Commissioners present: Richard DeVaughn, chairman, Ron Mercer, vice-chairman, Jay Dee Chase, Mike Peck, Bob Rawlings and Aneta Wilkinson. (Commissioner Steven Dow was present, but abstained from voting)
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 9:35 a.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—Jan. 26, 2010
Commissioners voted to approve the minutes from the Jan. 26, 2010 meeting.
3. DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS—Howard Hendrick
The Director made a presentation on site visits and other good news. The Director visited strategic planning meetings, the Governor’s State of the State address, the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission legislative session, the Human Services cabinet meeting, the Foster Care Association quarterly meeting and the Tulsa Metropolitan Human Services Commission.
OKDHS employees increased their State Charitable Campaign contributions by nine percent.
Children and Family Services Division Director Gary Miller was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry as district judge for Canadian County.
As of Feb. 21, 2010, 911 children have had finalized adoptions. This could be another record year for SWIFT Adoptions.
The final error rate for SNAP for FFY 2009, ending Sept. 30, 2009 is 3.7 percent. This rate is down from more than five percent for FFY 2008. The accuracy rate for FFY 2009 is 96.3 percent. This is our highest accuracy rate ever. There is an excellent chance the agency will receive the SNAP Southwest Regional Director’s award for the fourth consecutive year.
The Director also provided an update on SNAP participation. There were 567,669 persons in January 2010. This is another monthly participation record, but the growth rate is slowing.
Director Hendrick also discussed the budget. The tentative FY10 budget agreement is to use less than half of the state’s total cash resources, including 3/8 of the Rainy Day fund, and additional stimulus funds and existing cash for fiscal year 2010.
There will be 7.5 percent annualized cuts for most agencies, which means a 10 percent effectual cut in monthly allocations for the remainder of the fiscal year. This equals a total of 14.5 percent in cuts from FY09 to FY10.
The agency will continue to monitor three major policy issues: the future role of two public ICF-MRs at SORC (Pauls Valley) and NORCE (Enid); employee retirement costs; and employee health care costs. There are other issues, but these three issues are the largest and solutions here would minimize necessary cuts in other areas.
Director Hendrick also gave a mid-year report on OKDHS programs and services. There has been some increase in TANF recipients, but that could be attributed to the current economic challenges. The number of Medicaid recipients has increased within the past six months. There were 426 adoptions authorized and 910 adoptions finalized. There are more children in adoptive placements than there are in foster care. The number of child abuse and neglect referrals within the first six months of the year is trending downward. The number of child care homes and centers has slightly decreased within the first six months of the year. However, the number of three star centers and homes has increased. The monthly average number of child support cases has increased. The waiting list for DDSD waiver clients is growing, but the agency currently lacks the funds to assist additional clients on the waiting list.
4. CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT FOR JANUARY—Phil Motley
The 10 percent of appropriation reduction to the original FY2010 general revenue will continue in January. In addition to the previous cuts, additional reductions in the appropriation will be accommodated by additional one-time TANF funds. The agency expects the 10 percent cuts to continue for the rest of the fiscal year. An additional long range strategy is needed for FY2012.
• Adoption placements in January: 103
• Foster care placements: decreased by 82
• SNAP caseloads: increased by 1,577
• Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled: increased by 498
• TANF cases (child only): rose by eight
• TANF cases (adult only): decreased by 155
The financial report was approved.
5. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE RULES—Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson
Commissioner Wilkinson reviewed the proposed administrative rules. There were no questions regarding the rules. Wilkinson moved for approval.
The administrative rules were approved.
6. REPORT ON HUMAN SERVICES CENTERS—Marq Youngblood
The Child Welfare referrals report indicated:
• Total referrals pending past due: 220
• Priority one no contacts: zero (for the second consecutive month in a row)
• Priority two no contacts: zero (down 15 from December)
The APS report stated:
• Total past due investigations: 17
• Percent of investigations initiated timely: 98.94 percent (highest total in the last four months)
• Percent of investigations completed timely: 90.82 percent
• Three of the six areas had an investigation initiation timeliness rate of 100 percent
7. LEGISLATIVE REPORT—Sandra Harrison
Sandra Harrison reviewed several points of key legislation:
All OKDHS request bills are still moving forward at this point of the session, HB 2733, SB 1280, HB 3292, SB 1601 and HB 2330.
Feb. 18 was the last day for Senate bills to be reported out of Senate committees. Feb. 25 is the last day for House bills to be reported out of House committees.
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING—MARCH 23, 2010
Commissioners set the date of the next meeting for March 23, 2010
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 at 11:42 a.m.