Solutions

April 2001

     The proclamation recognizes Oklahoma’s 20 Community Action Agencies for their efforts to assist low-income Oklahomans break the cycle of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.
     Several Community Action Agencies are planning special events during the month including open houses at their offices.

U.S. has energy crisis, Bode says

    “We have a major energy crisis in this country,” Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode told OKACAA Legislative Conference attendees last month.
     It started about ten years ago, she added. Several administrations didn’t pay enough attention to energy issues. Commissioner Bode noted:

•   The U.S. is increasingly depending on someone else to provide oil. Almost 60 percent of this country’s oil is imported annually, she added.

•   Natural gas is being reinjected into the ground because there isn’t a pipeline to transport it from Alaska.

•   The demand for electricity is expected to increase 35% in the next 20 years.

    Recalling this past November and December’s record low temperatures coupled with a decrease in natural gas supplies sent prices skyrocketing, she pointed out the Commission suggested taking some dollars  from the gross production tax increase and using them for LIHEAP and weatherization.
     Moving to plans by the legislature to deregulate the electric industry , she said this could lead to large cost increases for consumers if not done right. She pointed to the disaster in California.
      “Without a sheriff in charge, there is a potential for tremendous problems,” she declared.
     The Corporation Commission needs to be involved in writing the rules to protect consumers.       “We can’t give up that advantage,” she said.
      Commissioner Bode then reminded conference attendees that the $1 Lifeline telephone service is available to low-income consumers that live on tribal land and participate in at least one of ten programs such as Food Stamps, Oklahoma Sales Tax Relief, and Head Start for income qualified clients.
     She also reported work is beginning on ways to improve the telecommunications network in Oklahoma. In 1999, 26 percent of Oklahomans had access to the Internet. In 2001, about 34 percent of Oklahomans have access, she said.

Upcoming Meetings

Apr. 9 –10 – Sixth Annual Conference on Partnership for Oklahoma Families at the Meridian Hotel and Convention Center, 737 S. Meridian, Oklahoma City. Contact: Mike Jackson at 918-684-5300.

Apr. 17-18 - OWHAC meeting. Contact: 405-524-4124.

Apr. 18 - OKACAA and Head Start Board of Director meetings. Contact: 405-524-4124.

May 2-4 - NCAF Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

May 23 - OKACAA Board of Directors, Head Start Association, and OWHAC meetings. Contact: 405-524-4124.

May 23-25 - OKACAA Spring Conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City. Contact: 405-524-4124.

Agency News

     Community Action Project of Tulsa County has joined with the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and five families to file a class action lawsuit against the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
     The lawsuit alleges that the agency violates federal law by having a fee scale for services not meeting the market rate, which has resulted in pediatricians limiting or refusing to accept Medicaid patients, the Tulsa World reports.
     “The state has an obligation to provide children on Medicaid with equal access to the same services as those who have private insurance,” Louis Bullock, attorney for the plaintiffs is quoted as saying in The Daily Oklahoman.
     The lawsuit reportedly does not seek monetary damages or compensation, but rather reform in the Medicaid system.

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    Little Dixie Community Action is receiving a $542,900 Rural Community Development Initiative grant for an innovative economic development partnership, according to a report in the March issue of Commerce Folio.
     Twenty communities in an 11-county area are eligible to receive assistance through the grant.
     The Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Little Dixie are participating in partnership to promote economic development.
     Commerce is providing a full-time economic developer for a portion of the area.

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    Big Five Community Services has expanded its reach with the Southern Oklahoma Rural Transit System (SORTS) with the addition of two automobiles, three 25-passenger vans, and three vans equipped with wheel chair lifts.
     According to a report in Big Five’s Network News, the autos will provide comfortable, economical transportation to needy citizens who may need to travel to Oklahoma City, Tulsa or Dallas for procedures such as dialysis or cancer therapies.
     The new 25-passenger vans are used to provide home to work transportation for former welfare recipients. Many of the work routes are run after normal business hours including weekends under a contractual arrangement with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

Homebuyer education video features funny clips

    Deep Fork Community Action has developed a homebuyer education video that, according to Executive Director Jeff Schuman, highlights the funny aspects of buying, owning, and repairing a home.
     The 25-minute video features short clips from 15 motion pictures. Schuman said the video can be used as an ice breaker or during that “dead time” right after lunch during a homebuyer education session. Schuman plans to sell the video for $29.95 plus $4 shipping/handling.

Report from Mid-Winter ACF Leadership Conference

by Kay Floyd
State Head Start Collaboration Director

    This conference provided an exceptional opportunity for early childhood professionals to model collaboration on a larger scale.  Child care administrators and State Head Start Collaboration Directors from around the Hub met together for the State Child Care Administrators Meeting focusing on professional development. 
     The strong message of the workshop was that this year’s $933 million increase for Head Start and the $817 million increase for childcare must result in increased quality of services for early care and education.  The agenda for the three-day administrators meeting was centered around the opening day’s presentation by Andrea Genser of Wheelock College.  The attendees learned about trends, benefits, key elements, and outcomes in establishing a state system of professional development for early care and education.  Issues that need to be addressed are state to state reciprocity, unlicensed centers, and the continuum of care. 
     A panel presentation offered representatives from states in various stages of developing a system for professional development to share their challenges and successes.  Oklahoma has been one of the leaders in creating and implementing such a system. 
     “Ten Quick Points” were presented to assist state leaders in successful system development.

•Take the time to do it right.

•Relationships are fundamental.

•Anticipate resistance, and build strategies around it.

•Find a champion to navigate and interpret.

•Show success along the way – especially in the beginning.

•Broaden the financial base.

•Create community – state connections.

•Utilize data – disaggregated and general.

•Don’t underestimate the importance of championing and leadership.

•Use others’ information as a resource.

The Leadership Conference also afforded ample opportunity to participate in a variety of smaller group sessions.  One session of interest and importance was “Developing a Positive Relationship Between Head Start and Public Schools,” presented by Jesse Perkins, elementary principal from West Feliciana Parish Public School in St. Francisville, LA. 
    Why should public education and Head Start have a positive relationship?  Perkins proposed several reasons:

•95 – 98% of Head Start children will enter public school.

•The two educational agencies should have the same goals – effective educational growth and development of all children.

•To keep abreast of changing trends in public education and Head Start.

•Education for all children should be a seamless web of services, programs, strategies and positive learning experiences.

Perkins suggested Head Start programs do not work in isolation.  A close relationship with the schools can assist the Head Start program in tracking students after they enter the public school and its testing program.
   This information can be used to improve the quality of learning experience in the Head Start program to ensure that the children are ready for school, including its testing procedures, when they leave the program. 
    Perkins offered many ideas for positive working relationships.  Transition experiences can be enhanced by a Saturday event for parents to register children, and principals and teachers to provide information about the school.  To ensure better transition from Head Start to school, the Head Start program must know when the child is ready to move forward, then move forward with the child by keeping centers challenging and changing as children develop.
    Public school teachers, as well as administrators, should be knowledgeable about the collaboration agreements between school districts and Head Start.  Competition for children must not be an issue.  It is important for public school teachers to understand the Head Start program through regular communication and collaboration.
    Head Start centers should meet with kindergarten teachers and share best practices. Engage the school personnel in the Head Start program if possible, utilizing them as a resource as well as making them aware of Head Start qualities.
    Those who are willing to change how they think and what they do; willing to share enrollment, ideas, philosophy, strengths and weaknesses; willing to take risks; willing to focus on what is best for children; and are willing to plan, implement, study and assess progress can successfully collaborate.

Homebuyer education program discussed at conference

    A standardized curriculum and support material as well as cost effective trainer certification will soon be available from the Oklahoma Homebuyer Education Association, Tricia Auberle explained during the 2001 Housing Conference last month.
    Auberle, Homebuyer Education Coordinator for the Association, said there will be opportunities for agencies that want to provide homebuyer education to partner with others.
    “We can match you with potential partners,” Auberle said. You can partner with others and present the class in your name, or you can refer clients to classes offered in someone else’s name, she added.
    She noted that many funders require homebuyer education for first-time or low- and moderate income buyers. Homebuyer education programs typically require a minimum of eight hours to cover the material.     
    Auberle distinguished between homebuyer education and housing counseling.
    Homebuyer education is typically presented in a group setting, deals with general concepts, meets requirements for most lending products, and issues the participant a certificate of attendance. Homebuyer counseling is one-on-one and focuses on the specific needs of the individual client. During the counseling session, credit history is reviewed and the individual may be prequalified for a loan or a credit rehabilitation plan can be developed, if needed.
    The conference, entitled “Solutions on the Home Front,” attracted over 250 housing professionals and services providers from Oklahoma. It featured nearly 40 workshops on elderly housing, partnership development, mortgage lending, tribal housing, factory-built housing, construction techniques, energy efficiency and market trends, to name a few.
    It was organized by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency.

Community Action Agency officials participate in housing conference

    Nearly a dozen Community Action Agency officials participated in the “Solutions on the Home Front” 2001 Housing Conference last month in Oklahoma City.
    Jeff Schuman, Deep Fork Community Action, was a panelist for a breakout session that focused on how families come together to help each other build houses.
    Linda Tarpley, Southwest Oklahoma Community Action, and David Ellison, United Community Action, were panelists for a session that covered what players should be involved in putting the package together for the best results.
    Cheri Ezzell and Greg Smith, both from Community Development Support Association, and Jim Sconzo, Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma/Canadian Counties, were panelists for a session on rehab.
    Overcoming the challenging development needs of special populations was the focus of a session on which John Jones, KiBois Community Action, participated as a panelist.
    Georgene Zachary, Community Action Resource & Development, and John Jones joined Odell Gunter, Great Plains Improvement Foundation, for a presentation on historic preservation.
    Jean Cooper, Northeast Oklahoma Community Action, was a panelist for a discussion on how religious affiliated organizations are getting the housing job done.

Agencies outline emergency services programs

    Community Action staffers offered suggestions for funding and operating emergency services during the Legislative Conference last month.
    Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency operates The Silver Lining resale shop in Cushing that help generate about $40,000. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the shop is staffed almost exclusively by volunteers.
    INCA Community Services formed a partnership with Community Chest and DHS to provide an emergency prescription service in Atoka. Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma/Canadian Counties works with clients to head off cutoff of utilities. Attendance at a required budgeting workshop presented by OSU Extension Center is part of the program.
    Opportunities, Inc. provides a wide range of programs from its Clinton Resource Center. Emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, food and medical is available.  Low-income individuals may borrow medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and hospital beds from the Community Lending Closet.
    All four programs involve partnerships with others to provide emergency services.