In the News: November 2011

(MUSIC PLAYS) 
Mark Beutler: Hello everybody, I'm Mark Beutler from the OKDHS Office of Communications 
and it's time again to look at some items "In The News." 
This month we're going to look at a few celebrations 
and special events from different areas of OKDHS. 
Plus, we'll hear some highlights of Director Hendricks' presentation 
to the Human Services Commission. 
Our first topic is the Practice and Policy Lecture series. 
This has been a great season for the series and there are two lectures left 
between now and the new year.
No Audio: Practice and Policy Lecture Series - November 8, 2011. "Respecting Diversity: Stories from the Holocaust" Michael Korenblit, Respect Diversity Foundation. 
The next lecture is slated for November 8th. 
It's sponsored by the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives 
and is entitled  "Respecting Diversity: Stories from the Holocaust." 
The presenter for this fascinating lecture is Michael Korenblit, 
the President and co-founder of the Respect Diversity Foundation. 
Michael is the author of the book, "Until We Meet Again" 
which chronicles the story of two families who endured the Holocaust in rural Poland. 
His parents were members of those families and the account of their lasting relationship 
through concentration camps, separation, hiding and death camps. 
It's an amazing tale and Korenblit presents it in a spellbinding fashion. 
Once again the date is November 8th. 
The lecture will start at noon in the Chesapeake Room at the Oklahoma History Center. 
No Audio: Practice and Policy Lecture Series - December 13, 2011. "A Generation at Risk: The Impact of Divorce on Children" Paul Amato, PhD.
The final lecture of 2011 will be held on December 13th in the same location. 
It's entitled, "A Generation at Risk: The Impact of Divorce on Children." 
Presented by Dr. Paul Amato from Pennsylvania State University, 
this lecture will look at data from his areas of research expertise, marital quality, 
causes of divorce and subjective well-being over the life course. 
There's no doubt that our high divorce rates have major effect on family members. 
Dr. Amato has compiled data and is able to quantify the outcomes. 
Both of these lectures will be great tools for anyone who works with people. 
We hope you can make it to these lunch-time lectures. 
But if that's not possible, you may watch them online. 
Go to OKDHS.org and look for the Practice and Policy Lecture Series link. 
There you'll find links to watch, download or read the transcripts of the lectures. 
October was a busy month for celebrations within the agency. 
Let's begin with the Latino Heritage Celebration.
No Audio: Montage of latino children celebrating their heritage with dancing and costumes. 
On October 13th, employees of OKDHS, the Oklahoma City Public Schools Language and Cultural Services 
plus citizens from all over the state gathered at the Oklahoma City Farmers Market for a celebration. 
OKDHS has been involved with this event for a number of years 
in an effort to foster a better understanding of our neighbors' heritage and culture. 
As you can see by these pictures the program was as excellent as ever 
with students from six different schools performing. 
One group of dancers came all the way from Guymon to perform. 
The theme this year was "Latinos Building a Better World" 
and the event proved to be a useful afternoon of networking and fellowship. 
This event, and others like it, allow us to spend some time 
appreciating the differences and similarities of our neighbors. 
The Native American Heritage Celebration is coming up this month 
and will provide another opportunity to strengthen these ties. 
No Audio: Montage of photos of Native American children enjoying activities associated with their culture.
Another event held in October to foster understanding and awareness 
of cultures was the Completing the Circle program for Native American children 
who are placed in non-Native American homes. 
This workshop is designed to help these children, their biological and foster families 
and their tribal families travel a path together toward healing. 
With a focus on the heritage of each child's tribal nation, the children and families come away 
with a better understanding of the culture and connection we all have 
with people of common backgrounds. 
This year, as in years past, Native American foods, dances, music, arts and history 
are presented and special activities are offered. 
Completing the Circle has been a positive way for children in foster care 
to feel more connected with society. 
No Audio: Montage of photos of people attending the fun and activities at the Pauline Mayer Children's Shelter.
There was another event that highlighted OKDHS's commitment to children in care. 
The Pauline Mayer Children's Shelter held an open house to allow members of the community 
to see the work that goes on in this safe haven for children in Oklahoma County. 
People from government, the private sector and families of former residents attended the event. 
No Audio: Montage of photos of church and community leaders networking at a luncheon.
The final October event we want to discuss was a luncheon sponsored 
by Faith Links and Governor Mary Fallin's office. 
This meeting brought together leaders from many different faiths to focus on the problems 
faced by Oklahoma: hunger, poverty, high rates of incarceration and fractured families. 
The idea is, through communication and cooperation, the communities of faith in our state 
can play an important role in improving the quality of life for everyone. 
Next we want to take you to the October meeting of the Oklahoma Human Services Commission. 
Two awards of commendation were given to a couple of deserving OKDHS employees. 
No Audio: Photo of Kyle Chaufty accepting an award of commendation.
Kyle Chaufty, from the Graphics Shop serves as one of our photographers and videographers. 
He was recognized for his efforts to save a young man who was suffering from dehydration 
during one of the hottest days we had this past summer. 
No Audio: Photo of Marietta Sousis accepting an award of commendation.
Marietta Sousis, a nurse with OKDHS in Payne County, was recognized for her heroic efforts 
to save a child from choking to death while ignoring injuries of her own. 
Both of these brave employees exemplify the spirit of the OKDHS employee: always ready to help. 
Congratulations to both of you. 
Continuing with the October Commission meeting, Director Hendrick always takes a few minutes 
to update Commissioners on the status of the agency. 
Once again, the number of people needing assistance to feed their families 
reached an all time record high. 
Director Howard Hendrick: September was another record month 
for food stamps, an all time high, again. 
No Audio: Slide entitled "OKDHS Agency Overview SNAP - A Brief Analysis" showing SNAP numbers from 2005 - 2011.
625,000 people in September on Food Stamps, 
again, the highest number ever in State History, you can see. 
30% of all the children in the state were on food stamps last month. 
40% of all the kids in the state were on food stamps for at least one month in the last 12 months. 
Average benefits, $4.23 per person per day. 
Not a lot of people are getting rich on food stamps but it's feeding a lot of people 
that need to be fed during a time which the great recession still is not showing signs 
that we're fully recovered. 
There are some signs that we are recovering but not signs that weare fully recovered. 
You can see we have 400,000 more people, 400,000 more people served 
in 2011 than in 2002 for food, just to eat. 
7,000 more children had their paterny established in 2011 than had 
their paterny established in 2002. 
7,000 more senior citizens were staying at home instead of going to nursing homes 
by getting waivered services than we had in 2002. 
About 700 more folks on DDSD, it doesn't count all the Family Support payments, 
one of the budget restoration recommendations. 
And then about 1,000 more persons were getting DDSD waivered services in the community 
than were getting those services in 2002. 
Okay, so that gives you a little bit of a picture of how stressed the safety net really is. 
I think you need to appreciate 400,000 more Oklahomans on food stamps 
for at least one month in State Fiscal year 2011 than in 2002. 
Mark Beutler: If you would like to hear all of Director Hendricks' address to the Commission, 
log on to OKDHS.org and look for the box containing Director Hendrick's Commission Report. 
The videos are available there for a month and then are archived 
at the web site for the Oklahoma Human Services Commission. 
We want to remind you that the OKDHS Annual Report is out 
and available for viewing on the infonet and at OKDHS.org. 
Look for the Hope logo to find links to access the videos and the written annual report. 
This report offers an overview of the agency's work while focusing on the people served. 
Please take time to check out the report and refer your friends and yourneighbors as well. 
This is one tool we all have to clearly tell the story of your work at OKDHS. 
That's it for news this month. We'll see you next time.