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DHS-Facts Speak For Themselves

 Since 2001, state funding for DHS has increased by 42 percent, or $166 million. The additional money has been put into services and programs, with only four percent more in staff.  DHS workers are stretched to the breaking point, doing more with less. 

 

  • Advantage Waiver recipients increased by 88 percent from 11,333 to 21,324 between FY 2000 and 2007.  This important program helps elderly and disabled Oklahomans remain at home and not in institutionalized care.

 

  • The monthly average of food stamp recipients increased by 42 percent, from 298,204 to 423,084 between 2002 and 2007.  Most food stamp recipients are families of the working poor, who have low-paying jobs or are between jobs.

 

  • Medicaid recipients have increased by 51 percent since 2000, from 396,526 to 600,930.  Medicaid participation is limited to children, pregnant women, disabled and elderly.

 

  • Adult Protective Services referrals have increased by 19 percent per year or 2,861 since 2002.

 

  • Child Welfare referrals per year have increased by 74 percent or 8,254 since 2001.

 

  • Child Support Enforcement monthly average case count has increased by 25 percent between FY 2003 and 2007.  During that time collections for Oklahoma’s children increased by $85.5 million, or 55.7 percent.
Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008 by Bud Elder

3 comments (Add your own)

1. Mark Kent wrote:
What sense does it make to be concerned about pay raises? The only people that our government cares about are the wealthy. I wished as a state employee I could get a tax break for the next 12 years. I should have gone into professional sports instead of trying to help abused children.

April 18, 2008 @ 9:09 AM

2. Rosanne Lawrence wrote:
I think it is a disgrace to us serving the public in child welfare at the rate of pay that we are receiving. Everyday I put my own life on the line by going to these residences on referrals and not knowing what I'm going to find or if I will return. I have been shot at, assaulted and attacked by clients, dogs and others not involved in the case. I also think it is a disgrace that a new worker comes into the program making as much money as I make when they have no experience and I have ten years on them. The legislature is quick to give themselves pay raises every year not to mention mileage from their home to their work place when I cannot even get mileage from my home to go to training and I spend extra gas and wear and tear on my car for no compensation to go to the required training that I am made to attend. We have not kept up with the economy or other outside companies for compensation equal or even close to what they are paying for the same degree. I have been humiliated by clients, threatened and have to work with people in supervisory positions that do not watch my back for me. It is appalling how they cannot keep CW workers in for more then two years without transferring out of the unit or quitting. I feel we deserve a big raise and not just some $1,000.00 bonus that is taxed and we only receive half of it. We need step increases for those of us who have been dedicated to work late hours every night, weekends, holidays and come in on snow days when everyone else is out. This system needs close looking at and not at the top level, but down here at the bottom of the barrel for who is really doing the work, making the top level look good.

April 18, 2008 @ 12:38 PM

3. Dawn wrote:
I'm tired of begging. We need to create some leverage. I think OPEA should circulate a black list of politicians for state employees and their family and friends to vote out of office then we set a start date for a state employee strike !!! In the interim those of us who would be eligible could apply for food stamps and medical.

April 18, 2008 @ 12:53 PM

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