Stitt calls to institute science of hope

This week, I’d like to discuss an interesting piece of Governor Stitt’s agenda, which is his call to institute the science of hope into Oklahoma state government. Hope Rising Oklahoma is a nonprofit organization founded by First Lady Sarah Stitt and OU-Tulsa professor and founding director of the university’s Hope Research Center, Dr. Chan Hellman. Hellman has conducted extensive hope research and created a framework for building hope across organizations and communities. 

The organization is supported through First Lady Stitt’s Hope Foundation, which she started to share her passion for those impacted by mental health issues. She has worked to build awareness about the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and her efforts are inspired and guided by Dr. Hellman’s work. Both her and Hellman experienced the pain of childhood adversity and trauma and are dedicated to helping others. Hellman has worked with numerous human service organizations, school districts, national coalitions, and state agencies to develop strategic plans to become hope-centered.

In FY’21, the Department of Human Services (OKDHS) became the first hope-centered and trauma-informed state agency in the nation. Staff received hope training, and then opened 52 Community Hope Centers around the state, serving nearly 1,700 children. The centers were made possible with $15 million in federal CARES Act funding to help families combat unprecedented levels of ACEs related to COVID-19. Oklahoma was the first state to launch this type of model in response to the pandemic. The agency has been tasked by the governor to help infuse hope into the 15 cabinet areas in the state’s executive branch and their corresponding agencies.

To some hope, may just be a wish or a feeling, but it is in fact a proven science that can be measured and applied. After more than 2,000 studies, the research center found that hope is the single greatest predictor of success in education, work, health, mental health, social relationships, family, and trauma recovery.

Stephens and Jefferson Counties were so fortunate in December when the state’s second Hope Summit was held in Duncan. I joined many local business owners, educators, government employees and others to learn about the science of hope. 

Research has found that hope impacts health and wellness by helping individuals recover from trauma, childhood trauma and domestic violence as well as mental illness. It’s been successfully used in medical treatment and for prevention strategies.

Hope also positively impacts educational outcomes. It’s been found to increase academic achievement and graduation rates at all levels, along with college enrollment, while also improving grades and test scores as well as decreasing the number of absences.

Business is another area where positive benefits can be obtained through the Science of Hope. It helps improve employee happiness and productivity, workplace performance, job satisfaction, goal attainment, and employee commitment and retention.

In his State of the State address, Governor Stitt announced that the Science of Hope will be introduced in all state agencies in the next two years. This will be tremendously helpful as our state agencies really struggle with employee morale, recruitment, and retention. Oklahoma’s agencies experience around a 20% annual turnover rate, costing the state upwards of $130 million each year. This innovative science could help not only save taxpayer dollars but improve government services and boost employee morale.

Our state employees work so hard and have been on the front lines throughout the pandemic, providing services in critical areas. State government never shuts down, so these public servants have worked even longer hours to help their fellow Oklahomans.  Now more than ever, I believe our state employees need hope to be instilled into their work environments, culture, systems, and programs. That sense of hope will then be passed on to Oklahomans, strengthening families and improving their quality of life.

To learn more, visit www.HopeRisingOklahoma.org. 

If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol. Please write to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 237, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email me at Jessica.Garvin@oksenate.gov or call (405) 521-5522.