Hendrick Updates Commission On Budget

While a budget agreement was reached between Gov. Brad Henry and legislative leaders on the 2011 budget, some parts of the agreement are still pending and are too fluid to reach firm conclusions, Director Howard Hendrick told Human Services Commissioners during the May meeting of the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services in Oklahoma City.

Hendrick said parts of the agreement have passed, but other parts are still pending.

“Until all terms of the agreement are finalized, we should not speculate too much about the ultimate consequences,” Hendrick said.

Some cuts will still be required, but not nearly as deeply as they would have been had state leaders not found new sources of revenue to ease the cuts, Hendrick said. He commended all parties for working hard on the most difficult budget situation the Director could recall having observed.

“So many people, from seniors, to DDSD, have come together and have been vocal about how life-changing these cuts could be,” he said. “We appreciate how everyone has come together to share in these challenges. We’re hopeful many of the terms will be finalized and we can come back in June and approve the agency budget proposal” during the next Commission meeting.

Hendrick said the agency must wait until the budget agreement is signed by the governor, then prioritize any remaining reductions. OKDHS staff will then develop a preliminary recommendation to be submitted to the Finance Committee of the Commission and the Finance Committee will review the recommendations and consider the budget at the June Commission meeting.

Director Hendrick also presented awards to Martha McHale for 50 years of service to the state of Oklahoma. McHale is a secretary I in the Jefferson County Human Services Center. McHale said she enjoys her job and intends to keep working.

The Director also recognized Pittsburg County staff Monica Prater, Donna Province, Ken Province, Brenda Shackelford, RN and Cathy Amason, RN, for their prompt, potentially life-saving efforts by responding to a client’s seizure in the McAlester office. Together, they evaluated the client’s medical situation and ensured she received emergency medical care.

Hendrick announced OKDHS received the official results of the child welfare IV-E audit by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families. The audit revealed no error cases.

On May 21, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services announced the 15 month results of their Building Strong Families research at seven national sites. The Oklahoma Family Expectations site was the only site that showed significant outcomes.

Director Hendrick presented April figures for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In April there were 582,051 people receiving SNAP in the state, the 25th month in a row the number has increased. In the last 12 months, the number of SNAP recipients has increased by 120,000 people. The Director said this represents an increase of 25.6 percent over April 2009. If this current growth rate holds, there will be 750,000 to 800,000 different people on SNAP for at least one month out of the year, he added.

Hendrick commended OKDHS staff for their efficiency and timeliness in processing SNAP applications. The agency is likely to win its fourth consecutive top SNAP administrative award for its region, he added.

Two OKDHS teams received state quality awards recently. Hendrick said the Social Security Administration Income Withholding Orders Automation Project received the Quality Crown award, the State Office of Personnel Management’s top award. Oklahoma Child Support Services was the first in nation to complete this project. The agency and OCSS also received another specialty award, the Employee Empowerment award, for the Fast Track Paternity Process Project.

Commissioner Aneta Wilkinson announced the creation of the OKDHS Commission Spirit of Service Award. Commissioner Wilkinson said many OKDHS workers have distinguished themselves by their exemplary dedication to their clients and the Commission wishes to honor these employees.

A letter will go to all staff to explain the criteria for the award and the nomination process. The nominations will be screened by a committee and after a winner is selected, a member of the Commission will visit the award recipient’s office to present the award to the employee. The award recipient will be invited to attend a Commission meeting for special recognition. Commissioners want to express their appreciation for OKDHS employees and spend more time in field offices with OKDHS employees, Wilkinson added.

Commissioner Mike Peck asked the Commission to consider the declaration of an emergency to repair the damage that occurred on April 23, 2010 at the Northern Oklahoma Resource Center in Enid following a storm. Commissioners voted to approve the expenditure of $38,475 to repair the storm damage.

Peck also asked the members to consider giving the Director of Human Services the authority to declare an emergency to facilitate emergency purchases. Commissioners voted to approve the motion.

Commissioner Jay Dee Chase made a motion for the Director of Human Services to pursue possible federal reimbursement for disaster recovery expenditures. Commissioners voted to approve the motion.

A report from Area V Human Services Centers was presented by Area V Director Judy Wyatt, Okmulgee County Director Gail Hazelwood and Okmulgee County Juvenile Judge Duane Woodliff, the presiding judge of specialty courts. Woodliff discussed the Okmulgee County Family Drug Treatment Court, a pilot model for rural counties.

Judge Woodliff told the Commission how the drug court was created and how it benefits children and their families. Drug and alcohol addiction is the number one cause for children being adjudicated deprived. Officials in Okmulgee County determined a new and innovative approach was needed to assist those with substance abuse issues and their children, rather than the traditional court process. Drug court gives addicts the tools to handle their recovery and address abuse or neglect issues at the same time, Woodliff said. The program has shortened the amount of time a child spends in foster care and therefore saves the state the cost of foster care.

Adele Jack, Support Services Division director and Commissioner Peck presented a report on the Support Services Division. They updated the Commission on the progress of the 2004 B Bond Series, which included construction of the NORCE cottages; the 2008 Series Bond, which included the construction of the Pontotoc County Human Services Center, the Tulsa County Children’s Shelter, the Creek County Human Services Center and the renovation of the Tulsa County Skyline building.

Jack also discussed savings achieved as a result of a project that included retrofitting for some offices. Eighty-six percent, or $33,753, of the $39,368 in retrofitting costs was recovered in seven months. Work will continue to identify and implement other cost savings methods at other OKDHS facilities, she added.

Chairman Richard DeVaughn set the next Commission meeting for June 15, 2010. The Commission voted to go into executive session. Upon their return, they voted to adjourn.

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