Issue Areas

In order to achieve its mission of improving the potential of Oklahoma women and girls, the Coalition has working committees that focus on aging, education, girls, health, incarceration, violence, and work & family. Each committee:

• Collects data, reviews studies and conducts research on their issue as it pertains to women and girls in Oklahoma.
• Reviews bills and resolutions in the Oklahoma Legislature on their issue; identifies bills aligned with the Coalition’s mission; and makes recommendations on those bills and resolutions  to the Coalition’s Advocacy Committee.
• Establishes working relationships with Oklahoma  experts on their issue.
• Identifies Oklahoma organizations associated with their issue that support the Coalition’s mission and encourages collaboration.
• Provides input to the Coalition’s board of directors as the board sets the Coalition’s agenda each year.
• Identifies and develops recommendations on policies, programs, and initiatives related to their issue as these impact Oklahomans.

For rankings, studies, reports, statistical documents, etc  on each issue below, see our website page on RESOURCES. Below are the Coalition’s long range goals on issues impacting Oklahoma women and girls:

Aging
Stabilize and reduce the vulnerability of older women in Oklahoma by supporting policies and legislation that will protect them and ensure they have access to affordable programs and services that enable them to live independently and with dignity and safety.

Education
Reduce barriers for women and girls that prevent or deter access, advancement and completion of educational programs that include Pre-K, K-12, career and technology education, and higher education.

Girls
Encourage the confidence and leadership skills of girls so they may contribute their unique voice to making the world a better place.

Health
Improve the current status of women’s and girls’ health and access to healthcare.

Incarceration
Prevent and reduce the epidemic rates of female incarceration from the highest in the nation to at or below the national average.

Political Participation
Focus on the empowerment of women to participate actively in the public policy arena.  Spread awareness of opportunities ranging from registering to vote to actively advocating on public policy to running for office.  The creation of this committee is based on the need for more women public service leaders due to our state’s low percentage of women legislators.

Violence
Promote a culture of non-violence, support victims, and reduce the cycle of violence toward women and girls.

Work and Family
Reduce the number of women and children in poverty and support women’s economic self-sufficiency and family-supportive work environments.