Telephone Survey Coming to Capture Specialized Housing Demands of Older Oklahomans and Other Relatives Raising Children ...

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL --- Grandparents and other relatives raising children in Oklahoma will have the opportunity early next year to have a say in the design of housing programs to meet the specialized needs of this growing number of families.
Oklahoma Department of Human Services Aging Services Division is designing a telephone survey, which takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The purpose of the survey is to afford Oklahoma an opportunity to have input and impact on the design of the housing program options that will be available in the future for grandparents and other relatives providing primary care for children. The survey will be conducted from January through March 2004.

“I encourage those who are called to take the few minutes to participate in this important needs assessment,” said Roy R. Keen, OKDHS Director for Aging Services. “Participants will not be asked to purchase anything or contribute money. If asked to do so, the participant will know the caller is not affiliated with our survey.”

Information received through survey will be used to plan efficient and responsive services to address the needs of a unique but growing segment of Oklahoma’s population.

Grandparents and other relatives have long been involved in child rearing; however, it was not until the 2000 U.S. Census that an organized attempt was made to identify the scope of this growing phenomenon, Keen said. “Aging network staff members have become increasingly aware that housing designed only to meet the needs of older persons does not adequately serve grandfamilies.

“Few model programs exist, particularly models serving rural areas or high needs populations such as families with children with disabilities. We wanted more specific information and input from the families so we could design programs and options that best met actual needs.”

OKDHS Aging Services has contracted with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to perform the survey. The UNC Charlotte was selected for its expertise in conducting this particular type of information gathering.

Funding to underwrite the cost of the survey has been provided by the Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council, Areawide Aging Agency, Inc., Oklahoma Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Fannie Mae Oklahoma Partnership Office and Sooner Management Consultants, Inc.

Grandparents and other relatives who would be willing to be a part of the survey are encouraged to contact Nadine Beat-Walter, OKDHS Aging Services Division at 405-522-3077. Anyone with a question regarding the survey is encouraged to call Ms. Beat-Walter as well.

Keen urged those who are called to “fully participate” in the survey so program developers will have the most complete information possible upon which to base program design guidelines.

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