Thomas N Lynn Institute for Healthcare Research Inc

The Lynn Institute Hope Strategies division was implemented in FY24 and is dedicated to sharing the Science of Hope with community and civic organizations, neighborhoods, nonprofits, neighborhoods, and our partner agencies. Hope offers a simple framework, which enjoys a common definition and a robust body of evidence lending itself to the development of easy-to-use intervention modalities to help trauma survivors. The founder of the Science of Hope, Dr. Chan Hellman, has published several studies showing how childhood adversity and trauma can reduce our capacity to hope (rumination, insecure attachments, PTSD, anxiety). Hellman and his colleagues have also published numerous studies showing that hope can be nurtured and restored through simple strategies. This Research is the foundation of the larger Hope Centered and Trauma Informed curriculum we are using to train human service organizations, school districts, law enforcement agencies, judges, and other officers of the courts, etc. across several US States and internationally.Science of Hope training classes were offered throughout the year including a variety of additional educational resources, food distribution and health fairs for participants.In FY25, more than 300 participants were trained in the Science of Hope. Science of Hope is also presented in at risk, vulnerable communities, including OSU OKC/Centers for Social Innovation, which provides life skills education variety of young adult and older students who were formerly incarcerated, recovering, from substance abuse, high school dropouts, etc. The Science of Hope is instrumental in teaching individuals the tenets of hope including how the focus is given to the two components of pathways thinking and agency thinking. Pathways thinking refers to the ability to identify strategies or plans on how to achieve one's goals. The hopeful person can identify multiple pathways to the desired goal and effectively conceive alternative pathways or solutions to potential barriers. Agency thinking refers to the mental energy we deploy toward our goal pursuits. The hopeful person has the agency to self-regulate their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions when selecting and pursuing their desired goals. Positive expectations regarding the pursuit of desired goals become the essence of hope. (Hellman, Gwinn, 2017)Hope Strategies, a Division of the Lynn Institute, facilitates a juvenile justice program called CREW (Character, Responsibility, Entrepreneurship, and Well-Being). CREW meets weekly to provide an opportunity for juvenile offenders to fulfill their court-ordered community engagement requirements by serving in the Lynn Institute's community garden. Hope Strategies work alongside these students, nurturing Hope and creating avenues for connection and change. Enrichment activities are provided each week and guest speakers frequently come to share their stories with the students. CREW members do not just fulfill justice requirements; they leave the program with healthier life goals and a better sense of self.Since its launch, more than 1,500 students have participated in this program, including 411 in FY25 along with 125 volunteers, with the potential to increase the number of classes and activities as the behavioral outcomes continue to increase and recidivism decreases. The program has also generated more than 500 volunteer hours of participation.In October 2024, Lynn Institute expanded its impact with the launch of CREW Connections, a specialized program for girls detained at the Oklahoma County Juvenile Detention Center. In FY25, 25 CREW Connections classes served 85 participants, offering smaller, more intimate sessions focused on emotional wellness, self-worth, and healing. Programming included art therapy and creative expression, goal-setting workshops, mock interviews, and physical activity and mindfulness practicesall designed to foster hope and resilience during a challenging time.