2025 Year in Review
Achievements
Award-Winning Poster on Child Care Subsidies
In 2025, senior researchers Dr. Sarah Connelly and Lisa White from the Educational Training, Evaluation, Assessment, and Measurement (E-TEAM) department at the University of Oklahoma Outreach, along with their co-authors, were awarded first place for their poster presentation at the Oklahoma Early Childhood Research Symposium. The poster, The Subsidy Squeeze: How Child Care Providers Experience Benefits, Barriers, and the Eligibility Cliff in Categorical Programs, presented findings from a mixed-methods evaluation conducted as part of E-TEAM's Preschool Development Grant, Birth to Five (PDG B-5) work. The study examined a multi-year subsidy initiative designed to increase access to affordable childcare for child care professionals with young children. Findings highlighted how subsidies supported basic needs and quality of life for recipients, while also serving as a tool for workforce recruitment, retention, and quality improvement. Despite ongoing challenges, such as low wages and workforce turnover, the research underscores the importance of refining subsidy programs to strengthen the early care and education workforce. A full manuscript is currently under review with the Early Childhood Education Journal.
Preschool Development Grant (PDG B-5): Statewide Evaluation in Oklahoma
In 2025, E-TEAM supported the evaluation of Oklahoma's Preschool Development Grant, Birth to Age Five (PDG B-5), administered by the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR), during the second year of a two-year project funded by the Administration for Children and Families. Working in collaboration with University of Oklahoma faculty evaluators, E-TEAM contributed to a comprehensive evaluation focused on strengthening Oklahoma's early childhood education and development system.
During the project's second year, E-TEAM conducted evaluation activities across a wide range of PDG B-5–funded initiatives, examining program implementation, reach, and outcomes. This work generated actionable findings to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making across Oklahoma's early childcare and education landscape.
Natalie Dickson Advances to Doctoral Candidacy
In 2025, E-TEAM celebrated a significant professional milestone as Senior Research Associate Natalie Dickson successfully passed her doctoral comprehensive exams in Sociology, advancing to doctoral candidacy. Natalie is pursuing her PhD while working full-time with E-TEAM, integrating advanced academic training with applied research and evaluation to support projects across the department. Her achievement reflects both her dedication and E-TEAM's commitment to supporting professional growth and scholarly development. Natalie is on track to complete her doctoral degree in Fall 2027, and we are proud to support her continued success on the path to becoming Dr. Dickson.
Peer-Reviewed Publication on Child Welfare
In 2025, E-TEAM Senior Research Associate Dr. Sarah Connelly published a peer-reviewed article in Children and Youth Services Review, contributing to the broader field of child welfare research. The study examined how placement instability in out-of-home care shapes children's emotional and behavioral well-being, drawing on national longitudinal data. Findings highlight the complex and bidirectional relationship between placement changes and child outcomes, emphasizing the role of trauma history, social supports, and peer relationships in shaping resilience. By challenging assumptions that placement instability uniformly worsens outcomes, this research underscores the importance of trauma-informed and gender-responsive approaches in child welfare practice.
Featured Projects
Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth: Strengthening Child Welfare Data Systems
In 2025, E-TEAM continued its partnership with the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY), supporting statewide child welfare efforts through data systems and evaluation services. Since 2020, E-TEAM has worked with OCCY to develop and refine a secure, web-based data system that centralizes information and provides real-time reporting and analytics to support outcome tracking, trend analysis, and program monitoring.
In addition to data system development and maintenance, E-TEAM provides database training, technical assistance, and program evaluation services, and supports OCCY leadership, staff, and board members by presenting data-informed findings and recommendations. This ongoing collaboration strengthens decision-making and enhances the impact of OCCY's work across Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: A Longstanding Evaluation Partnership
Building on more than 20 years of collaboration, E-TEAM continued its partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) in 2025, providing data-driven insights to support behavioral health initiatives across the state. During the year, E-TEAM served as the evaluator for the Oklahoma Systems of Care and supported multiple federally funded initiatives. E-TEAM also conducted evaluation and data support for ODMHSAS initiatives such as Mobile Response services and Behavioral Intervention Services and Supports in Schools (BISSS), contributing to ongoing system monitoring and program improvement efforts. A cornerstone of this work is EON, E-TEAM's secure, web-based platform that enables real-time data collection and access to evaluation data for provider agencies and state leadership.
In addition to evaluation activities, E-TEAM provided ongoing technical assistance to ODMHSAS leadership, staff, and provider agencies, helping translate data into actionable insights and supporting continuous improvement across Oklahoma's behavioral health system.
FRIENDS National CBCAP: A Decade-Long Evaluation Partnership
In 2025, E-TEAM continued its long-standing partnership with the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP), a collaboration that has spanned more than a decade. E-TEAM provided formative and summative assessment services, including annual needs assessments, to support FRIENDS' training and technical assistance efforts for the national CBCAP community.
This work informed program refinement, identified emerging priorities, and strengthened data-informed decision-making, reinforcing a shared commitment to continuous improvement and impactful outcomes.
Arkansas Leadership Academy: A Multi-Year Evaluation Partnership
Throughout 2025, E-TEAM advanced its evaluation partnership with the Arkansas Leadership Academy (ALA), completing the fourth year of a five-year project. Using a mixed-methods approach, the team delivered ongoing formative feedback and annual summative findings informed by data that supported leadership development, positive school climates, and student success across Arkansas.
This year's work helped position the partnership for a culminating fifth year focused on synthesis, reflection, and long-term impact.
2025 By the Numbers
Looking Ahead
In 2026, E-TEAM will continue to build on its statewide and national partnerships, supporting a diverse portfolio of evaluation, research, and data-focused projects. This year, we will complete several multi-year initiatives, including:
- The evaluation of Oklahoma's Healthy Transitions Initiative for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- The National Science Foundation's EPSCoR Track 2 grant on Cost-Effective Conversion of Natural Gas and Biomass to Hydrogen and Performance Carbons for the University of Oklahoma and Iowa State University
- The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Improvement and Advancement Grant, Oklahomans Helping Achieve Needed Access (OHANA), for CREOKS Health Services, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
These projects, along with our longstanding collaborations with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY), FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP), and Dayspring Community Services, will allow us to document outcomes, highlight lessons learned, and continue providing practical insights to support program improvement.
In addition, E-TEAM will engage in several targeted, one-year projects designed to address pressing social and behavioral health questions, including:
- Conducting a recidivism analysis for the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs
- Carrying out focus groups to explore how intimate partner violence and postpartum depression impact employment and independence among women in Oklahoma, to inform TANF policy
- Developing three practice-informed toolkits from the Stronger Together: Attachment, Resilience, & Support (STARS) initiative, which will translate evidence-based training and insights into actionable resources for practitioners, systems, and communities.
Across these projects, our team will combine rigorous data analysis, evaluation expertise, and a focus on translating findings into insightful recommendations.
As we look toward 2026, E-TEAM's work will continue to emphasize the meaningful use of data to drive programmatic improvements, inform policy, and support sustainable impact across education, child welfare, behavioral health, scientific research, criminal justice, and other fields. By integrating lessons from long-standing partnerships with insights from new projects, we aim to ensure that evaluation findings not only measure outcomes but also strengthen the systems and communities we serve.