisle and both chambers of the Legislature. The caucus is made up of members who have committed to working through the state budget and policy to improve the lives of Oklahoma’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens and their families.

In 2016, the foundation announced the OK25by25 Early Childhood Initiative with the goal of moving our state from the bottom 25 states in child welfare measures into the top 25 by the year 2025. We are excited that Gov. Kevin Stitt has raised the challenge announcing that he wants us to be a “top 10 state”! We believe that in order for these goals to be met, we must have a major focus in terms of policy and funding on evidence-based programs and services that support, protect and elevate Oklahoma’s children — pre-birth through 5.

In addition to the caucus, the OK25by25 collaborators include more than 60 allied organizations, foundations and state agencies that support and work with children and families in a variety of areas. There also are nearly 60 business leaders and professionals, called OKCEOs, from across the state who have agreed to champion children’s issues. The 21 members of the foundation’s board of directors and seven staff members make up the fourth leg of this collaboration.

[For more on this story by ERIKA LUCAS AND ROBERT BLOCK, M.D., go to https://newsok.com/article/562...esilient-oklahomans?]