Advocacy

Mental Health Association Oklahoma Offers Support and Resources Amid National Events 

Leave a Comment / Advocacy, Mental Health, Press Release, Resources /

For many, it is difficult to watch the events unfolding in Minnesota and other parts of the country without feeling stress, anxiety, or fear for themselves, their families, neighbors, and communities.  Mental Health Association Oklahoma (MHAOK) recognizes the emotional toll that acts of violence, heightened enforcement actions, and ongoing uncertainty can have on individuals and […]

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Your Voice Matters: Advocacy Training for Individuals with Lived Experience

Leave a Comment / Advocacy, Events, Eviction, Homelessness, Housing, Mental Health /

Every year, the Oklahoma State Legislature makes decisions that directly affect our neighbors and communities—decisions about landlord and tenant laws, funding for mental health services, how Oklahoma responds to homelessness, and more. These decisions are often complex and are sometimes made with limited information. Unlike many other states, Oklahoma does not include public testimony as

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Meet Elio: A Story of Courage, Resilience, and Joy

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When you meet Elio, the first thing you notice is his spark—his enthusiasm, optimism, and endless curiosity. But that light hasn’t always been so bright.  Elio grew up in an abusive home, where he and his younger sister endured years of physical and emotional harm. When Elio was nine, they moved in with their father

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New Data Shows Government Shutdown and SNAP Loss Drove Evictions in Oklahoma County

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Sitting outside an Oklahoma County courtroom in mid-November, two mothers were on the brink of losing everything. They were roommates, raising seven children between them. A delay in a disability payment had caused them to fall behind on rent—an issue made far worse by the government shutdown. The support they relied on wasn’t there. Then,

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Be Heard: Urge Lawmakers to Protect Proven Solutions for Homelessness

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As we conclude our Early and Often series, we’re focusing on how your voice can ensure that Oklahomans experiencing homelessness have access to consistent, compassionate, and effective services that truly build stability, health, and hope. Misinformation about homelessness, and even about those working every day to address it, is spreading quickly. As state legislators prepare

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Speak Up for Mental Health: Why Early Advocacy Matters

Leave a Comment / Advocacy, Suicide, Youth Mental Health /

We are continuing our Early & Often series, highlighting why it’s so important to connect with your state legislators before the next legislative session begins.  These early conversations can help shape the bills your legislators choose to author, sponsor, and support, while improving outcomes for your neighbors and your community. Last week, we focused on

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Why Oklahoma’s Housing Crisis Needs Your Voice

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Oklahoma is at a critical crossroads. Across the state, we face a shortage of nearly 85,000 affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters. At the same time, Oklahoma has one of the highest eviction rates in the nation. Together, these two realities create a volatile situation where too many families struggle to find

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When Should You Contact Your State Legislators? Early & Often.

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For Oklahomans who care deeply about improving outcomes for our neighbors, especially those experiencing homelessness or mental illness, recent news has been hard to hear. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services recently announced $40 million in cuts to service providers, ending nearly 300 contracts with organizations statewide. Just days later, Governor

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MHAOK and other Key to Home partner agencies conduct OKC’s annual Point-In-Time Count

Leave a Comment / Advocacy, Homelessness, Point in Time Count /

For most of today, partner agencies across Oklahoma City, including Mental Health Association Oklahoma, are putting their boots on the ground to conduct its annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count, an essential initiative aimed at providing a snapshot of homelessness in the community. At 3:00 a.m. well over 100 hyper-caffeinated volunteers bundled up to kick off the

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The Importance of Shelters and Outreach Teams in Oklahoma

Leave a Comment / Advocacy, Drop-In Centers, Homelessness, Street Medicine, Street Outreach /

Homelessness: By the Numbers  One week from today, partner agency staff across Oklahoma City – including MHAOK – will gather at 3:30 a.m., divide into groups of six and head out into hidden corners of the city to count as many people experiencing homelessness as we can find. The same count will take place in

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