2007 Legislative Agenda for Children and Youth (updated 2/23/07)
http://www.oica.org
SAFETY
Protect Children from Abuse – Appropriations request for Health,
Education and Human Services
1) Expand child abuse prevention / intervention and parent education
services to more at-risk families by increasing funding to targeted
programs:
Oklahoma Department of Health FY’08 Budget request: $4,174,759
$2,027,000 Office of Child Abuse Prevention (to expand program
statewide)
$1,759,000 Children First (to hire 29 new nurses for county health
departments to conduct home visitation for new parents)
$ 387,000 Child Guidance Services
State Department of Education FY ’08 Budget request: $3,000,000
$3,000,000 Parents as Teachers Program (to expand statewide)
Department of Human Services FY ’08 Budget request: $3,251,000
$3,251,000 Comprehensive Home-Based Services (to meet increase need)
$ 0,000 SafeCare for High-Risk Families (the CDC has provided funds to
operate the urban site, enabling state dollars for the pilot site.
Therefore, no new funds are needed for the rural expansion.
HEALTH CARE - ACHIEVED!
Enhance Prenatal Care – Rule change signed by the Governor on Feb. 5 ***
2) Enhance quality of prenatal care by supporting the OHCA budget
request for prenatal support systems, including developing outreach
services, expanding SoonerCare benefits to include oral health and
social work services, and providing pay-for-performance incentives to
improve early and on-going care.
Oklahoma Health Care Authority has determined there are sufficient funds
in the current budget to underwrite these efforts
without a new budget request. All that is required, therefore, is a rule
change that has been submitted to the Governor for his
approval. The Governor signed the rules on February 5, 2007. The new
rule will go into effect on April 1.
EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
Enhance Quality of Childcare through Increased Provider Rates –
Appropriations request- DHS
3) Increase childcare provider reimbursement rates to respond to new
market rate data, enhanced quality criteria and the need for improved
teacher salaries.
Department of Human Services FY’08 budget request $17,801,000
$ 3,501,000 Adjust Child Care Subsidy rate to 75th percentile
$14,300,000 Increase Child Care Subsidy rate by 10% to providers
FITNESS AND NUTRITION
School-aged Health Needs – Appropriations request - OSDH
4) Provide funds to implement the CDC’s coordinated school health model,
which includes comprehensive school health education, physical
education, school health services, nutrition services, counseling
services, healthy school environment, health promotion for staff, and
family and community involvement.
Oklahoma State Department of Health FY ’08 Budget Request $1,365,000
Promote Health, Physical Fitness and Nutrition, including expansion of
the Strong and Healthy Oklahoma Initiative, contracts with Tulsa and
Oklahoma City/County Health Dept’s, and mini-grants and additional
training for schools.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Expand Children’s Behavioral Health Services – Appropriations request –
DMHSAS and OHCA
5) Expand implementation of Systems of Care statewide by funding new
communities and through effective partnerships, including positive
behavioral intervention services (PBIS), early intervention through
child guidance services, and wraparound services.
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services FY’08 Budget
Request $31,646,874
$ 771,874 Maintain existing Systems of Care programs
$ 875,000 Annualize 2007 appropriations for services to children and
youth
$30,000,000 Increase services to persons (children and adults) at risk
of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. Includes both
mental health and substance abuse services.
Oklahoma Health Care Authority FY’08 Budget Request $ 5,979,432
$ 5,562,310 Expand Medicaid benefit package for children to include
partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and day treatment
$ 417,122 Integrate and coordinate services between Medicaid and ODMHSAS
Increase Workforce for Children’s Behavioral Health – Appropriations
request – OHCA and DMHSAS
6) Provide financial and educational incentives to increase the
workforce specializing in children’s behavioral health, with an emphasis
on underserved areas.
Oklahoma Health Care Authority $8,095,660
$2,788,470 Contract directly with Masters Level Behavioral Health
clinicians
$5,307,190 Increase provider rates to 75-80% of Medicare for behavioral
health providers
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services $4,311,000
Adjust rates for mental health and substance abuse contracts to equal
current Medicaid reimbursement rates.
Note: In addition to these budget requests, several bills have been
introduced to address workforce shortage:
SB 452 (Leftwich) claries that insurance coverage for the treatment of
mental illness covers services provided by licensed behavioral health
providers. Assigned to the Senate Insurance Committee.
FAILED IN COMMITTEE.
HB 1464 (Sears) Creates the Oklahoma Medical Loan Repayment Program to
provide educational loan repayment for up to 5 pediatric specialists,
including child psychiatrists, per year, who agree to serve in
underserved rural areas. PASSED HOUSE 97/0.
YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL
Restrict Youth Access to Alcohol – SB 1009 (Rabon) – DORMANT for this
year.
7) Reduce youth exposure to alcohol by restricting placement and access
in retail establishments and requiring clerks selling alcohol to be 18
years of age.
Status: Senate Committee on Business and Labor: WITHDRAWN
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
Target Substance Abuse – Appropriations request DMHSAS and OHCA
8) Provide substance abuse treatment services for juvenile justice
youth, including residential substance abuse treatment facilities,
substance abuse outpatient services, and substance abuse prevention
services.
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services FY’08 Budget
Request $30,500,000*
$ 500,000 Annualize funding for Residential Adolescent Treatment
duplicates #5 above
$30,000,000 *Contained within Item No. 5 above
Oklahoma Health Care Authority FY’08 Budget Request $ 2,307,648
Behavioral Health Collaborative – substance abuse treatment for children
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Oppose the so-called “Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights” – SJR 11 (Brogdon) –
DORMANT for this year.
9) Oppose measures to restrict the growth of state revenues and
expenditures that would have negative consequences on the health,
education and social services for Oklahoma’s children, youth and
families.
Status: Assigned to Senate Committee on Appropriations. NOT HEARD
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