Oklahoma
Vision for Supporting Families and the CoP in OK:
We envision a state where families and communities are equipped to keep people with disabilities supported, empowered, and on a journey towards a good life.
Innovation/Focus Areas:
- Introducing LifeCourse principles to education and educators
- Introducing LifeCourse principles to support transitions
- Bridging gaps between the school system, DHS-DDS, Aging, Child Welfare in using LifeCourse principles in supporting persons and families
- Using LifeCourse principles in supporting persons and families while waiting on waiver services.
- Expanding and building capacity of LifeCourse Ambassadors in Developmental Disabilities Services
- Expanding and building capacity of LifeCourse Ambassadors in Community Living, Aging, and Protective Services
- Expanding and building capacity in the understanding, use, and create a culture change of the LifeCourse principles in Oklahoma Human Services
- Partnering with Oklahoma Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Project to provide training to educators, family members, and students in the LifeCourse principles.
Success Stories:
- Oklahoma Is seeing a culture shift from the medical model (focusing on health and safety) to a person-centered culture shift (focusing on what’s Important to a person and for a person and how to support them) for persons with developmental disabilities and their families
- 7 DDS staff are LifeCourse Ambassadors (+ 1 in training)
- 1 DD Council LifeCourse Ambassadors
- 600 Oklahomans trained in LifeCourse principles and tools July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023
- LifeCourse principles and tools embedded Youth Leadership Forum (YLF), Partners In Policymaking (PIP), Leadership Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), Oklahoma Aging Advocacy Leadership Academy (OAALA) programs
Resources and Highlights:
- Using LifeCourse to Plan Waiver Services: https://ouhsc.edu/thecenter/Publications/UCEDD-Videos#cbp=mediaid28860
- Oklahoma Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services LENS LifeCourse ‘suitcase’ created for use with Youth Leadership Forum and others. The video was made / shared for Person Centered Thinking Learning Community Gathering
Supporting Links:
- Team CoP Website: Center for Learning and Leadership at University of Oklahoma (UCEDD)
- Team/State DD Agency: Oklahoma Human Services
- Team/State DD Council: Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma
OK CoP Lead Partners:
- Center for Learning and Leadership / UCEDD, OUHSC: https://ouhsc.edu/thecenter
- Oklahoma Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services: https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/services/dd/developmental-disabilities-services.html
- Oklahoma Human Services, Community Living, Aging, Protective Services: https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/services/cap.html
- Oklahoma Disability Law Center: http://okdlc.org/
- Oklahoma Family Network: http://oklahomafamilynetwork.org/
- Think Ability: http://thinkabilityfirst.com/
- Oklahoma State Department of Education: https://sde.ok.gov/
- Oklahoma Autism Network: https://okautism.org/
- Department of Rehabilitation Services: https://www.okdrs.gov/guide/DRS
- Sooner Success: https://soonersuccess.ouhsc.edu/
- The Arc of Oklahoma: http://thearcok.org/
- Pervasive Parenting Center http://www.pervasiveparentingcenter.org/home.html
- Liberty of Oklahoma: libertyhealthcare.com
OK CoP for Supporting Families Facilitator(s):
Jenifer Randle
Facilitator
Developmental Disabilities Council
Jenifer.randle@okdhs.org
Wanda Felty
Facilitator
Center for Learning and Leadership at University of Oklahoma (UCEDD)
wanda-felty@ouhsc.edu
Ed Lawson
Facilitator
Developmental Disabilities Services
edward.lawson@okdhs.org
Kimberly Kraft
Facilitator
Oklahoma Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services
Kimberly.kraft@okdhs.org
Miranda Kieffer
Facilitator
Oklahoma Human Services, Community Living, Aging and Protective Services
miranda.kieffer@okdhs.org