Wednesday, January 4, 2017
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the appointment of Karen Youngblood to fill an unexpired term on the Board of Juvenile Affairs.
Youngblood succeeds Wendell Hixson, who resigned. She will serve the remainder of Hixson’s term, which expires in July 2018, representing Congressional District 3 with experience in education. She can begin serving immediately on the seven-member board, which is the governing body for the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA). Her appointment still must be confirmed by the Senate when it convenes this year.
Youngblood, of Yukon, is executive director of customized education at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). She plans, organizes and oversees all customized education and non-credit offerings, professional development and corporate training at UCO. She also is serving her second term on the Yukon Public Schools Board of Education.
“Karen Youngblood has valuable experience helping teens and young adults succeed and is aware of what they need to be successful,” said Fallin. “Her skills in transformative learning, strategic planning, mentoring and budgeting will be a tremendous asset to the Board of Juvenile Affairs.”
Youngblood also has volunteered with several agencies, including the Boy Scouts, Youth Services for Oklahoma County and Infant Crisis Services.
“I appreciate Governor Fallin’s trust in me and I’m honored to serve our state,” Youngblood said. “Many of the young people in OJA custody need psychiatric and addiction therapy, while others need education and training to make better decisions. I believe that none of us are defined by the worst thing we have ever done. If we do our job well, we will change lives, future generations and our state. I look forward to challenging our systems to higher standards while remaining impatient with the status quo.”
Youngblood earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Friends University in Wichita, Kan., and a master’s degree in education, adult education and training from UCO.
About the Board of Juvenile Affairs
The Board of Juvenile Affairs is the rule-making body of the Office of Juvenile Affairs. The board reviews and approves the budget requests of the office; conducts periodic reviews and planning activities related to the goals, objectives, priorities and policies of the office; and provides a public forum for receiving comments and disseminating information to the public regarding goals, objectives, priorities and policies of the office. The board has the authority to adopt nonbinding resolutions requesting action by the Office of Juvenile Affairs in response to comments received or upon the board’s own initiative.