OKLAHOMA CITY – More than 200 youths in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) are being remembered by Santa Claus this year.
OJA staff members worked with the Santa Claus Commission to make sure the children spending Christmas in the 11 group homes across the state that have contracts with OJA, and the agency’s two secure-care treatment facilities, are remembered during the holiday season. The gifts were distributed to 133 youths in community-level placements and 69 in OJA’s secure-care treatment centers in Manitou and Tecumseh.
OJA staff wrapped gifts for the youths and delivered them. The gifts, some of which were suggested by OJA youths to the commission, were purchased with funds provided by the commission, which was formed in 1937.
Each year the Santa Claus Commission delivers gifts to children in the care of OJA. The commission is managed by OJA and is responsible for the purchase and distribution of gifts as provided for in the Oklahoma Statutes. Public funds are not used to purchase gifts. The commission operates from private donations and collects interest from the dollars currently in the Santa Claus Commission Fund.
“Youths in OJA custody are completing treatment and rehabilitation away from their families and home,” OJA Executive Director Rachel Holt said. “During the holiday season it is important for us to remember that they are still children and let them feel loved and appreciated with a holiday gift. I tell the youths that if they are successful in their program, this can be the last holiday in their lifetime that they are away from home. This is a powerful reminder of the work our OJA staff and contracted staff do every day to change the future for justice-involved youths.”
Each child received a duffel bag, coloring book, composition book, photobook, a candy bar, lip balm, a pair of socks and body wash. Each OJA youth in a group home also received a pack of colored pencils and a $20 gift card; Oklahoma’s Credit Union donated the activation cost for all the cards.
Secure-care youths received $20 applied to their canteen account, an individually directed fund that allows the children to purchase facility-approved items such as candy, soft drinks and hygiene products. Instead of colored pencils, youths in secure care received additional snacks.
Oklahoma’s Credit Union is waiving the usual processing fee for the gift cards. “We understand the importance of supporting Oklahoma kids and applaud the Office of Juvenile Affairs for making this positive impact through the Santa Claus Commission,” said credit union Chief Experience Officer Jennifer Lown.