Policy Analysis
The impact of cuts to federal mental health funding in Oklahoma
Over the past five years, Oklahoma has received nearly $750 million in funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the primary federal agency charged with advancing the nation’s behavioral health.
Read MoreStrategies for improving parity in Oklahoma’s Medicaid managed care plans
In this report, we examine policy options for ensuring parity compliance on SoonerSelect, Oklahoma’s Medicaid managed care program.
Read MoreGuidance for Oklahoma counties applying for County Community Safety Investment Fund awards
This resource aims to help counties identify and plan for evidence-based strategies to maximize the impact of funding opportunities for mental health and diversion.
Read More2025 Oklahoma legislative session: Mental health bills to watch
Find summaries and tracking lists for the mental health bills we're watching in 2025.
Read MoreHow restricting student cellphone use in Oklahoma schools could benefit youth mental health
As youth mental health continues to suffer, new statewide survey data found that about half of Oklahoma middle- and high-school students “always” or “often” felt the urge to use social media, and about a third used it as an escape from their problems.
Read MoreAnalyzing the impact of SB 511, Oklahoma’s harm reduction law
Without further action from lawmakers, SB 511 will expire in 2026, threatening Oklahoma’s progress in addressing an epidemic of drug overdoses and cutting short opportunities to see the law’s public health benefits come to fruition.
Read MoreSupporting Oklahomans after incarceration through Medicaid
Some states have begun using a new Medicaid strategy to offer limited health coverage to incarcerated people nearing their release date, creating a safer and more supportive community reentry period. We explore this strategy and its potential in Oklahoma.
Read MoreBarriers to care for people with co-occurring mental health disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health challenges face obstacles that make it difficult to access the behavioral health care they need. In this paper, we examine barriers to care such as stigma, a lack of training among providers, and disconnected community supports.
Read MoreOklahoma mental health policy highlights of the 2024 legislative session
During the 2024 session, the Oklahoma Legislature passed key mental health bills and appropriated over $5 million to provide much-needed support to the state’s behavioral health workforce.
Read MoreNew law modifies Oklahoma’s definition of “person requiring treatment”
Oklahoma will soon have an updated definition to determine when someone may be held in protective custody for a mental health evaluation to determine whether they need to be involuntarily hospitalized.
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