Present were Chairman Richard DeVaughn, Michael Peck, Wayne Cunningham, Patrice Douglas, Aneta Wilkinson, Garoldine Webb, Jay Dee Chase and George Young.

Chairman DeVaughn called the meeting to order.

The Commission heard a brief report from Josh Richards with the State Auditor’s Office.  Along with the Auditor’s report, Richards notified the Commission that the 2006 single state audit of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) contained the smallest number of findings in years.

OKDHS Director Howard H. Hendrick began his comments by listing some recent site visits that included meeting with various House and Senate members, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, Department of Mental health & Substance Abuse care management budget planning, multiple budget balancing meetings with various divisions throughout the agency, Child Welfare Case Reviews, DDSD parents waiting list meeting, Data Services budget planning meeting, Sovereignty Symposium panel moderator regarding the Indian Child Welfare Act and child welfare services, Oklahoma Children’s Court Improvement Project with the Oklahoma Supreme Court Project Manager, Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board, OPEA quarterly meeting with employees, Certified Project Managers Idea’s Review, American Public Human Services Association summer conference, Policy Council for Public Human Services Directors, Tri-
Regional Food Stamp Conference sponsored by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Governor’s Mental Health Advisory Board and the Child Abuse Prevention subcommittee of the OCCY.

Next, the Director shared some good news.

• OKDHS earned the USDA Southwest Region’s Premier Award.  This is the first time Oklahoma has receive this award which is the highest symbol of excellence in overall agency performance.
• OKDHS also received the Southwest Region’s Pinnacle Award for Customer Service.
• Preliminary information indicates that the OKDHS Office of Child Support Enforcement will be number one in the nation in the increase in percentage of child support collected from FFY 2005 to FFY 2006.  Oklahoma will also be number one in the nation in total state paternity establishments.
• Since December 2006, 663 new hire applicants have been tested under the new hire drug policy.  Only five were positive and 10 refused to be tested.

Director Hendrick next reviewed the damage to the Enid Sheltered Workshop before giving an overview of the proposed SFY 2008 budget.

The Director continued his remarks by highlighting some recent federal legislation, touching on the proposed changes to the OKDHS mission, vision and values and giving a brief update on food stamps.

The Director concluded his remarks by listing some major issues that are facing the agency including finishing SFY 2007 as strong as possible, planning and implementation of various Information Technology services, reviewing Child Care policy regarding emergency orders of closure and several property projects.

The Commission heard the Budget Committee report and passed the proposed FY 2008 Budget Work Program and TANF/CCDF Plan. The Commission also approved changes to the Child Care eligibility rates schedule that changed the eligibility standards to their pre- Sept. 2004 status.

The Commission also approved the new OKDHS Mission, Vision and Values.

Jim Nicholson, director, OKDHS Developmental Disabilities Services Division, delivered a brief report on his division’s activities.

Sharon Neuwald, coordinator, Office of Legislative Relations and Policy gave a brief legislative overview.

The date of the next meeting of the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services is July 24, 2007.