IN THE NEWS, JANUARY 2016

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Mark Beutler: Hello, everybody. I'm Mark Beutler from the Office of Communications. Thanks for joining us. We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that the new year is off to a great start. Let's take a look at what's happening in the news.

January is a good time to look back at the previous year's work to gain a big picture view of what was accomplished. DHS will soon release the fiscal year 2015 Annual Report to show legislators and the public how the needs of Oklahomans have been met. Each division contributed their statistics and information, and the Office of Planning, Research and Statistics evaluated all of the data. The print document is accompanied by videos that show the human side of the work we do here at DHS. The video representing Developmental Disabilities Services tells Lisa Huston's story. Here's a preview.

Male Voice: Lisa Houston is a direct support personnel supervisor. She has been with Tracy for 13 years. She understands Tracy's needs and communicates them to others. Recently, Lisa ensured that Tracy's wish to live independently was heard by all.

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Leanne Hill
Senior Support Coordinator, CSCS, Pryor

Leanne: Tracy was very unhappy. She was living with her foster brother at the time, and they knew each other from Hissom. She loves her brother, her foster brother, but there was a point in time where she wanted to be independent of him, and she wanted to live on her own.

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Lisa Houston
Direct Support Personnel Supervisor, CSCS, Pryor

Lisa: Tracy was very adamant that she wanted her own house in Pryor. So, that was kind of a heated debate for awhile, but no matter who asked her, you know, that was what she wanted.

Leanne: Tracy has a difficult time communicating with other people. Lisa has been basically her interpreter for the last 13 years. Lisa was able to let the team know in her soft-spoken way and advocate-- she did a really good job of advocating for Tracy to be independent.

Mark Beutler: The Quality Awards recognize DHS projects and the teams who created them for excellence and innovation. The nomination period just opened on the fourth of this month and will conclude at 4pm on February 1. Each nomination will be judged on its own merit. A panel appointed by the DHS Quality Awards committee will review all applications and score them on a weighted point system. The nomination form and directions can be found at the site on your screen.

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Quality Award Submissions
http://events.ourcpm.org/qualitynominations/

The winners will be announced in time for "Celebrating Public Service Recognition week", May 2-6. Here are the most recent Quality Award Winners. We congratulate them all for the win, and also for the advancements they've created.

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CSS Staff Financial Education Program
Child Support Services
Human Resources Management New Online Application Process
Human Resource Management
Employment Services Unit and HR Services Unit,
Office of Communications,
Office of Management and Enterprise Services
Human Capital Management
Applicant Services, Information Services Division
Connections: A DHS New Employee Orientation
Human Services Management, 
University of Oklahoma Center for Public Management,
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,
Director of Department of Human Services,
Chief of Staff, Legal Services,
Finance and Administration,
Communications and Community Relations,
Adult and Family Services,
Community Living and Support Services,
Performance Outcome and Accountability

The Practice and Policy Lecture Series begins a fresh slate of topics on January 14 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. The first discussion is titled "Autism: Current Research and Evidence Based Practice" presented by Rene Daman, Director of the Oklahoma Autism Network. The Office of Planning Research and  Statistics presents the free forum as an opportunity to deepen knowledge and discuss ideas in a thought-provoking setting. 

Near the end of 2015, a symbolic ceremony at the Pauline E. Mayer Children's shelter  marked a significant accomplishment for DHS. Director Ed Lake and Child Welfare Services Director Jami Ledoux "turned off the lights" at the shelter to celebrate its official closing. Director Lake made the decision last January to close the Mayer in Oklahoma City as a part of the agency's efforts to place children directly into homes with families. The numbers of children being placed in DHS-operated and privately-run shelters statewide has decreased by 50 percent over the past year. The success is attributed to the efforts and cooperation of the entire child welfare team across the state. Director Lake and Ledoux presented Certificates of Commendation to Calvin Kelley and Eugene Gissandaner for their exceptional leadership during the process of closing the center. DHS is working with Oklahoma County Officials, juvenile court judges, and community members on how best to repurpose the shelter buildings for services for children and families. With the launch of the Oklahoma Fosters campaign in collaboration with the Governor's Office, DHS continues the push to build a greater network of qualified, loving foster homes for kids in Oklahoma.

Another contributor to the decline in shelter-placement is in-home services preventing the need for state custody. Last month we told you about the generous $4.8 million gift from Sue Ann Arnall and the Arnall Famiiy foundation to expand the Youth Villages programs. This month we're taking a closer look at how Youth Villages approaches services with a feature video. The donated funds will broaden the availability of YV LifeSet and Intercept. YV Life Set enhances the services available
to youth aging out of DHS care, and Intercept is an in-home treatment alternative for children who would otherwise be placed in foster care. YVLifeSet launches in Tulsa this month with a goal of statewide access by 2018. Here's Youth Villages' Supervisor Jessica Moore.

Jessica Moore: We are available to every 17 year old in Oklahoma where we can reach them. Right so, in the Tulsa area, metro area, Oklahoma City metro area, Enid and Lawton. So, workers should know, if you have a 17 year old, send a referral in. You know, because we're able to kind of work with those young people. 

I know too in talking to workers, a lot of kids kind of contact them even after they've aged out of care, or they kind of know where they are sometimes because they have siblings or because they stay in contact. So, if a worker knows of a kid who has aged out already, but really is kind of struggling and needs help, that's a good referral as well.

That's the great thing about it. Anybody can refer a young person to YV LIfeSet. It doesn't just have to be a DHS worker. It could be a teacher, a principal, a youth pastor, a nurse. You know, it could be anybody--could refer. We just have to kind of --once we get that referral, we verify if with our DHS contacts to make sure they kind of fit the standards.

Mark: Visit Youth Villages dot org for more information and view the full feature video now available on the InfoNet. 

Professionalism is one of the Quality Service Standards, and part of professionalism is going above and beyond for the benefit of others. Bryan County DHS was recently recognized for going above and beyond for the environment. 

The Durant chapter of Woodmen Life--Woodmen of the World presented their 2015 Environmental Award to the Bryan County office for their recycling efforts. Staff members have been recycling cans, plastic and paper in their office for the past three years. Pictured are Nancy Thrasher, Kimberly Schoonmaker and Lori Gray with the award. It's inscribed with the Native American Proverb: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." The Bryan County team is setting a great example through consistent choices to make things better. 

This month offers us all a renewed resource to make things better for ourselves. Your six, yearly professional visits refresh as part of the Employee Assistance Program. You and household members can receive help and support with a wide range of issues from financial and legal to substance abuse and emotional health. The sessions are cost-free and confidential. Human Resources Management will happily share more information about the EAP with you, or you can call the Integris Corporate Assistance helpline at 1-800-677-2729 which is available 24 hours, 7 days a week. 

Coming up in February is an opportunity for professionals in the field of aging and older Oklahomans to learn about legislation affecting the senior population and share ideas and concerns with state senators and representatives. Senior Day at the Capitol takes place February 22 and is co-sponsored by DHS Aging Services. The free event will feature guided visits to legislative offices, a resource fair and noted speakers including Director of Aging Services, Lance Robertson. Visit okseniorday.com to learn more and register for the event. Online registration ends February 12. On-site registration will also be available. 

We close with some victorious photos taken by our own Caroline Miller of families, DHS and court staff across the state at Adoption Celebrations. 

Thanks for joining us.

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