Oklahoma Human Services receives first-ever Hope-Centered Organization Award
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 20, 2024) – Oklahoma Human Services is proud to announce its certification and award from Dr. Chan Hellman as the nation’s first-ever Hope-Centered Organization. This award recognizes the agency’s multi-year strategy and commitment to create hope-centered policies, programs and practices that positively impact systems and communities throughout Oklahoma.
“We are incredibly proud to accept this award in recognition of the many ways hope positively impacts our service delivery to Oklahomans and ultimately improves their overall wellbeing,” said Jeffrey Cartmell, Director of Oklahoma Human Services. “Becoming a hope-centered and trauma-informed organization helps us create a framework for thriving families, communities and employees.”
As defined by the Science of Hope, hope is the belief that our future can be better than our past and that we have a role to play in making that a reality. Hope is achieved through:
· the creation of short-term and long-term goals that motivate individuals to pursue their desired outcome,
· pathways to help reach goals and
· willpower, or the mental energy individuals have available to pursue their goals.
As an agency that serves Oklahomans across their entire lifespan and in some of the most potentially challenging moments of their lives, Oklahoma Human Services is uniquely positioned to use hope as a buffer against the immediate and long-term effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in its services to clients. In FY24, the agency welcomed 250 of the more than 450 certified Hope Navigators across the state to its second annual Hope Navigator Summit. Participants shared hope-centered strategies they successfully integrated into their organizations for the benefit of their clients. For Oklahoma Human Services, this has included:
· Child Support Services supported new legislation changing child support income calculations for non-custodial parents who are incarcerated.
· All agency staff have received Hope Awareness training and are encouraged to incorporate Hope science as they serve Oklahomans.
· Child Welfare Services revised processes and documents to include Hope science language.
· Adult and Family Services staff who work in the TANF program use Hope science to assist families in identifying viable pathways to meet their education and work goals.
· Developmental Disabilities Services staff attend monthly meetings called “Hope Huddles,” and use the Science of Hope framework to overcome obstacles.
· Community Living, Aging and Protective Services leaders use a Hope Coaching model to maintain productivity measures.
“We are honored to recognize Oklahoma Human Services as the first Certified Hope-Centered state agency in the United States,” said Dr. Chan Hellman. “Oklahoma Human Services made the commitment to engage the Hope-Centered and Trauma-Informed framework as a core value to guide workforce wellbeing and outcomes for the citizens of Oklahoma. Throughout this process, Oklahoma Human Services has remained committed to a data-driven process where fidelity to the implementation of hope-centered strategies have demonstrated significant improvements in burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and retention of effective employees. The research-based outcomes of improved service delivery and workforce wellbeing has made Oklahoma Human Services a national leader in the Science of Hope.”
ACEs have a lifetime impact and are linked to many adult health conditions, such as difficulty functioning at work or school, chronic health conditions, and even early death. In fact, ACEs are the leading cause of death and poor quality of life among adults. Recent national studies through America’s Health Rankings have indicated that Oklahoma is tied as the second worst state for ACEs in the nation. Between 2022 and 2023, more than 21 percent of children in Oklahoma experienced two or more adverse events like parental divorce or separation, family drug or alcohol problems, domestic or neighborhood violence, etc., compared to a national average of more than 14 percent.
To learn more about the Science of Hope, including assessing your own hope score and finding resources to support hope for children and families, visit the Hope Rising Oklahoma website.
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