• Poverty, Family and Trauma 研究 Center founding director and researcher Dr. Felipe Oyarzo recognized several student researchers at the center’s dedication Sept. 28. 如图所示,博士. Felipe Oyarzo (from left), RSU President Dr. Larry Rice, Riley Suiter, Trixie Asher, Shannon Smith and Vice President for 学术事务 Dr. 理查德•贝克.
    RSU’s Poverty, Family and Trauma 研究 Center Hosts Dedication Ceremony Sept. 28

15.6%

of Oklahomans live under the poverty line*

49%

of women and 40% of men have experienced intimate partner violence at some time in their lives in Oklahoma*

25.6%

of Oklahomans have reported suffering from a mental health disorder*

The promise of Oklahoma: 工作可以战胜一切. 但如果这不是真的呢?

The Sooner state is one of the best places in the nation to raise a family. Love of neighbor, community, and country are the hallmark themes of Oklahoma. It is a place that proclaims Labor omnia vincit! 工作可以战胜一切! For many, that means working hard will bring rich rewards.

But not everyone in Oklahoma finds the treasures that promise claims to bring.

There are families in Oklahoma living with food and housing insecurity.

  • Our children have the highest ACE (adverse childhood experiences) scores in the nation.
  • Incarcerated women have an average ACE score of 5.75 compared to the national average of two.
  • Families who live in poverty encounter multiple traumas.

They live with the daily stress of choosing whether to pay rent, buy food, or pay the electric bill. They want to work but they have no car, or the car needs repair. They have less access to the resources needed to navigate these traumatic experiences.

*Source: United States Census Bureau & 俄克拉何马州2023年.

是时候改变这一切了. It is time for Oklahoma to be a kind neighbor, love all their communities, and serve the country.

We want to have a positive impact on Oklahoma. Our neighbors in urban and rural areas are hurting.

  • Oklahoma ranks fifth in the nation for children suffering from trauma.
  • 60% of families in rural areas live in poverty.
  • 15%的人有四个或更多的a.

This project exists for the purpose of producing high-quality empirical research on family problems related to poverty and trauma, seeking to identify strategies for addressing these problems first in our state and then in other regions of the country and the world, 影响决策, 国际研究, 咨询, 和教育.

The Poverty, Family and Trauma 研究 Center works closely with the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 发展 (OECD) and uses data provided by this entity for many of its current studies.

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