Quick Facts: Oklahoma
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 62% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 58% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 43% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 100% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 17% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 83% of metrics met
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Systems: 67% of metrics met
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Environment: 29% of metrics met
State Score 2022: 57
State Ranking 2022: 21
2022 Score
2021 Score
47
57
Oklahoma Highlights
Some areas where Oklahoma has moved the needle relative to other states include allowing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness to live independently.
Law & Policy
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State law provides youth experiencing homelessness some contract rights.
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The state explicitly allows unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage (without parental consent).
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The state does not consider runaway youth as delinquent or a status offender.
Systems
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There is a current state plan to end homelessness that includes a youth component.
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The state provides tuition waivers for foster youth.
Environment
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The state maintains a community advisory board for youth that informs youth homelessness policy.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Sooner State, with emphasis on the Law & Policy and Environment categories. Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness, as well as protecting the rights and interests of youth experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ youth, should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
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Enact and fund a state law similar to the federal RHYA to provide key intervention and emergency services for youth experiencing homelessness.
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Enact state law that allows youth in need of supervision to receive services without court involvement.
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The state should explicitly allow partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.
Systems
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The state should create and adopt a public plan to end homelessness that LGBTQ+ youth.
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The state should create an entity – such as an Office of Youth Homelessness Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
Environment
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Require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development, or issues specific to LGBTQ youth for staff working in runaway and homeless youth systems.
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Ban harmful and ineffective service provision that includes conversion therapy.
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The state should establish nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ youth in youth homelessness services.