Budget cuts Q&A

 

Nutrition Project Directors:        

 

I am going to make visits to nutrition sites for the purpose of answering any questions participants may have about the budget reductions to Title III programs.  I am scheduling one Q&A session for each county at the following locations and dates (all times 11AM):

 

·         Chickasha – October 22^nd

·         Ryan – October 23^rd

·         Frederick – October 26th

·         Duncan North – October 29^th (Public forum already scheduled)

·         Washington – October 30^th

·         Temple – November 2^nd

·         Lawton South – November 5^th

·         Anadarko – November 6^th

 

 

I will begin with a brief presentation followed by Q&A at 11AM at each of the sites above.  Please make appropriate announcements for my visits at all nutrition sites.

 

If invited, I will be happy schedule visits to other nutrition sites as well.

 

Please, do not reserve meals for me.  Because of recent policy clarifications, reservations cannot be made for guests who are not eligible to be participants.

 

Thanks,

 

Kj

 

 

Ken Jones, MS

Director, Supportive Services Division

Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments

PO Box 1647, Duncan, OK 73534-1647

telephone:  (580) 252-0595; (800) 658-1466  fax:  (580) 252-6170

email:  jone_ke@ascog.org  website:  www.ascog.org

 

 

 

Commissioners call for action for nutrition programs

Published: October 14, 2009 10:49 pm     

Commissioners call for action for nutrition programs

Toni Hopper
The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — By Toni Hopper

The Duncan Banner

A resolution bearing the three Stephens County commissioner’s signatures will be sent to Oklahoma State Legislatures this week addressing the funding cuts made to the Oklahoma Area Agencies on Aging for its nutrition programs.

Commissioners Darrell Sparks, Dee Bowen and Todd Churchman showed much concern for the $7.4 million budget cut that could ultimately shut down senior nutrition centers statewide. They want people to know they support the OAAA and its nutritional programs.

The resolution, which was signed Tuesday, also states that this issue jeopardizes the lives of “thousands of Oklahoma’s oldest citizens.”

Bowen said that the resolution will hopefully get the nutrition centers funding.

“The County Board of Commissioners respectfully request that the Oklahoma State Legislature seek immediate solutions to provide funding at its current level of services to the Oklahoma Area Agencies on Aging,” stated the final paragraph in the resolution.

According to the resolution, the cuts were made in July by Oklahoma’s State Department of Human Services, and another 30 percent was made at the end of September.

Just as important to the senior’s nutrition is the social aspect that the senior sites provide, noted the resolution.

In a Banner article Monday, Project Director Dan Lowrance issued a call for help for area volunteers, since staff would first be reduced at the local sites. To volunteer to help with meals, serving or deliveries, call 580-255-3967.

The resolution also outlines that there are 234 locations across the state that serve about 23,000 meals daily to Oklahoma senior citizens.

For those interested in this issue, contact your local legislators. They include:

— Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, Oklahoma State Capitol, Room 211, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Phone: 405-521-2161. E-mail jari.askins@ltgov.state.ok.us

— State Sen. Anthony Sykes, District 24, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 425, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. E-mail: sykes@oksenate.gov Phone: 405-521-5569.

— State Sen. Don Barrington, District 31, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 412A, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. E-mail: barrington@oksenate.gov Phone: 405-521-5563.

— State Rep. Dennis Johnson, District 50, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 301, Oklahoma City, OK 73105; dennis.johnson@okhouse.gov Phone: 405-557-7327.

— State Rep. Corey Holland, District 51, Oklahoma State Capitol, Room 537A, Oklahoma City, OK 73105; corey.holland@okhouse.gov Phone: 405-557-7405.

— State Rep. Joe Dorman, District 65, Oklahoma State Capitol, Room 536, Oklahoma City, OK 73105; dormanjo@lsb.state.ok.us Phone: 405-557-7305.

 

President Obama Calls on Congress to Extend $250 Economic Recovery Payment for 2010

 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 14, 2009

 

President Obama Calls on Congress to Extend Economic Recovery Payment for 2010

 

WASHINGTON, DC-President Obama announced his support for an additional $250 Economic Recovery Payment to the seniors, veterans and people with disabilities who are struggling to make ends meet with retirement savings that have not fully recovered from their losses over the first year of the recession.

 

“Even as we seek to bring about recovery, we must act on behalf of those hardest hit by this recession. That is why I am announcing my support for an additional $250 in emergency recovery assistance to seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities to help them make it through these difficult times. These payments will provide aid to more than 50 million people in the coming year, relief that will not only make a difference for them, but for our economy as a whole, complementing the tax cuts we’ve provided working families and small businesses through the Recovery Act,” said President Obama.   “This additional assistance will be especially important in the coming months, as countless seniors and others have seen their retirement accounts and home values decline as a result of this economic crisis.  I want to compliment all the members of Congress who have been working to address these challenges, especially Senators Reid, Baucus, Sanders, and Lincoln, Speaker Pelosi, and Representatives Rangel, McCarthy, and DeFazio.”

 

Fact Sheet

 

The President’s proposal would provide an additional year of the $250 “Economic Recovery Payments” initially enacted under the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA). Under this proposal:

 

·         57 million people would benefit. These include 49 million Social Security beneficiaries, 5 million Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries, 2 million veterans benefit recipients, 0.5 million railroad retirement and disability beneficiaries, and also about 1 million public-employee retirees not entitled to any of the previous benefits.

 

·         The benefit would be $250 – or equivalent to a 2 percent increase in benefits for the average Social Security retiree beneficiary. Under the rules no person could “double dip” and receive a $250 Economic Recovery Payment through more than one program. Nor could they receive both an Economic Recovery Payment and the Making Work Pay tax credit.

 

·         The total cost of the proposal would be $13 billion – and would not hurt the solvency of Social Security. The President is committed to ensuring that the $13 billion cost of the proposal does not reduce the solvency of Social Security or other social insurance programs.

 

·         Would extend an effective relief program. To date Economic Recovery Payments have been made to 55 million people including seniors, veterans and people with disabilities and totaled $13.7 billion. Most of the checks were mailed out in May 2009.

 

In addition to this legislative proposal, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Treasury will take steps this week to prevent reductions in the amounts that workers can contribute to IRAs, 401(k)s, and other aspects of tax-favored retirement systems in 2010 that some feared could result from negative inflation over the past twelve months.

 

 

 

Ann Widger

Office of Public Engagement

The White House

 

Free Training: ASCOG Ombudsman Volunteer Training

 

Free Ombudsman Training by ASCOG

 

The Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments (ASCOG) will provide free training to become an Ombudsman Volunteer. After completion of the training, the Ombudsman Volunteer is certified to assist residents of long-term care facilities with their concerns. The training is on October 28-29, 2009, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Red River Technology Center, Room B114, 3300 West Bois D’Arc, Duncan, OK. ASCOG serves the Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, McClain, Stephens, and Tillman counties. Mark your calendar and bring a friend! Please contact Ruben Sotelo (sote_ru@asscog.org) or Vonn Saltzman (salt_vo@ascog.org) Ombudsman Supervisors at 1-800-658-1466 for further information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

802 Main Street   •   P.O. Box 1647   •   Duncan, OK  73534-1647

Phone:  (580) 252-0595 or 1-800-658-1466   •   Fax:  (580) 252-6170   •   www.ascog.org

 

House Speaker, Senate President Warn Tougher Budget Times are Ahead

CONTACT:

Jennifer Monies, Press Secretary

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Office of House Speaker Chris Benge

Randy Swanson, Communications Director

Oklahoma State Senate

Office of Senate President Pro Tem

House Speaker, Senate President Warn

Tougher Budget Times are Ahead

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 13, 2009) – House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee respond to today’s release of the September state revenue numbers:

“These figures are alarming, and we have no reason to believe the revenue trend is going to drastically change anytime soon. Because of this, I urge state agencies to not only restrain spending, but also proactively prepare for the possibility of deeper cuts in the future to bring expenditures better in line with current collections,” said Benge, R-Tulsa.

“There are tough decisions ahead, and we are working closely with Senate leadership and the governor’s office to make fiscally prudent decisions in this time of global recession and depressed natural gas prices. Our state has made it through trying budget times in the past, and we will again,” Benge concluded.

“As challenging as the fiscal situation is for the State of Oklahoma at this time, I’m thankful for the conservative budgeting priorities we’ve instituted in the past that keep us from being in a worse situation than we currently are,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“As in previous months, the fiscal outlook isn’t optimistic, and the time for real and tough decisions may be imminent. The Speaker and I will meet with the governor as soon as we possibly can, and begin those discussions.

“But in light of natural gas prices that remain low and the vast amounts in storage, we have no reason for optimism in the coming months.

“It’s premature to say with certainty, but many options will be on the table, including possible deeper cuts in targeted programs as we carry out the appropriate and constitutionally mandated balanced budget.”

-30-

KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE FLU WEBCAST REGARDING H1N1 FLU

Headline: KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE FLU WEBCAST REGARDING H1N1 FLU
VACCINE TESTING AND SAFETY MONITORING LIVE ON FLU.GOV

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will host a Know
What to Do about the Flu Webcast on Wednesday, October 14. Experts from
HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug
Administration, National Vaccine Program Office as well as officials
from the Institute of Medicine will discuss how federal agencies, state
and local health departments, health care professionals and others are
testing and monitoring the safety of the H1N1 flu vaccine.

WHO: Dr. Anne Schuchat, Director, Influenza Division, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS
Dr. Jesse Goodman, Acting Chief Scientist, Food and Drug
Administration, HHS
Dr. Bruce Gellin, Director, National Vaccine Program
Office, HHS
Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, President, Institute of Medicine

WHAT: Know What to Do about the Flu Vaccine Safety Webcast

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009
1:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Live on www.flu.gov/live

CONTACT: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

For more information on how to take steps to prevent the flu, visit
www.flu.gov.

Get Great Fall Prevention Info at this Friday's Grand Rounds!

Click here to download this week's Grand Rounds Flyer now.

When a 20 year-old falls, we don't panic. We're confident they'll be be just fine.

When a 50 year-old falls, we tend to be a bit concerned for a moment, or two... Still, they usually get up, brush themselves off, and slide right back into the business of living.

But when an 80-year old falls, we know something serious has happened. We know they probably won't be "just fine." We know they may be badly hurt - and that helping them get back to "the business of living" is likely to be a painful, arduous process... if it's possible at all.

The good news? There's a lot we can do to help prevent elder falls.

That's why we hope you'll be able to join us this Friday, October 16th, for an information-rich Grand Rounds with Dr. Denise Bender: "Interventions Related to Falls" (12:15 - 1:00).


Save this email and click here Friday just before 12:15 to go directly to the presentation page.
It's true: "knowledge is power." If less than an hour of outstanding education on this critical topic can prevent just one elder fall, isn't it more than worth the time?

Well, the more educated we all become on this topic, the more we'll be able to share what we know with others. End result?

Significantly fewer falls for our elders.

We hope you can make it... have a good week.Michelle StewartSenior Project Asst. / OkGEC405-271-8130michelle-stewart@ouhsc.edu