Oklahoma – Governor Kevin Stitt, in partnership with Arnold Ventures, has announced a $10 million investment to expand the Be A Neighbor initiative, which aims to create more opportunities and improve outcomes for children and youth across Oklahoma.
The initiative, hosted within the Department of Human Services (DHS), will receive matching funds from Arnold Ventures, bringing the potential total investment to $20 million over the next four years.
Arnold Ventures, a philanthropic organization that funds research to address major social challenges, will match government investments dollar-for-dollar. The partnership will initially focus on community-driven programs with a track record of success in education and youth development.
“Oklahoma is proud to lead the way in supporting effective community programs that deliver results and a brighter future for our young people,” Stitt said.
“This partnership highlights our commitment to world-class education, workforce readiness, and ensuring every young Oklahoman has the tools they need to achieve their full potential and thrive.”
Laura Arnold, founder and co-chair of Arnold Ventures, emphasized the importance of evidence-based solutions. “With policymakers facing increasingly complex problems and the need to balance budgets, it’s crucial to support strategies with the greatest potential to drive real, measurable outcomes for children, families, and communities,” she said. “We look forward to working with Governor Stitt and his team in Oklahoma on this significant partnership.”
The initiative will support programs with proven success in improving educational and social outcomes. Potential programs include:
– Saga Tutoring – A math tutoring intervention designed for 9th and 10th graders in low-income high schools. Research shows the program significantly increases math achievement and long-term academic success.
– Wendy’s Wonderful Kids – A program that recruits adoptive families for children in foster care or out-of-home placements. Studies indicate the program has increased adoption rates by more than one-third over several years.
State officials anticipate that the additional funding will help expand these programs and introduce new initiatives to address the needs of Oklahoma’s children and families. Updates on the implementation and progress of the initiative will be shared in the coming months.
