Office of Child Abuse Prevention

The Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) promotes the health and safety of Oklahoma children by reducing child abuse and neglect through:

• Funding of direct services for Oklahoma children and families
• Training of professionals working in child abuse prevention and protection arenas
• Conducting activities that educate the public about child maltreatment
• Enhancing infrastructure that supports child abuse prevention efforts
  

In 1984, the Oklahoma Child Abuse Prevention Act (Title 63, O.S. Supp. 2001, Section 1-227) was enacted by the Oklahoma legislature.  Prior to this, child abuse and neglect efforts were based on "after-the-fact" intervention.

In accordance with the Act, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) was created within the Oklahoma State Department of Health to focus on prevention. The Office provides primary (statewide promotion of child abuse prevention), secondary (community-based family resource and support programs), and tertiary (training professionals on the identification and reporting of child maltreatment) prevention services.

Intent of the Child Abuse Prevention Act

• Develop a comprehensive approach for the prevention of child abuse and neglect be developed for the state and used as a basis of funding of programs and services
• Provide multidisciplinary and discipline-specific training on child abuse and neglect and domestic violence be available to professionals with responsibilities affecting children, youth, and families
• The Office of Child Abuse Prevention within the Oklahoma State Department of Health establishes a comprehensive statewide approach towards the prevention of child abuse and neglect

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Office of Child Abuse Prevention
123 Robert S. Kerr. Ave Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Physical Address is:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Office of Child Abuse Prevention
123 Robert S. Kerr. Ave
Oklahoma City, OK

Phone: (405) 426-8041
Email: lacheze@health.ok.gov