Commissioners present: Richard DeVaughn, chairman, Bob Rawlings, Gerri Webb, Aneta Wilkinson, Mike Peck, Ron Mercer, Jay Dee Chase and Rev. George Young.
Present for the Department: Director Howard H. Hendrick, Margaret Hall, commission secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER—Chairman Richard DeVaughn
Chairman DeVaughn called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—Feb. 24, 2009
Commissioners voted to approve the minutes from the Feb. 24, 2009 meeting.
3. DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS—Howard Hendrick
Director Hendrick made a presentation on site visits and other good news. The director attended the Black Heritage Celebration, an adoption party for children at Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church, attended Oklahoma Senate and House meetings on the federal stimulus bill, the Annual Partners Conference, the Governor’s Cabinet meeting and the Women in Leadership Conference, just to name a few.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation in February 2009 was a new record, 444,184. The previous record for monthly participation was 443,045. The error rate for federal fiscal year 2008 was 5.66 percent, the lowest error rate in the southwest region of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the lowest in Department history. The error rate for FFY 2009 so far is 2.2 percent.
The Director also reported on good news in the child welfare area. The number of children in out of home care is down to its lowest level in more than five years; about a 16 percent drop in 19 months. There are more child welfare workers in place than ever before. More of these workers are tenured. Record numbers of children are experiencing finalized adoptions; more than 900 in the last six months of calendar year 2008, compared to 700 in the same six months of 2007.
Director Hendrick noted several key areas from the recent State House of Representatives audit report on child welfare. Among the recommendations were to narrow the definition of state law pertaining to removal of children; allow the Department to contract with state district attorneys to eliminate “competing case goals;” eliminate the court’s use of standing orders; close the public shelters and replace them with higher paid emergency foster care homes; raise rates for foster care parents and develop a “pay for performance” plan; and centralize the state’s child abuse reporting hotlines into one single hotline.
OKDHS will work with the House to develop workable solutions and continue current progress in reducing the number of children in care and in improving the tenure of child welfare workers.
The state fiscal year 2010 budget is still a preliminary analysis. The full impact of the federal stimulus bill will continue to be studied since all funding except SNAP is nonrecurring and won’t be available after Dec. 31, 2010. The SFY 2009 appropriation is about $7.1 billion. The SFY 2010 certification for appropriations is about $6.5 billion, or $600 million less. The SFY 2010 also will have about $300 million of other uncontrollable costs. That equals about 12.67 percent less. The range of projected shortfall for SFY 2010 is between $161.8 million and $183.8 million. There could be $88 million in federal stimulus bill funds applied to the projected state shortfall. The Department will continue to analyze the federal stimulus package to maximize its value to the state, monitor program participation levels to assess effects on funding and staffing and monitor future projects to assess and determine budgetary impact.
Chairman DeVaughn, on behalf of the Commission, stated their “support and full vote of confidence” in Director Hendrick, his staff and the Agency’s employees. Vice-Chairman Mercer also praised the Agency staff’s dedication and integrity.
4. CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FEBRUARY—Phil Motley
Phil Motley presented the financial report for February.
The financial position did increase by more than $1 million to $10.1 million during February. This amount was primarily in prior year cash which increased to more than $3.5 million. The additional cash was related to adoption case reconciliation. The current year operational position was virtually unchanged at $6.6 million.
All divisions are within respective current year budget, with the following exceptions:
• Aging Services Division: 8.7 percent over budget
• Field Operations, Children and Family Services: 3.5 percent over budget, due to workload and double fills
• Children and Family Services Division, group homes and shelters: 1.5 percent over budget due to staffing
• Aging Services Division, support services: slightly over budget, due to one-time staff expenditure
• Aging Services Division, ADvantage Waiver: 20.3 percent over budget, this is $7.5 million in state dollars in excess of the year to date budget
In February, there were:
• 84 more adoptions
• 74 fewer children in foster home care
• 856 more SNAP program cases
• 54 fewer TANF cases with child; and 119 fewer TANF
The federal stimulus bill will provide six grant awards: (federal approval and authorization to draw funds)
• Two in Aging Services Division
• Two in Foster Care
• Two in Adoption programs
5. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES—Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson presented proposed administrative rules for:
• Child welfare
• Administrative components
• Child care
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
Commissioners voted to approve the administrative rules.
6. REPORT FROM CHILD CARE SERVICES—Mark Lewis (Warm Line: Dale Wares and Debra Andersen)
Mark Lewis, Dale Wares and Debra Andersen gave a presentation on the Child Care Warm Line. This is a service available free to child care providers so they may access information during regular working hours. A child development specialist and a nurse staff the line and take questions regarding child behavior and health issues. A library of taped messages has now been added as an additional resource. The Child Care Consultation Project provides mental health care consultants to help the child care facility retain children who are experiencing behavior challenges, rather than expelling the child.
7. REPORT ON HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS—Marq Youngblood (Area IV, Bryan County Practice Model: Rita Hart, county director; Ange Edwards and Alice Curry, child welfare specialists IV supervisors)
Marq Youngblood presented his report on the Human Services Centers.
The Child Welfare Referrals report stated the number of referrals completed in February was 1,842, the lowest total in the last 13 months. This was largely due to practice enhancement. The referrals pending greater than 60 days was 113.
The referrals pending less than 60 days was 3,389. This shows a slight increase but is consistent with recent data. For the first time since the reporting began, February showed 12 consecutive months of zero priority one no contacts. There were 53 priority two no contacts, a record low.
The Adult Protective Services report revealed the total number of past due investigations was 14; four less than January and only one higher than the record low of December 2008. The percent of investigations initiated timely increased 1.5 percent. The percent of investigations completed timely increased by about 1 percent.
Giving a report on the Bryan County Practice Model were Rita Hart, county director, Ange Edwards and Alice Curry, child welfare supervisors. Edwards presented a video that noted how the practice model and intensive training for staff have positively impacted staff, how they work with partners in the community and the resulting positive outcomes for children.
8. LEGISLATIVE REPORT—Sandra Harrison
Sandra Harrison presented her report on legislative activity impacting OKDHS.
Fostering Children and Adoptions:
SB 339, assigned to House Appropriations and Budget
SB 1076, assigned to House Human Services
Improve Access to Aging Services:
SB 321, assigned to House Human Services
HB 1893, assigned to Senate Health and Human Services
Streamline Child Care Licensing:
HB 1742, assigned to Senate Health and Human Services
Improve Delivery of Family Support Services:
SV 292, assigned to House Appropriations and Budget
Audit Report Recommendations:
HB 1734, engrossed version sent to Senate. Assigned to Senate Judiciary.
9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING—April 28, 2009
Commissioners set the date of the next meeting for April 28, 2009.
10. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AS RECOMMENDED BY GENERAL COUNSEL AND AUTHORIZED BY OPEN MEETING ACT, 25 O.S. 1991, SECTION 307, (1), (4) AND (7)
A. STATUS REPORT ON PENDING LEGAL CLAIMS OR ACTIONS INCLUDING FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS, DISALLOWANCE AND PROVIDER CASES—Charles Waters
B. STATUS REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO CLIENT MISTREATMENT AND EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT—Mark Jones
Commissioners voted to go into executive session.
11. RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION
Commissioners voted to return to regular session.
12. NEW BUSINESS
There were no items of new business.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioners voted to adjourn at 11:54 a.m.