OPEA

The following post is a copy of the press release circulated by SORCPGA & OPEA at Tuesday's OKDHS Commission meeting.  SORCPGA and OPEA have been working together to formulate an alternative plan for the SORC and NORCE facilities.  If you would like to read the plan in its entirety, you can view it here.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Southern Oklahoma Resource Center Parent Guardian Association (SORCPGA) and the Oklahoma Public Employees Association on Tuesday presented to the OKDHS Commission a new plan for the future of NORCE and SORC. The plan would utilize federal funds, the sale of land, cost savings and possible public/private partnerships combined with state funds allowing residents to continue living at NORCE and SORC, respectively.

"In presenting the SORCPGA/OPEA Vision for the Future of NORCE and SORC, the families and employees bring an alternative forward for discussion to continue the operation of the critical safety net for Oklahoma's most vulnerable citizens," the plan states. "More importantly, the plan allows beloved clients and family members to remain in their lifetime homes. The vision also provides the opportunity for others to benefit from the decades of experience and care provided at the facilities."

Both NORCE and SORC are currently facing the threat of being significantly downsized, and the families of the clients are concerned about what will happen to those who call the facilities home.

"As family members of individuals with the most serious developmental and medical challenges, the PGA is proposing a way for our loved ones to continue to live in their lifetime homes," said SORC PGA President Ken Talley.

Proponents of the plan to close the two facilities argue that community homes can take the place of NORCE and SORC, but Sterling Zearley, OPEA'S Executive Director, cautions against the idea.

“Proponents [of closing NORCE and SORC] say that other states are closing down their facilities in favor of these community-care based models, but that’s simply not true,” Zearley said. “As of 2009, only nine other states had closed their facilities, and both Delaware and Virginia are actually pursuing plans similar to the PGA’s plan.”

According to the University of Minnesota, the average daily population of persons with disabilities living in state-operated facilities was 660, or 14.8 beds per 100,000 in population in 2009. Oklahoma’s average was 289, or 7.8 beds per 100,000 . The OKDHS plan to close beds at SORC and NORCE would place Oklahoma's public safety net for the developmentally disabled dangerously low at 20 percent of the national average at 3.2 beds per 100,000.

As the plan also notes, members of the Oklahoma House and Senate recently filed bills to help keep NORCE and SORC’s doors open. House Bill 2850, filed by Representative Mike Jackson (R-Enid), and Senate Bill 1129, filed by Senator Susan Paddack (D-Ada) both delay the implementation date to allow more time for strategic planning. Paddack also filed legislation to install new sprinkler systems in the residence buildings, and Representative Lisa Billy (R-Purcell) filed legislation to help fund the construction at both sites.

The price tag for the construction projects totals approximately $10 million in state funds, but the PGA and OPEA believe the Legislature will be able to find the money to fund such an important cause.
"We know the Legislature will be looking at spending as much as $200 million on repairs to the Capitol building,” Zearley concluded. "While we appreciate the historical significance of the Capitol, the quality of life for some of Oklahoma's most vulnerable citizens must be a priority."

-END-

For press questions and to speak to members of both organizations, please contact Kelsey Kemp, OPEA Communications/PR Coordinator, at (405) 201-1743 or at KelseyK@opea.org.