Commissioners present: Richard DeVaughn, chairman, Ron Mercer, vice-chairman, Jay Dee Chase, Mike Peck, Bob Rawlings, Gerri Webb and Aneta Wilkinson.
Present for the Department: Director Howard H. Hendrick; Margaret Hall, commission secretary
1. CALL TO ORDER—Chairman DeVaughn
Chairman DeVaughn called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—SEPT. 29, 2009
Commissioners voted to approve the minutes from the Sept. 29, 2009 meeting.
3. DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS—Howard Hendrick
The Director made a presentation on site visits and other good news. The Director visited the annual Latino Heritage Celebration, the statewide Oklahoma Child Care Services conference, the memorial service for former governor and OKDHS director Henry Bellmon, the child welfare monthly case reviews, budget meetings, the American Legion Children’s Home, the Governor’s cabinet meeting and the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference, just to name a few.
Director Hendrick announced that the state’s unemployment rate for September 2009 dropped by 0.1 percent and that unemployment claims had dropped by 14 percent from August.
The Director also provided an update on SNAP participation. SNAP participation rose again in September to 535,880 persons from 524,536 persons in August. From September 2008, this represents a nearly 26 percent increase and represents about 28 percent of all children in the state. However, at 3.6 percent, the Department’s error rate has never been lower so that indicates the efficiency and accuracy of the workers processing SNAP is to be commended, the Director said.
Director Hendrick also discussed the budget. Oklahoma’s revenue collections for the previous month were off by more than 25 percent, so state agencies were asked to continue their five percent reductions in their monthly allocations. The budget cost drivers at OKDHS continue to be the unfunded ADvantage Waiver costs, unfunded employee health care and retirement costs and the FMAP erosion that requires more state dollars to buy the federal match for the same expenditure amount. The second round of budget cuts amounts to approximately $19.44 million and consists of $14.61 million in state dollars, $4.83 million in federal dollars. The Director and OKDHS officers will continue to closely monitor the budget situation.
4. CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER—Phil Motley
Motley reported that the September monthly allocation was reduced again by 5 percent or approximately $1.75 million. As in August, this reduction was offset by application of one time revenues from prior year funds.
In September:
• Adoption placements increased by 194
• Children in family foster care declined by 148
• SNAP caseloads increased by 4,561
• Medicaid applications rose by 479
• TANF cases (child only) increased by 37
• TANF cases (adult only) increased by 260
The financial report was approved.
5. CONSIDERATION OF RATES AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS—Paula Hearn
a. FIXED RATE FOR EMERGENCY FOSTER CARE—the current rate for emergency foster care services of $44 per day was set July 1, 1996 and has not been increased. Due to the many requirements placed on EFC providers, it is recommended that the rate be increased by $50 per day.
The rate increase was approved.
6. OKDHS ANNUAL REPORT—Connie Schlittler
Schlittler presented the 2009 annual report, “We Are Oklahoma.” Several people who were featured both in the annual report video and in the printed report were recognized, including Arrie Wolfe, ADvantage Waiver recipient; Amos and Dr. Rosemary Ayitey, foster and adoptive parents; Launshae Smith, Oklahoma Child Care Services recipient; Julie Koble, Oklahoma Child Support Services recipient; and Paul Thurmon, family support services recipient.
The annual report is available both in paper and electronic formats, and on the OKDHS Web site at http://www.okdhs.org
7. REPORT ON HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS—Marq Youngblood (Area VI--Tulsa Front Porch Project for the Parent-Child Center: Kelly Johnson, Area Director; Kathleen Benfield, Project Coordinator)
Johnson and Benfield presented a report on Tulsa’s Front Porch Project, a program of American Humane and the Parent-Child Center of Tulsa. It promotes neighborly problem solving, community compassion and caring for children who may be at risk. Participants learn about safety, being helpful and solving problems in a meaningful manner.
Gary Miller, director, Children and Family Services Division, introduced foster parent Shelley Cademy, who spoke about her experiences as a foster parent of siblings. Cademy is expected to serve on the post adjudication review board and was named one of the Journal Record’s Top 50 Women in Oklahoma for her professional and civic accomplishments.
The Child Welfare referrals report indicated:
• Total referrals pending greater than 60 days: 307, up 70 from August (most resulting from offices with extended medical leave, turnover and restructure but plans in place to limit this impact)
• Priority one no contacts: three (children were seen, but information not entered into system prior to this report being generated)
• Priority two no contacts: 75, down 12 from August
The APS report stated:
• Total past due investigations: 38, up seven from August
• Percent of investigations initiated timely: up slightly, third highest performance level within past 13 months
• Percent of investigations completed timely: down 2 percent from August, but most concentrated in one area that has the highest number of referrals
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING—DEC. 1, 2009
Commissioners set the date of the next meeting for Dec. 1, 2009
9. 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.
10. RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION
Commissioners voted to return to regular session.
11. NEW BUSINESS
There were no items of new business.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioners voted to adjourn.