Commissioners present: Richard DeVaughn, chairman; Jay Dee Chase; Gerri Webb; Bob Rawlings; Aneta Wilkinson, Mike Peck; Ron Mercer.

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—Oct. 28, 2008
Commissioners voted to approve the minutes from the Oct. 28, 2008 meeting.

3. DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS—Howard Hendrick
Director Hendrick presented information about site visits, programs and good news about the successful State Charitable Campaign, the Thanksgiving food drive, records achieved by Swift Adoption and a Federal audit certifying the KIDS system to be fully compliant with Federal requirements.

The Director also congratulated 17 OKDHS employees who served as volunteers in Louisiana during Hurricane Gustav relief efforts. The honorees received certificates of recognition.

Hendrick added that OKDHS has assumed the administrative functions of the ADvantage Waiver program from the Long Term Care Authority of Tulsa. He also introduced Sandra Benischek Harrison as the new legislative liaison, replacing Sharon Neuwald, who retired.

Director Hendrick presented an overview of Food Stamps. The number of persons receiving Food Stamps continues to slightly increase. Hendrick said he doesn’t anticipate Oklahoma will see the huge increases seen in other states.

He pointed out that Oklahoma has received an increase in funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. A proposal was made for the Commissioners to consider for approval.

The agency will continue to monitor possible changes to Federal law affecting programs, monitor program participation levels and previously funded construction projects and assess budget performance to determine changes needed to prepare FY 2010 budget starting point.

4. CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT FOR OCTOBER—Phil Motley
Phil Motley presented the October financial report. Operational revenues remained strong in October.

Commissioner Ron Mercer entered the meeting.

Also:
• There were 115 new adoption placements
• Number of children in Foster Care declined again
• Food Stamp cases increased by 2,800 new net cases in October
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families children-only cases increased by 54. TANF adults only cases were up 150. This is the third month in a row increase for adults due to economic conditions.

Commissioners voted to approve the financial report.

5. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES—Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson
One emergency rule for the Child Support Enforcement Division was presented. The change was prompted by the Federal Deficit Reduction Act. Commissioners voted to approve the emergency rule.

6. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF RATES AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE—Sharon Neuwald
Sharon Neuwald made recommendations on proposed rates and standards changes:

A. Child care subsidy—a 4 percent increase is recommended for 1 star plus, 2 star and 3 star. Rates above or at 75th percentile were excluded due to budget limitations. $5.6 million is the annual budgetary impact. The effective date is Jan. 1, 2009.

B. Residential maternity services—a proposed increase of $3.47 per day would bring the current rate of $29.53 to $33 per day. The effective date is Jan. 1, 2009.

C. Diagnostic and evaluation services—a rate increase was proposed to bring the current rate of $174.29 per day to $185 per day. The effective date is Jan. 1, 2009.

D. Level B group home services—an increase from the current rate of $24.55 to $28 per day was proposed. The effective date is Jan. 1, 2009.

E. Level D residential services—a proposed increase to $76 per day from the current rate of $72.62 was proposed. The rate increase wouldn’t affect Medicaid payments, which are separate and not part of this rate. The effective date is Jan. 1, 2009.

Commissioners voted to approve the proposed rate increases.

7. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PLAN—Howard Hendrick
Commissioners voted to approve the LIHEAP proposal.

8. REPORT FROM CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT DIVISION—Gary Dart
Gary Dart, director of the CSED, made a presentation. There are 40 CSED district offices providing services to all 77 counties. Dart said the FY 08 collections were $281 million and paternities established and acknowledged remains at 100 percent.

Dart also announced the division will now be known as Oklahoma Child Support Services. The Commission also heard from a father who is successfully paying support, receives regular visitation with his children and appreciates the services provided by OKDHS.

9. REPORT ON HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS—Marq Youngblood
Marq Youngblood gave a report on the Human Services Centers. The Child Welfare report showed referrals greater than 60 days for October is 129. This is down 83 from September and second only to the record low of 126 in July 2008. There were 3,099 completed referrals in October, the highest in one month since October 2007. For the eighth time in eight months, there were zero priority 1 no contacts. Also, we have successfully maintained the number of full-time employees to sustain this performance.

The APS investigation timeliness report showed the total past due investigations for October is 16. This is down 21 from September, the lowest total in the past 12 months. The percent of investigations initiated timely showed a slight increase and this will continue to improve. The percent investigations completed timely continues to increase, as anticipated.

Representatives from Area II gave a presentation on Kids Camp. Crosspoint Church and Cleveland County OKDHS collaborated to create a mentoring and volunteer initiative to serve children who have been abused or neglected. The purpose is also to help support the work of OKDHS caseworkers.

10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING—Jan. 27, 2009
Commissioners set the date of the next meeting for Jan. 27, 2009.

11. 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
C. REVIEW OF DIRECTOR’S EMPLOYMENT, PERFORMANCE AND PAY

Commissioners voted to go into executive session.

12. RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION
Commissioners voted to return to regular session.

13. NEW BUSINESS
There were no items of new business.

14. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioners voted to adjourn at 12:35 p.m.