Lt. Governor Jari Askins

In March, Lt. Governor Askins continued her long-time commitment to children and youth through her support for out-of-school time issues at a Legislative Briefing on Out-of-School Time Issues and at an Oklahoma Afterschool Network Leadership Meeting.  The Lt. Governor's remarks included her experience in the Juvenile Justice System and the State Legislature and emphasized the need to work on prevention issues.  The Lt. Governor spoke to all three major focus areas of the Oklahoma Afterschool Network including keeping kids safe and out of trouble, helping children and youth succeed in and out of school and the impact afterschool programs can have on families and communities.

Born an reared in Duncan, Oklahoma, Jari Askins was sworn in as Oklahoma's 15th Lieutenant Governor in 2007, giving her the rare distinction of being involved in public service in all three branches of government.

The Lt. Governor has previously been added to the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy's Child Advocate Hall of Fame.  Her extensive work on behalf of children and youth was cause to include her in the Hall of Fame in three separate areas including Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment, Juvenile Justice and Maternal and Child Health.

Currently, Lt. Governor Askins is planning to convene meetings of stakeholders and the public to identify systemic problems facing Oklahoma's children and youth and to begin developing comprehensive action plans that will provide real solutions.  The Askins Commission on Children will focus on issues that threaten the healthy development and future success of Oklahoma's young people