By State Rep. Gus Blackwell
I have no interim studies scheduled for this week at the Capitol. However, I may attend the study on Thursday dealing with Developmental Disabilities Services. This Department of Human Services (DHS) division has over 5,000 people on a waiting list. Since three of my studies deal with DHS, I thought it would be an opportunity to be educated about this agency.
Making state government more family-friendly is one of my goals, during my tenure at the Capitol. This is one reason why I am continuing to work on the Foster Care Bill, in order to change the way DHS deals with foster kids and families. I’ve heard from too many people who have said the ‘status quo’ is just not working.
My bill, which mandated public and private entities collaborate for foster kids, passed both the House and the Senate, but with different language. It did not pass out of the Conference Committee because the Speaker refused to name conferees to the committee.
It appears DHS was against this change, even though it is the same way they deal with therapeutic foster care.
The bottom line is: children and families are more important than policy and procedure. I will continue to work on this issue until some meaningful change occurs. This will be true even if the agency doesn’t want to cooperate. The present system just isn’t working.
It appears the same conclusion can be drawn on DDSD, within that agency. Having over 5,000 waiting to receive service, year after year, is not acceptable. Some drastic changes need to be made to be able to, at least, begin to help some of these people.
This is the division DHS threatened to cut last year, when modest cuts were being made to all agencies. I vigorously opposed these cuts and those to Senior Nutrition.
Because families are so important to me, our family has moved to Laverne. After spending 24 years in Goodwell, we decided it would be best for us to move closer to the Capitol.
Making a 10 hour round trip every week during session for the last eight years keeps me away from my family during the week. When the Republicans took charge of the House they made a simple family-friendly change. Session begins on Tuesday in the mornings and on Wednesdays in the afternoons.
This has allowed most representatives to visit their family on Tuesday nights. However, it was impractical for me to make the drive home and back, in order to take advantage of that schedule. As I result, my family and I had less time to spend together.
Now, living an hour and a half closer, it will be possible to see my family during the week when the House is in Session. Since my wife graduated from Laverne, she has many family members and friends in the area. She is teaching kindergarten in the Laverne public school system and all my children are in school there also.
My new phone number is 580-921-3349. You can also reach me on my cell phone at 580-461-0999. If all else fails, remember my office number is listed in the front of every phone book in the panhandle area (405-557-7384). My legislative assistant, Christi, does a great job answering all calls and helping with agency problems. You can also e-mail me at gusblackwell@okhouse.gov or just chat with me when you see me at area events.
