Program areas at OBF
Obf legal services grants. The obf provides annual grant funds tonon-profit organizations in Oklahoma that furnish civil legal aid andadvocacy services to oklahomans who would otherwise not be able toafford these critical services. This funding seeks to ensure thatjustice is possible for all Oklahoma children, seniors, veterans,victims of domestic violence and other individuals who are in need ofsuch services. Annual grants are also awarded to non-profits thatprovide law-related education programs to oklahomans, includingstudents from grade school through high school. In 2023, the obfawarded grants to 48 separate organizations to provide civil legal aidservices and law related education programs to Oklahoma citizens. It isestimated that some 100,000 individuals/families received law-related services.
In 2023, the obf approved grants in the amount of $146,300 to 3 different non-profit organizations and programs across the state of Oklahoma to provide legal service aid to low-income populations in the areas of community redevelopment and mortgage foreclosure defense. The grants were funded by distributions made pursuant to a global settlement agreement of several lawsuits brought by the us department of justice against entities who allegedly committed acts that contributed to the 2008 housing market financial collapse.
Obf court grants. The obf provides annual grant funds to district andappellate courts across the state to help advance and improve theadministration of justice by updating and improving courtroomtechnology, which would probably not occur if not for obf funding. In 2023, the obf awarded grants to 3 different Oklahoma district courts to fund court room technology tools such as smartboards for use by court administrators and litigants.
In 2023, the obf approved 2 grants in the amount of $15,000 to mignon e. cruvhon, and kimberly a. deboard for rural service court reporter grants for their agreement to working in rural Oklahoma counties for 3 years. Also, 1 emergency grant in the amount of $5,000 was awarded to the Oklahoma guardian ad litem institute, to help with funding needs created by voca funding cuts.