Commissioners present: Ron Mercer, vice-chairman; Bob Rawlings; Aneta Wilkinson; Mike Peck; Jay Dee Chase; Gerri Webb.
Present for the Department: Director Howard H. Hendrick, Margaret Hall, commission secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER—Vice-Chairman Ron Mercer
Vice-Chairman Mercer called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—Jan. 29, 2009
Commissioners voted to approve the minutes from the Jan. 29, 2009 meeting.
3. DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS—Howard Hendrick
Director Hendrick made a presentation before the Commission to honor Rebecca Mueller, who assisted with the response to Hurricane Ike by helping to coordinate OKDHS employee travel to and from the affected area.
He also congratulated the Data Services Division for completing its annual offsite system recovery exercise as part of the Agency’s Disaster Recovery Plan. The Office of Inspector General reported the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program error rate for FFY 2008 was 5.66 percent, the lowest ever for the state and the lowest in the southwest region.
According to the SNAP report, there were 442,299 participants in January 2009. This figure only rose by 150 people from December 2008. However, it is still within 1,000 people of the all-time record of 443,045. The record could be broken in February if the current growth rate continues.
Commissioner Patrice Douglas entered the meeting.
The Director reviewed the FY2010 budget request recommendation and the state budget shortfall. Areas of concern are the Federal Medicaid Assistance Program deterioration and the potential loss of Targeted Case Management funds. Also, the ADvantage Waiver budget overage is an area of concern. Overall, there could be $900 million less to allocate.
The Director also discussed the provisions of the Federal stimulus package. OKDHS had projected a $25 million shortfall in its $559 million budget. But the stimulus package has closed that gap to within about $7 million. Programs to be funded by the stimulus are specific and most will go directly to the beneficiaries. For example, a 13.6 percent boost in food stamps will go onto the cards held by those using the program. Other areas expected to get funding are child support enforcement and child care development.
Director Hendrick outlined the performance of the agency for the first six months of fiscal 2009, which included:
• The number of children in foster care in Oklahoma has dropped by more than 2,000 children in the last 20 months. It’s the lowest level in more than 5 years;
• Fewer incidents of child abuse and neglect are being confirmed, fewer children are being removed, and children are going home or being adopted at faster rates;
• More than 900 children experienced a finalized adoption in the last 6 months of calendar year 2008, the most in any 6 months ever;
• There are also more child welfare workers handling child welfare cases than at any previous time ever and the workers are more tenured (more than 700 have more than two years experience); and
• The number of children in care per worker is at the lowest level in more than 5 years.
4. CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT FOR JANUARY—Phil Motley
Phil Motley presented the financial report for January. Revenues are strong and the Department is within 1.4 percent of its expected revenues. The expenditures for all current year operations are within 4.4 percent of the budget.
Also:
• 61 additional children were placed for adoption
• The number of children in foster care homes declined by 39
• The number of SNAP participants increased by 269
• TANF cases have declined and appear to be stabilizing
Motley said the Department will closely monitor the financial position, carryover, state revenues and the economic stimulus package.
Commissioners voted to approve the financial report.
5. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES—Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson
Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson presented proposed administrative rules for TANF; Child Support Services; Child Care Services; SNAP; public assistance procedures; and child welfare.
Commissioners voted to approve the administrative rules.
6. REPORT ON HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS—Marq Youngblood
Marq Youngblood presented his report on the Human Services Centers.
The child welfare report said there were 119 referrals pending for more than 60 days. That total decreased by 26 from December. The number of referrals pending less than 60 days was 2,798 and the second lowest total in the last 13 months. For the eleventh time in 11 months, there were zero priority one no contacts. Priority two no contacts were at 76 in January, only nine higher than the all time low in December 2008.
The APS report reflected the total past due investigations in January was 18. The percent of investigations initiated timely was 98.2 percent, a slight decrease in January compared to December but statistically consistent with the last few months. The percent of investigations completed timely was 96.5 percent and continues to increase.
7. REPORT FROM CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION—Gary Miller, Skip Franklin and Mark Nitta
Regarding the 2008 federal children and family services review audit, the Department has submitted its program improvement plan and is the third state in nation to have done so. Mark Nitta gave an overview of the program improvement plan and the new practice standards that were developed as a result of the plan:
1) We continually examine use (misuse) of power, use of self and personal biases
2) We respect and honor the families we serve
3) we listen to the voices of children
4) we continuously seek to learn who families are and what they need
5) we believe in the values of nothing about us without us
6) we maintain a child’s permanent connection to kin, culture and community
7) we conduct our work with integrity at all levels of the agency
From these standards, a practice model was built. This affects the intake process, improves screening process (standardizes), assessment process and evaluation/communication methods. Many methods have been used in the past, but are now standardized so they may be implemented across the state.
8. LEGISLATIVE REPORT—Sandra Harrison
Sandra Harrison presented her report on legislative activity impacting OKDHS.
Fostering Children and Adoptions:
SB 339, headed to House
HB 2028, passed House
SB 1076, passed Senate
Improving Access to Aging Services:
SB 321, passed Senate
HB 1893, passed House
Streamline Child Care Licensing:
HB 1742, passed House
HB 1751, dormant in House
Improve Delivery of Family Support Services:
SB 292, passed Senate
Improve State Government’s Workforce:
SB 405, passed Senate
HB 1695, dormant in House
SB 343, dormant in Senate
9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING—March 24, 2009
Commissioners set the date of the next meeting for March 24, 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 11:47 a.m.