Promising Practices - Oklahoma

Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Department of Human Services, in partnership with the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth and a coalition of other State agencies, developed the JOIN website questionnaire designed to determine appropriate government services and serve as a State-wide resource directory. This assists State Food Stamp Program agency staff in the search for appropriate help for clients. Go to http://www.join.ok.gov/. For more information, contact: Jim Struby, Programs Administrator, OKDHS Family Support Services, P.O. Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, 405-521-3078, jim.struby@okdhs.org or Richard Cook, Information Systems Planning Specialist, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, 500 N. Broadway, Suite 300, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, 405-606-4920, Richard.Cook@occy.state.ok.us.

Oklahoma – In partnership with the Department of Human Services, the Tulsa Community Action Program developed an eligibility wizard, BESO, which screens for 25 different programs, provides information about required eligibility, and emails a request for services to the appropriate OKDHS office. For more information, contact: Jim Struby, Programs Administrator, OKDHS Family Support Services, P.O. Box 25352, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, 405-521-3078, jim.struby@okdhs.org  or Victoria Haws, BESO Program Manager, Tulsa CAP, 4606 S. Garnett Road, Tulsa, OK 74146, 918-382-3374, vhaws@captc.org.

Oklahoma – The Department of Human Services has a policy of allowing clients in metropolitan areas, such as Oklahoma City, to be served in any office in the area which meets their personal and business needs. Rather than be bound by zip codes, clients in the metropolitan areas can apply for benefits at Food Stamp Program offices close to their work sites or child care centers. For more information, contact: Anne Snell, FNS Southwestern Regional office, 214-290-9900, snell.a@fns.usda.gov.

Last modified: 04/30/2009