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Research Projects |
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Cultural Competency Project - Shannon Rios |
| A pilot program is being created to provide more useful, comprehensive cultural competency training to clinicians providing counseling services to minority custody children. KIDS outcomes such as length of time in placement, number of placements, and type of placement will be examined. Ideally a random assignment of children to the project will occur to maximize data integrity. A unique counseling program will be established that provides all the usual services for children in risk of placement disruption, such as the services provided through our comprehensive home based services, and includes clinicians specially trained in cultural competency using a curriculum developed for the project. Children identified as being in need of these services will be referred to providers currently under contract with OKDHS who are interested in participating and have been approved to participate in the pilot. KIDS data will then allow us to track outcomes for these children to see if the culturally-skilled and culturally sensitive providers in the project have a positive impact on placement outcomes for minority children in the child welfare system. OKDHS is partnering with OUCPM on this project and OUCPM will serve as the referral contact for the project. OKDHS will be working with OUCPM and others to create a new curriculum as well. The location for this pilot project will be Oklahoma County 55B. The sample has been drawn and the curriculum is in rough draft form. The project should be launched shortly. |
| Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics, 2007 Death and Near Death Addendum - Shannon Rios |
| The 2007 update to the Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics report, the Death and Near Death Addendum, is currently under production. |
| Bridge to the Future Grant - Shannon Rios |
| This is a multi-faceted diligent recruitment effort funded by the Children’s Bureau. The project seeks to achieve these outcomes: (1) increase the number of resource homes that mirror the racial and ethnic distribution of children and youth in care, (2) increase the percentage of resource families who will provide concurrent placement, (3) reduce the number of months in state custody for children, (4) increase the number of children leaving foster care, and (5) reduce the timeframes for parents to be approved for foster or adoptive placement. Currently, focus groups are being conducted. Survey instruments are developed. Data on multiple topics related to the grant is being collected. Shannon Rios and Lissa Vernon, the project manager, will be conducting a focus group and information sharing session with resource parents at the Together we Can! Conference in April. |
| Substance Abuse Service Quality Analysis Project - Shannon Rios |
| This is a new project that will evaluate the effectiveness of substance abuse providers utilized by OKDHS in terms of quantitative outcomes for clients. |
| Workload Study Analysis for FOD - Shannon Rios |
| Workload studies will be conducted soon for Family Support, Child Welfare and APS. We are currently in the planning phase of this project. Bill Hindman, James Conway, Shawn Franks, and Shannon Rios attended a Workload Roundtable by the American Humane Society in December in order to learn what other states have done and are doing on workload analysis and to facilitate a plan of action for the new projects. A risk and complexity matrix will be included as a component of the workload analysis for CFSD. A brainstorming and information sharing meeting was held in February and included a wide variety of staff from CFSD, FSSD and APS. Currently, a vision document for this project is being developed based upon data, information collected and lessons learned. |
| Six Sigma Web Content Deployment Backlog Project - Shannon Rios |
| The OKDHS Web Content Unit manages the deployment of OKDHS InfoNet and Internet Web content, and while maintaining other related Web content duties, is understaffed to address the backlog (approx. 22,000 pages) of Web content that is not being made compliant with accessibility standards by originating business entities. The tools and techniques used to translate Web content into accessibility-compliant content are not believed to be user-friendly by some, the software development licenses currently spread across the agency are not being utilized effectively, the standards and best practices regarding roles and responsibilities are unclear or undefined, and there may be a lack of commitment or prioritization of accessibility compliance by submitting lines of business. |
| ORRN Respite Research Support - Robert Bentley |
| This has been an ongoing project for almost a decade. I have evaluated the efficiency and value of Oklahoma's Respite program, disseminating the information gathered from survey research at local and national conferences. The respite program in this state is a cost effective way to allow Oklahomans the opportunity to help themselves. Many people that receive respite vouchers in Oklahoma are sole caregivers that have not had time to take care of their own needs. Respite gives them enough time to go to the store, take care of appointments and nurse themselves back to a better state of being. |
| Living Longer, Living Stronger - Robert Bentley |
| I am the lead evaluator for this project, using data to drive decisions regarding the usefulness of this program. Living Longer, Living Stronger allows people to get in better shape, both physically and mentally. Pre-post measures followed by statistical analysis lend support to the positive aspects of this program. |
| Title V Project - Robert Bentley |
| I have been providing research assistance to allow for better reporting at the Federal level for MCH (Maternal and Child Health). Children with special health care needs comprise a considerable section of this group of Oklahomans. Working with Karen Hylton and staff from Sooner Success, the Department of Health and other agencies, we are preparing a systematic way to assess the needs of this particular population, what they are currently receiving and what needs to be done in order to close the gap between what they need and what they currently receive. |
| Child Care Utilization Changes - Robert Bentley |
| I have been assisting Dr. Salehezadeh in determining the reasons behind Oklahoma's decline in child care utilization. Specifically, I have contacted the surrounding states (Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Texas) to see if they have been experiencing similar trends. I am still in the data collection phase at this point. |
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Affirmative Action Plan - Litti Nguyen |
| Provides statistical information for Affirmative Action Plan. |
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Medicaid Quality Control - Litti Nguyen |
| Provides quality control sampling for Medicaid program. |
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Food Stamp Quality Control - Litti Nguyen |
| Provides quality control sampling for Food Stamp program. |
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Child Care Quality Control - Litti Nguyen |
| Provides quality control sampling for Child Care program. |
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Key Indicators Dashboard - Litti Nguyen |
| Maintains and updates data for Field Operations Key Indicators dashboard. |
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SNAP Grant Application- Zohre Salehezadeh |
| Preparing an application to receive federal funds to enhance the SNAP retention. |
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Self-Help Information Portal (SHIP) Project- Zohre Salehezadeh |
| Lead evaluator for this federally funded project through which OCSS provides the pro se modification forms and information on a wide-range of programs such as employment and welfare programs on line. |
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Child Care Subsidy Utilization- Zohre Salehezadeh |
| Investigating the causes for declining the number of CC subsidy recipients over the past five years. |
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Child Care Grant Application- Zohre Salehezadeh |
| Working with Litti Nguyen and Robert Bently to prepare an application to receive federal funds to conduct a research on a CC related issue. |
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Supervising and Assisting with Other Projects- Zohre Salehezadeh |
| Supervising and assisting Robert Bentley with the Living Longer, Living Stronger project evaluation, Litti Nguyen with the statistical section of the OKDHS Affirmative Action Plan, Cliff Effect Model, and their other projects. |
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Ad hoc Information Request- Zohre Salehezadeh |
| Providing information and data analysis for various information requests (e.g., number of children born in poverty, ACS data analysis, FNS SNAP data analysis and methodology, data on homeless children, etc.) |