IN THE NEWS - JUNE 2015

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Mark Beutler,
Office of Communications

Mark Beutler: Hello, Everyone. I'm Mark Beutler from the Office of Communications. Thank you for joining us. Let's take a look at what's happening in the news. 

First, we would like to recognize some dedicated individuals and organizations for their outstanding contribution to the aging profession and senior Oklahomans. Aging Services honored these folks at the 40th Annual Conference on Aging last month at the Senior Day luncheon. Aging Services Director Lance Robertson and Medicaid Services Director for Aging Services, Megan Haddock presented the 2015 DHS Aging Services Nurse Awards, divided by region and a statewide award. Also named were the Social Worker of the year and Specialty Unit Team Member of the year. Achievement in Aging Awards were givento Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma for Aging Network Partner of the Year. Business Partner of the Year was awarded to Debbie Dryden of Smith Dryden LLC. Rick Billings was named Professional of the Year, and New View Oklahoma is Program of the Year. Volunteer Awards went to Leslie Orvis, Patricia Heer, Darryl Washington and Dewey and Oralene Sherbon. The Community Spirit Award went to Sister Maria Faulkner and Megan Gold is the Intergenerational Excellence Award recipient. Finally, Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Dr. Ben Dickerson, Mordell Trammell and Esther Houser. As many of you know, Esther retired last year from DHS as Oklahoma's first and the nation's longest-sitting State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Her ground-breaking influence and legacy is still felt. Proving that there is no age limit on talent, the "Forever Young" choir from the Ponca City Senior Center performed at the luncheon and the 2015 Senior Poetry Contest Winners shared their work. To find out more about Esther Houser's history of advocacy for Long-term Care Residents' Rights, view the feature video from October 2014 on the infonet. You can also view May's feature for other highlights of the Conference on Aging.

June's feature video introduces a new face at DHS, former Lt. Governor Jari Askins. Though new to DHS, Jari is well-known for her contributions to the state. She served six terms in the State House of Representatives and as a Special District Judge in Stephens County among other state positions. In April, Jari was appointed by Gov. Marry Fallin as Special Adviser on Child Welfare and the Pinnacle Plan. Here's a few thoughts Jari shared with us about her new position. 

Jari Askins,
Former Lietenant Governor

Jari Askins: Last August, members of the Pardon and Parole Board--the Chairman, who was a Governor appointee, contacted me and asked me if I would step in and serve as Interim Director and the Pardon and Parole Board which is actually a position I held 20 years ago when I was elected State Representative. I told them I would do it, but only on an interim basis. I did not want to do it permanently. While I was filling that role and trying to help stabilize that agency and help them solve some issues that occurred over 18 months to two years. We got to the holidays, and it was just before Christmas when a member of the Governor's staff, one of her Cabinet Secretaries, approached me with the idea of doing something else. They had hinted at it previously, but we had the first discussion. I knew they were going to ask me to do something. I thought it was to serve on a board or something. I had no idea when they offered the opportunity to work with DHS toward achieving the goals of the Pinnacle Plan, toward trying to accomplish the goals of the Compromise and Settlement Agreement, and they asked me to think about it. As we talked, they discussed with me issues that I had discussed when I ran for Lt. Governor, as well as the same issues I discussed in our mutual campaign for Governor. And so, clearly I was impressed that they remembered things that had been important to me. 

So, after Christmas I said, "Yes, I would be interested. It wasn't an easy decision. I knew it would be...I knew people would be critical of both the Governor and I, her  appointing me, me even considering doing this. But, people who have known me for any length of time know that I really am committed to public service. In my years in the Legislature, I always tried to do things that I believed would help move Oklahoma forward, and I always tried to do things that I thought would benefit the lives of children in Oklahoma. 

Mark Beutler: Be sure to view the full video with Jari Askins and Director Ed Lake available now on the infonet. 

Director Lake also spoke with us recently about the Quality Service Standards which are divided into four components to implement: Safety, Integrity, Professionalism and Compassion. The self-care video for June, available on the infonet, is the second in a series of four about the Quality Service Standards and how they translate positively as personal choices. Here's what Director Lake had to say about integrity as part of the culture at DHS. 

Ed Lake,
Director,
Department of Human Services

Ed Lake: We're in the public service, and we're in the public eye. A lot of the things that DHS does draws attention in good and bad ways. Our integrity is a cornerstone of our credibility and our ability to be accountable. If we're not faithful to the laws, to our policies, and to just good practice, then we're not going to do right by the citizens we serve or the citizens who pay the bills. 

Mark Beutler: The Quality Standards offer a checklist of behaviors, like a self-inventory to focus our attention on identifying what we're doing well and areas we can improve. Integrity is defined in part as honesty, self-awareness, responsiveness and making informed decisions. Meeting these expectations builds trust with co-workers and the community--and on the self-care side honoring your integrity builds self-respect. Make sure to check out the self-care video and the feature on the Quality Service Standards with Dir. Lake and Shannon Rios from March, if you haven't already. 

Native American culture and history are a distinctive part of life in Oklahoma, and also an important facet of identity for Native American children in foster care. As part of foster care month, DHS sponsored Completing the Circle May 16th in Sulphur, Oklahoma for foster and adoptive families who provide care for Native American children. The free annual event is an opportunity for families and DHS staff to learn the cultural practices and traditions that can keep children connected to their roots. DHS Child Welfare Tribal Program staff Sonja Cole, Michael Haider, Rita Hart, Allison Johnson and Kelly Tannehill facilitated the event hosted by the Chickasaw Nation Cultural Center. While culture is unique to every tribe, the event provides demonstrations which can be similar across tribes. Activities included performances from the Delaware Nation Princesses and the Chickasaw Nation Princesses, drum songs, and dances that the group could join as well as presentations of finger weaving, basket weaving, face painting and much more. With the help of many tribal nations and community partners understanding is deepened for children and parents through traditional Native American food, music, arts and dance. Completing the Circle is a great example of a community coming together with DHS to support the health and happiness of some wonderful kids. 

Another great example is the Finding Forever Families 5K. Pottawotomie County OKDHS office recently partnered with Frontline Church and the YMCA in Shawnee to host the event. The focus was on raising awareness for the need for adoptive homes in Oklahoma. Participants could race or walk in the fun-run, or line the route in an event t-shirt to show support and spread the word. Carpenters' Insurance, Harrison Pharmacy and the Avedis Foundation provided generous support for the event. Though it rained a little during the race, it didn't dampen the spirits of DHS staff or runners. Scott Sullivan, one of the event organizers shared the motivation for the gathering, "These children are our children. We have the responsibility to help them find the right family for them." 

The Office of Community and Faith Engagement is a great proponent and facilitator for DHS connections with individuals and groups to help Oklahomans in need. The OCFE hosted the EngageOK conference May 20, at the National Center for Employee Development in Norman as an opportunity to forge new partnerships and explore crucial issues in the state and nation. Speakers discussed strategies to build collaborations through volunteerism and faith-engagement. They also shared information about food insecurity, poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, anti-human trafficking efforts, refugee and immigrant community outreach, and adult exploitation prevention. According to the latest data from the National Conference on Citizenship, 26.6% of Oklahomans volunteer in some capacity. DHS continues to reach out to this strong base of committed people to improve lives across the state.

Thank so much for joining us. We'll see you next time.

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