The Oklahoma Bar Journal October 2026

a wide region. Their biggest need going forward is funding to help fill a serious shortage of forensic interviewers in Oklahoma. THE ROAD TRIP CONTINUES Every one of these organiza tions is solving a problem that matters to Oklahoma’s legal com munity and to the people it serves. Grantee site visits allow OBF to see that work up close. As we continue working toward serving all 77 counties, I’m reminded that this foundation’s strength has always come from the relationships we build, one community at a time. We are looking forward to getting back on the road again soon.

dollars can build the next gener ation of public interest attorneys while serving clients right now. Their caseload has grown with the addition of Oklahoma Survivors Act representation. At The Spring, which provides services to survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking, we toured their newest property, a sec ond location adding 12 cabins and a lodge for long-term transitional housing alongside their emergency shelter. One thing that stood out was how seriously they take sur vivor safety. This is extremely important to those who have survived abuse and need location protection from their abusers. Our visit to Abbott House told a story about resilience. The organization provides forensic interviews so that child abuse victims only have to tell their stories during legal investigations one time. Their new executive director, a former police detective, has brought transparency and a renewed sense of teamwork to the staff. Abbott House opened a sat ellite office in Garvin County and continues to serve clients across

THE GOAL: SERVE ALL 77 COUNTIES AND VISIT EIGHT REGIONS Oklahoma is a big, varied state, and OBF is committed to reaching every corner of it. Our goal is to visit grantees in all eight regions of Oklahoma, so that our under standing of the state’s legal and community needs isn’t limited to where we happen to already have relationships. In 2026, that has taken us to organizations serv ing communities from Tulsa to Lawton to rural Oklahoma, each with a distinct story to tell. ON THE ROAD IN 2026 Project Commutation in Tulsa provides free legal representation to individuals serving excessive sentences. We met with Program Director Abby Gore and a team of law student interns funded by the OBF who are working on some of the most specialized post-conviction work in the state. Watching TU College of Law students get hands-on training in commutation and parole advo cacy work they can’t get in a class room was a reminder of how grant

Ms. DeMoss is the executive director of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation.

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL