Oklahoma Interviewing Services

Donate here: https://okinterviewingservices.com/donate/

Childhood shouldn't be hard, but the sad reality is that we live in a world where child abuse is a true crisis. Oklahoma Interviewing Services travels across the state conducting forensic interviews in all 77 counties and provides family advocacy services to children and their non-offending caregivers. Our services would not be possible without the generosity of individuals in our state who believe in the true impact that our services make. No amount is too small so please consider becoming a monthly donor today! Join our cause and be a part of a community that makes a true change in the fight against child abuse!✨

Thank you to my sweet hubby Chris 😘 for helping get the portable air conditioner replaced today while I attended the Rural American Ministries zoom meeting.

We are SO thankful to be able to offer the services of Joey across our state!!

Yesterday, there were many kids that needed scheduled, but only one Forensic Interview room.

We were able to respond with Joey, an additional forensic interviewer, and our Child and Family Advocate to aid in expediting the services for multiple families and cases! 💙

We are honored to assist in providing services and support to LE, CPS, FSMDTs, and CACs across our state!

If you need Joey or Forensic Interviewing assistance please reach out!

Is it Friday yet? 12 hour days back to back is HARD!

Other first this week: Selena and Natalie had their first back to back long days. Today they had their first double locations in a day in Joey.

Selena and Natalie are doing so well and we are incredibly lucky to have them as part of our team.

And Vicki had another week in New York 🗽 teaching for Zero Abuse Project. So Proud of her too!

Another first for today…First time Natalie driving Joey on the real road from Woodward. She did great!

We had a moment of silence for the little bird that flew into Joey traumatizing Selena in the process.

You can’t go back after killing your first bird…it’s all part of driving Joey!

Happy National Forensic Interviewer Week to these 3 fabulous ladies! You all give the children a safe space to tell their stories and begin the healing process. We appreciate your hardwork and dedication to the children of Oklahoma!

With this heat Joey requires some shade! Vicki and Natalie were out in Minco this week.

❗ The application deadline has been extended ❗ Applications are now due Sunday, July 7th by 11:45 pm.

Are you a grandparent raising your grandchildren? Sunbeam Family Services, Oklahoma City Police Department , Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office and TRIAD volunteers invite you to apply for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Annual School Supply Program. Through this program we will provide grandchildren in your household with a backpack and school supplies such as pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, rulers, folders, highlighters, and much more! Apply here: https://buff.ly/3xSJ5t4

We are praying for our family in Blue today!

Are you a crime survivor who wants to share your journey with others? Consider joining our Resilient Voices Program!

Resilient Voices speakers have the opportunity to speak in a variety of settings. Check out our website for more information!

https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/ova/restorative-justice/resilient-voices.html

Already a speaker? Consider joining us on July 10 for a Lunch and Learn event!

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUode-pqjwpEtVhniWLTVGlV_l7bo86NPEJ #/registration

Selena doing a great job on multi-session interviews using ChildFirst EXpended protocol.

Thank you Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth for a fantastic training today on mindful negotiations! Our team can’t wait to implement everything we learned today in our day to day interactions with youth! ✨

Anyone in the Claremore area interested?

🌟 **Exciting News!** 🌟

The William W. Barnes Children's Advocacy Center in Claremore, OK is hiring an Executive Director! Do you have leadership skills and a passion for protecting victims of child abuse? This could be the perfect opportunity for you. Check out the job description below for full details and join our mission to make a difference in the lives of children and families.

https://careercenter.okcnp.org/jobs/?keywords=executive%20director&location=claremore,%20ok,%20united%20states

We are currently seeking individuals or a construction/building company that is interested in making an impact out in Western Oklahoma by helping us remodel space in our new CAC out in Weatherford! Here are the details:

-A construction company or handy individual who is willing to donate material or their time to help prep our Child Advocacy Center.
-We are needing to expand some of our work office spaces by demolishing some walls and creating new ones.
-We are needing to frame in a couple of new doors for the facility.

If you or someone you know are excited to make a difference, then please email or give us a call!

We are excited that Natalie has joined our OIS team. She rocked at driving Joey!

Congratulations and welcome, Natalie!

Praying for Sgt Michael Neely’s family, friends and OCPD family for their loss of a love one who made a difference in this world.

We are devastated as an agency to have learned of this weekends' unexpected, off-duty passing of Sgt. Michael Neely. A committed public servant, he served the citizens of Oklahoma City for just over 16 years. Most recently assigned to our Motorcycle Unit, Neely was recognized as Officer of the Year in 2019. Neely was popular amongst his peers and his presence will be deeply missed by our agency.

Upon word of his passing, we received this heartfelt message from a neighbor who described the day Neely saved his life:

"Mike Neely lives across the street from me. It’s incredibly sad to hear of his passing this morning. I just wanted you to know he saved my life 3 years ago. I am 3 years sober from an op**te addiction, and 3 years ago this month I overdosed on OxyContin that ended up being Fentanyl. Sometime after midnight, Mike saw my dog running around the front yard so he brought him back over to the house. All the lights and TVs were on but I wasn’t answering the door. He opened the door to see if I was home but I didn’t answer. He then saw my dog still outside and not coming in and was trying to go towards the end of the street. Mike followed the dog and they eventually got to my location where I was face down on the sidewalk. He flipped me over and my face was blue, lips were purple, and I didn’t have a pulse. So he ran home and got his Narcan and between that and CPR he was able to revive me. The last thing I remember was feeling drowsy and lying down, and the next thing I remember was waking up in the back of an ambulance. It was incredibly confusing because I had no idea what happened, but then I saw Mike. He was the first person I saw and it brought me a lot of relief. I owe my life to Mike and it’s incredibly sad losing him. Just wanted you guys to know."

Sgt. Neely's dedication and compassion have left a lasting impact on all who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone whose lives he touched.

Great job, Bill Turner Jr.! We are already getting calls of people wanting to help. Yay!

Oklahoma Nonprofit Helps Children Share Traumatic Events, Hosting Fundraiser Children who experience traumatic events are often traumatized again when they have to tell authorities what happened, but an Oklahoma group is working to help ease that burden with its mobile outreach program.

12 hour work days with the best crew around! 6 forensic interviews were completed out in Lawton today. Now it’s time for the drive back home ✨

Thank you for helping us help the most vulnerable in our state.

Thanks to generous donors another load of essentials going out for children in need in Lawton distributed by Oklahoma Interviewing Services

We’re excited for district 2 as we embark on this journey of getting a Child Advocacy Center setup in Western Oklahoma! Maria presented at the Weatherford Rotary Club meeting today to talk about all things OIS and how the community can be apart of this amazing cause 🎉

We are currently looking for board and committee members to join so if you’re interested and located in district 2, please reach out! We can’t wait for this new chapter! 🥳

Exciting times!

📢 Attention Oklahomans! 📢

Facing tough times after the storms?

Disaster SNAP benefits are here to provide much-needed support.

🌟 Find Out More: https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/newsroom/2024/may/comm05172024.html

Want an easy way to support OIS at our golf tournament? Buy a golf ball for the golf ball drop! You do not have to be present to win. If your ball falls in the hole first or gets closest to the hole, you win half of the pot. You can buy a ball through a board member or employee or visit oisgolf.com. It’s only $10/ball! Thank you for your support!

Congratulations, Selena! She did a great job on her very first forensic interviews today.

Also, say hello to Natalie, our new advocate!

Many THANK YOU’s to everyone involved in getting our first donation of furniture for our CAC in Weatherford. So exciting!

Thank you Flex-Chem for donating all this wonderful furniture, which we will put to good use.

Thank you SWOSU football coaches for moving all very heavy funiture to the temporarily storage.

Thank you Jackie and Jayden for making this possible.