Present were Chairman Richard DeVaughn, Ron Mercer, Michael Peck, Patrice Douglas, Jay Dee Chase, Aneta Wilkinson and George Young.

Chairman DeVaughn called the meeting to order.

Josh Richards with the Office of State Auditor and Inspector delivered a brief overview of the fiscal year 2007 single state audit.

Oklahoma Department of Human Services Director Howard H. Hendrick began his comments to the Commission by listing some recent site visits that included child welfare case reviews, end of Legislative Session meetings regarding OKDHS budget issues and legislation, Oklahoma Commission for Children and Youth, Oklahoma County Child Welfare Task Force at 55G, Area III Volunteer Recognition Event at 55H, SmartStart Oklahoma Budget Planning Sessions, Oklahoma County Child Welfare Interdisciplinary Planning Session with Judges, Department of Corrections Executive Team presentation, 211 Budget Planning Session for SFY 2009, Family Expectations Site Visit, County Administrator’s Association meeting, Adult Day Care Budget planning, ADvantage Providers Budget Planning Session, Pathways Conference for Foster Care and Independent Living Providers for Youth and TFC, OK Partnership for School Readiness Executive Committee meeting, USDA Tri-Regional Multi-State Annual Food Stamp Conference, Sovereignty Symposium Presentation, Multiple Budget Planning Sessions, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children Annual Foster Children Appreciation Event in Chandler, Commission Budget Committee Meeting, Collaborative planning meetings with OHCA, Combating Elder Abuse Summit in collaboration with the Oklahoma Bankers Association and the Attorney Generals Office, Employee Event at 55H Rockwell Office, Planning Session with Oklahoma Quality Awards, Human Services Cabinet Meeting, One Church One Child Foster Children Graduation Awards and the Tulsa West Child Support Open House.

Director Hendrick next shared some good news with the Commission that included:

• OKDHS earned several awards at the USDA Southwest Regional FFY 2007 Food Stamp Awards.  These included awards for quality control, budget close-out and accuracy.  OKDHS also earned the USDA Southwest Region’s Director’s Award for the FFY 2007 Food Stamp Program.  This is the highest award given and the second year OKDHS has received it.
• The Foster Care Appreciation Day at the AT&T Bricktown Ball Park was a great success.
• Oklahoma Lawyers for Children sponsored a great Foster Care and Parent Appreciation Day in Lincoln County.
• One Church One Child held its 20th Annual Foster and Adoptive children college scholarship recognition event.  
• OKDHS Child Support has had record collections from Dec. 2007 through May 2008.  Collecting between $21 million and $33 million a month.

Next, Director Hendrick highlighted some of the SFY 2009 budget recommendations before giving a brief review of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2009.

Director Hendrick delivered a brief update on the Food Stamp program before highlighting some of the major issues ahead of the agency.  These include: assessing what operational changes will be required by the budget being funded so heavily with one-time funding; several previously funded construction projects will go out to bid in the next three to six weeks and the SFY 2008 will be finishing strong and the annual program review will be coming up.

Commissioner George Young delivered the Budget Committee Report to the Commission.

Chief Operating Officer for Human Services Centers Marq Youngblood delivered a brief update to the Commission before introducing Area I Director Brenda Hawkins, Custer County Director Sherwana Gathers and Terrica Grunewald and Tracy Howell who discussed the new Area I Multi-County Youth Shelter.

Sharon Neuwald, coordinator, OKDHS Office of Legislative Relations and Policy, delivered a brief legislative report.

The next meeting of the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services is July 22, 2008.