Commissioners present: Richard DeVaughn, chairman; Ron Mercer, vice chairman; Aneta Wilkinson; George Young; Gerri Webb; Jay Dee Chase.
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—Dec. 2, 2008
Commissioners voted to approve the minutes from the Dec. 2, 2008 meeting.
3. COMMISSION COMMENDATION—Chairman Richard DeVaughn
Chairman DeVaughn presented Paula Fly, APS II, Adult Protective Services, with a Commission for Human Services Commendation for saving an APS client from a house fire.
4. DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS—Howard Hendrick
Director Hendrick presented his report about agency news. Site visits were made to the Greer Center, to holiday events, the Practice and Policy lecture series, the Governor’s Cabinet meeting, the groundbreaking for the new emergency shelter in Tulsa, a reception marking the Aging Services Division’s 10,000th recipient of respite care, with Leadership Oklahoma and a meeting with U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn.
The Director reported OKDHS employees again gave to the State Charitable Campaign in record levels. The 2008 giving level was $93,709.95, up 11 percent over the 2007 giving level of $84,264.27.
Sean Gilpin, senior agent III, Office of the Inspector General, was welcomed home from service in Iraq. He presented the Agency and Commission with a flag that flew over Camp Bucca in Iraq on July 4, 2008.
Director Hendrick noted that the number of foster children enrolled in Oklahoma’s Promise has risen from 142 in 2006 to 411 in 2009. Oklahoma’s Promise allows foster children who graduate from high school to attend college in Oklahoma for free.
The Food Stamp update said the number of monthly recipients has risen to 442,140 in December 2008. The number was 435,564 in November 2008. The all-time highest number of monthly recipients is 443,045.
The Director also noted record numbers of Oklahomans were served by the Agency in 2008. There were 532,150 cases and 992,003 persons were served by Medicaid, Food Stamps and Sooner Care. In 2007, there were 529,083 cases and 968,139 persons served.
5. CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER—Phil Motley
Phil Motley presented the financial report for November and December. Operational revenues are over performing by 0.3 percent through December. However, adjustments were made within the past week for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Expenditures for all divisions were within budget, with the exception of Aging Services Division, due to the ADvantage Waiver program.
The number of foster care children declined to 6,887 in December 2008 from 8,019 the previous year. The numbers of TANF child only cases in December 2008 declined to 5,633 from 5,960 the previous year and TANF cases with adults in December 2008 declined to 3,270 from 3,278 the previous year.
Commissioners voted to approve the financial report.
6. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES—Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson
Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson presented proposed administrative rules for the agency to reflect the OKDHS strategic plan; administrative components for the Office of Planning, Research and Statistics; state supplemental payments for the Aged, Blind and Disabled; the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; child care programs; Food Stamps (now the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program); the respite voucher program; child welfare; and the Developmental Disabilities Services Division.
Commissioners voted to approve the administrative rules.
7. REPORT ON HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS—Marq Youngblood (Area III DIAL Center: Albertha Coleman, Chris Koehn and Juna Stovall)
Marq Youngblood presented his report on the Human Services Centers. The child welfare referrals pending greater than 60 days in December 2008 was 145. This is down 21 from November 2008. The child welfare referrals pending less than 60 days was 2,639 for December 2008, at its lowest total in the last three months. This was 1,200 less than December 2007. For the 10th time in 10 months, there were zero priority one no contacts. Priority two no contacts were at 67 for the second consecutive month.
The APS report reflected the total past due investigations in December was 13, the lowest total for the calendar year. The percent of investigations initiated timely showed a slight decrease but it was consistent with the prior year’s performance. The automated report system is contributing to the number of investigations initiated in a timely fashion.
A report from Area III on the new DIAL call center was given by Albertha Coleman, Chris Koehn and Juna Stovall. Located in the Kelley Complex in Oklahoma City, the call center was created in response to the growing numbers of clients in Family Support and the challenge in providing quick response to client calls. Clients are provided program information, or may request cases changes through DIAL. During September 2008, the center answered 3,694 calls. In December 2008, 21,360 calls were answered. Most calls came from clients, but child care providers, health care providers and other callers were served. The call center activity has improved customer service, decreased walk-in traffic and helped workers by giving them additional time for case management.
8. REPORT FROM OFFICE OF VOLUNTEERISM—Karen Jacobs
Karen Jacobs presented a report on the activities of the Office of Volunteerism. During Thanksgiving, 798 families were served with nearly $24,000 in food donations. During Christmas, 8,417 children statewide were served with nearly $420,850 in toys and gift donations. There were 3,120,261 hours donated by volunteers to OKDHS. Volunteer efforts continue year-round with the Newborns in Need baby shower and the OKDHS Foster Grandparent program. The total number of volunteers recognized was 771; and the total number of organizations recognized was 246.
9. LEGISLATIVE REPORT—Sandra Harrison
Sandra Harrison presented her report on legislative activity impacting OKDHS. There are eight agency request bills:
- Two bills for Children and Family Services Division involving “Fostering Connections” and adoption
- Two bills for Child Care Services involving licensing act language and to incentivize the child care tax credit
- One bill for Aging Services Division designating ASD as the lead agency in Aging and Disability Resource Consortium
- One bill for Family Support Services Division involving the elimination of paper voucher and return to increased electronic incremental cash benefit
- One bill to increase to the employee longevity payment plan
- One bill to improve the access of a quality workforce by allowing the transfer of non-merit employees into classified service
10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING—Feb. 24, 2009
Commissioners set the date of the next meeting for Feb. 24, 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
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 noon.