Thanks for What You Do!
It’s because of dedicated adult sponsors, willing to give their time and energy, that the Intro to OKSA Conference is such a positive and impactful experience for youth participants. Thank you for all you do to support youth and the OKSA program. We look forward to seeing you in May for a day of connecting, learning, and fun!
If you have questions about the registration and confirmation process, please email Danielle Harbinger at dharbinger@ou.edu.
If you have questions or would like more information about the conference agenda and activities, please email Daniel Woodruff at oksaevents@ou.edu.
Intro to OKSA Conference Basics
Youth transitioning to adulthood benefit from connecting with others, opportunities to practice important skills, and increasing their hope for the future!
The goal of the Oklahoma Intro to OKSA Conference is to help youth in Oklahoma foster care get these needs met by creating a space that is safe, supportive, and engaging for both youth and adults.
The Intro to OKSA Conference is a one-day event funded by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and coordinated by the University of Oklahoma National Resource Center for Youth Services.
Who Should Attend?
Eligible Youth
Oklahoma youth aged 14 who are currently in OKDHS or Tribal custody.
Important to Know:
- Youth must be at least 14 by May 29, 2024
- ICPC youth are allowed to attend
Adult Sponsors
Child Welfare staff, tribal workers, youth workers, foster parents, group home providers, or volunteers who work with eligible youth.
Important to Know:
- An adult sponsor can bring up to three youth; however, we recommend a 2:1 ratio for the best experience. Adult sponsors must be 21 years or older.
Things to Consider Before Registering
When deciding whether to attend the Intro to OKSA Conference, it's important to plan for the best experience for each youth participant. Here are some things to talk with youth about before registering for the conference:
Ask if they are feeling settled in their life right now.
The conference will be a safe and supportive space with lots of helpful people around. At the same time, some youth may find the high level of activity and social engagement overwhelming, especially if they have a lot going on.
Ask if they’d like to attend.
While the conference is full of fun activities and opportunities to hang out with other teens, it’s not for everyone. Discuss the event and the types of experiences that will occur, and ask if they’d be interested in going. It's okay if an OKSA eligible youth does not wish to attend.
Ask why they might want to attend.
Find out from the youth what their personal goals are for attending the conference and how you can best support them as their sponsor.
Develop a plan.
Before coming to the conference, work together to develop a plan to manage stress, check in with each other, and seek support if needed.
What to Bring
It's late May in Oklahoma, so dress summer casual! It's important to have comfortable shoes for walking across campus and playing games. We will be outside in the springtime sun and inside air-conditioned buildings so bring what you need for both.
Sponsor Guidelines
Sponsor must review and agree to the following guidelines prior to attending the conference:
Sponsors must discuss guidelines with each youth before arriving on campus.
To ensure the safety of all participants, sponsors are responsible for the supervision of the youth they are sponsoring and must ensure youth are always in line-of-sight. The youth to sponsor ratio is a maximum of 3:1, although 2:1 is recommended for the best experience.
All sponsors and youth must remain at the event site for the duration of the entire conference and must be active participants in the event and attend all conference activities.
Sponsors are responsible for handling all disciplinary, medical, or other situations that arise with the youth they are sponsoring. Sponsors should have all appropriate contact information on hand in case arrangements must be made for the youth to leave the event for medical or behavioral reasons.
Sponsors will serve as role-models in both appropriate campus behavior and proper attire. We are guests of the conference site. Please be respectful of university staff, participants from other groups, and each other. Keep the site clean, be mindful of noise levels, and do no harm in words or deeds.
OU is a smoke, drug, and alcohol-free campus; this includes marijuana, even for medical use.
Notify OKSA Supervisors Robbie Wheet (NRCYS) at (918) 519-4139 or Jennifer Boyer (OKDHS) at (405) 255-5902 immediately of any injuries, unsafe behavior, or emergencies.
Please note that failure to follow the conference guidelines could result in dismissal from the event. A signed copy of the event guidelines must be on file before registration can be completed and your spot secured.
Download the Intro to OKSA Conference 2024 Guidelines here.
Intro to OKSA Conference 2024 Guidelines
This is a DocuSign ready PDF; right-click the link above and select "Save As" to fill out in Adobe Acrobat.
NOTE: You WILL NOT be able to fill this PDF out in your browser window! You must open it in Adobe Acrobat (Full or Reader) first!
Registration Information
Online Registration begins April 22nd and goes through May 17th. Space is limited to the first 150 completed registrations.
One adult sponsor can register up to three youth on the registration form. To complete the form, you will need to know demographic and contact information, plus the KK number, for each youth. You will also need to know any dietary needs and special accommodations.
Remember that adult sponsors must always stay within sight of their youth, and fully engage in all conference activities. Please plan accordingly.
Select the Register Here link on this page to enter all registration details. Once you register, download and sign a copy of the Intro to OKSA Conference 2024 Guidelines, and submit to oksaevents@ou.edu.
NOTE: Registration is not complete, and your space will not be reserved, until a signed copy of the conference guidelines has been submitted. If you are unable to complete all registration steps prior to the deadline, you and your youth will be moved to a conference waitlist.
Registration Confirmation and Cancellation
After all steps of the registration have been completed, you will receive a confirmation packet. The packet will contain all the information you need to get prepared for the conference.
Cancellation
We get it. Things happen and plans change. If you need to cancel or change your registration, please notify us immediately so that we can make the changes or allow waitlisted participants an opportunity to attend the conference.
If you have to cancel your registration, please contact Danielle Harbinger at dharbinger@ou.edu.