The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) sends this information as posted below:
OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 22, 2025) – Oklahoma Human Services and Oklahoma Caregiver Coalition (OKCares) partners are proud to announce the annual Oklahoma Family Caregiver Conference on Thursday, Nov. 6. Titled “The Caregivers Compass,” the conference will focus on the value caregivers bring to their families and communities, and the resources and support they need to ensure they can find their way to balance and wellbeing as well.
In-person conferences will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6 in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Enid, Ardmore, Stillwater and McAlester. Doors will open at 9 a.m. The conference will be available virtually beginning at 10 a.m. for caregivers who cannot attend in person. Registration for in-person and virtual attendance is available online at https://okcares.org/. Participants can contact OKCares at 918-493-0604 for answers to commonly asked questions or registration assistance.
“Caregivers play a pivotal role in our society,” said Jeromy Buchanan, Oklahoma Human Services Director of Community Living, Aging and Protective Services. “Whether they are caring for children, aging parents, family members with disabilities, or any other loved one, the caregiver’s role is one that can span across the entirety of a person’s lifespan. This work is important and fulfilling but also comes with unique challenges and stressors. This conference is designed to celebrate our caregivers’ selfless service while also giving them access to important resources and some very well-deserved respite.”
Last year, Oklahoma Human Services was one of only eight states to receive a national grant from Community Catalyst and the LeadingAge LTSS Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston as part of their four-year initiative, “Amplifying the Power of Family Caregiver Voices Project.” The initiative aims to support the 53 million family caregivers in the U.S. who provide daily living assistance to someone living with a chronic health condition, disability, or both. Supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), this project is just one part of a national effort to address the unmet needs of caregivers across the country and help implement policy changes recommended by the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act Advisory Council.
Part of the Community Catalyst grant funds will be used to offer transportation stipends for 500 caregivers to attend the 2025 Oklahoma Family Caregiver Conference. Additional funds will be used to reach prospective conference attendees in underserved rural areas of the state.
Caregivers attending the conference who need to hire a respite provider may be eligible for a one-time educational voucher valued at $100 for the full day or $50 for a half day. Caregivers can call 405-271-2710 to apply for the voucher.
The conference will host several inspiring national and local speakers, including clinical psychologists Barry Jacobs and Julia Mayer, and will include caregiving tips, entertainment and door prizes throughout the day. Additionally, a virtual smart home tour will be hosted by Oklahoma ABLE Tech at 10 a.m. at all conference locations.
Afternoon programming will include virtual breakout rooms with subject matter experts available to answer attendee questions about Developmental Disabilities Services, Medicare, Person Centered Options Counseling, and more. The conference will also highlight aspects of Aging Our Way, a ten-year plan developed by Oklahoma Human Services that aims to give aging Oklahomans the confidence and resources needed to live life on their terms.
Conference registration and sponsorship opportunities are available on the coalition’s website at https://okcares.org/. Sponsor and vendor registration will close as the sites reach booth capacity. Attendee registrations will close as soon as capacity is reached at each site.
Free Press curates press releases from organizations and people we know to be reputable. If you would like to submit a well-written press release for us to publish on our site, please click the email icon at the top of this page.
