Operation Aware of Oklahoma
45 Years of Empowering Tulsa Students to Make Healthy Choices
For 45 years, Operation Aware of Oklahoma has been part of Tulsa’s heartbeat—walking alongside schools, families and communities to help young people make healthy, confident choices. What started in 1979 as a small group of educators visiting local classrooms has grown into a prevention education program reaching more than 12,000 students each year.
Operation Aware lessons go far beyond facts about drugs or health. They focus on decision-making, friendships, online safety and emotional well-being—skills that shape how students approach life long after the program ends.
“Operation Aware meets students where they are,” one Tulsa teacher shared. “My students really related to the topics, and it does a great job preparing them for future problems and temptations.”
Another teacher added, “It helps kids see how their choices affect others.”
Prevention with Heart
For Executive Director Jeni Dolan, prevention is personal. “When I was in middle school, my brother struggled with addiction. Watching how it affected our family changed everything for me,” she says. “I realized the importance of surrounding yourself with people who build you up instead of pulling you down.”
Dolan began with Operation Aware in 2002 as a classroom educator. Two decades later, she leads the organization with the same passion: helping students navigate life’s toughest choices with courage and clarity.
“We don’t just bring information—we bring connection,” she explains. “Our team gives students a safe place to ask questions and think through decisions before they face them in real life.”
The Ripple Effect
That connection has a ripple effect—on students, teachers and families alike. One middle schooler shared, “It made me realize I have the power to choose my path.”
Last year, Operation Aware delivered programs in 412 classrooms across the Tulsa area. Surveys showed a 33% increase in prevention knowledge and a 44-point jump in understanding vaping risks.
“The best measure of success,” Dolan says, “is hearing a student say, ‘I didn’t know that before,’ or a teacher tell us, ‘My kids needed to hear it from someone who gets it.’”
Operation Aware’s work continues thanks to generous community partners, including local foundations, businesses, and City of Tulsa grants. These partnerships allow the organization to offer programs at little or no cost to schools, ensuring prevention is accessible to every student—no matter their zip code.
“The need for prevention has grown,” Dolan notes. “Not because schools aren’t doing their part, but because the voices pulling kids toward risky behavior have grown stronger. Our job is to make sure the message of hope and resilience rises above the rest.”
Parent Tips: How to Start the Conversation
- Keep it casual. Use everyday moments—like seeing a news story or commercial—to ask what your child thinks about drugs or vaping.
- Listen first. Kids open up when they feel heard, not lectured.
- Share facts, not fear. Stick to simple truths about health and safety.
- Model calm and confidence. Your reaction teaches as much as your words.
- Keep talking. Prevention isn’t one talk—it’s an ongoing conversation.
For more resources and parent tools, visit operationaware.org.
Article provided by Operation Aware
