In recent years, Oklahoma has implemented changes to its criminal justice framework that included the creation of the County Community Safety Investment Fund (often referred to as the County Community Safety Fund). This fund was established following voter-approved State Questions 780 and 781, which directed that certain state savings be reinvested at the county level.

Today, the County Community Safety Fund represents a dedicated funding stream available to all Oklahoma counties. The intent of the fund is straightforward: provide resources to support community-based programs that promote public safety, behavioral health services, and alternatives to incarceration where appropriate.

The fund is administered through the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), and counties may apply for awards to implement approved initiatives that address local needs.

What makes this fund unique is that it allows counties to determine how best to address their specific challenges. Rural and urban counties alike face different pressures — from jail overcrowding to behavioral health access gaps to reentry coordination — and this fund allows for locally tailored solutions.

However, not every eligible county has pursued funding. In some cases, the barrier is uncertainty about eligibility, allowable uses, or the application process itself. In others, counties may lack the staffing capacity to assemble a competitive proposal.

Regardless of where a county stands on broader policy discussions, the fund exists as an available resource. The practical question for local leaders becomes: How can we responsibly evaluate and potentially leverage this funding to strengthen our community?

At SOAR Partners, we work with counties to analyze funding opportunities through a strategic lens — aligning available dollars with measurable community outcomes, operational feasibility, and long-term sustainability.

In our next post, we’ll walk through the application process and key considerations for counties interested in applying.