The 13th Apostol

In The OKCPS "Nutrition" is a Four Letter Word

After meeting with the OKCPS Superintendent last week, I've had time to reflect on some of the issues discussed.

Our PTA Committee offshoot group, has spent an enormous amount of time and energy in an attempt to rectify the nutrition problems within the OKCPS school lunch program. Politely, intelligently, and with consistent, but quiet efforts.

We were specifically asked to keep it out of the political arena.
Directly, and without abandon, the man in charge of overseeing our children's overall well being in the district...asked the group to keep in on the "Down Low"...

Well...how 'bout that?

Unfortunately I'm not a person capable of keeping anything on the "Down Low" regarding the lack of assertive action involving anything detrimental to children.

Having lived through bureaucratic corruption, I may always be a skeptic first. In other words, show me your words and actions sync and we can do business. If you're not looking me in the eye when you say "Yes", I'm bound to take that as a "No".

This "Let's not rock the boat" way of thinking, is hazardous to our children's immediate health as backed up by mounds of statistical evidence on early childhood nutrition.

With job losses at an all time high, the number of free or reduced meals within the school lunch program will sky-rocket. The summer programs will be utilized in record amounts, or God forbid cut all together.

Our children deserve better than the "Good Old Boy" network, of extended contracts with food service providers who barely cooperate with pro-active parents who politely, intelligently and with consistent, but quiet efforts...

Developed, through research on their own, a way to start implementing adequate nutrition for all children within the district. I DO believe the Superintendent has good intentions regarding, what I consider straving/poisoning of young bodies and minds.

We all know where good intentions will get us though.

Revolution Foods is an example of what the future of the OKCPS lunch program could be if enough parents united to represent a collective voice.

I want someone to tell me why not?

OKDHS Performance Audit February 2009

OKDHS Performance Audit by Hornby Zeller Assoc. Inc

Download OklahomaDHSPerformanceAudit

My Day at The State Capital

Follow-up:

I am diligent about reapplication procedures due to the nature of Mer-boy's medical condition.

This is the second time this worker has done this, and the second time I've contacted the people we placed in office to oversee these individuals.
The last time she was called on the carpet, the worker claimed she sent the re-ap to our old address (but she used the right address to sent the "Notices of closure" to)

She refuses to return phone calls, speaks poorly to me when she does, cut Mer's Respite Care in December (therapeutic after school/summer programs to strengthen his social interaction with peers) We have not used it in many months, Respite Care is open ended, Like fee-for-service with PCP's. If I am not mistaken this worker works FOR my son and I as a human services specialist.

My meeting went well at The Capital, my request was clear and precise:

"I requested the worker be removed from my sons case and replaced by someone else, preferably an SSDI Kids worker who's trained in dealing with special needs children.

I requested a review of my case by their Liaison, because at the time my son had no medical coverage.
I did point out how I felt it ludicrous I was expected to nourish my sons physical and psychological needs by feeding him "Filler Foods", aka, highly processed, but inexpensive foods the Food Stamp program pushes by limiting financial assistance, allowing candy, junk food, anything but alcohol to be purchased on an "Access card". I shared I was on a committee trying to get more nutritious foods in schools.
That it's documented by multiple nutrition specialists, mental health care workers, et al, poor nutrition is one of the biggest culprits of behavior problems with so many children living below the poverty level...and lack of participation by the parents of those children.
 
By 1:30PM, I received a follow-up call, letting me know the information had been passed on to the Liaison and to expect contact from her sometime before 5:00 yesterday.

I just now ended an hour long phone conversation with the Liaison, who informed me my son's case # shows I'm making over $2,000 a week for a grand total of $120,432 a year.
Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
She will find the glitch in "Hal", forward my information to her District Supervisor and let me know as soon as possible.
For now...
Mer's medical coverage has been reactivated.
Respite Care also has been reactivated.
Coincidentally, this Liaison's District Supervisor's office is located in the Juvenile Justice Building.

Can you imagine trying to feed your child heart healthy food on $56.00 a month? They figure if you're still alive at the end of the month, they've allotted too much in Food Stamp benefits.

(That's why I drive a shiny new car ya know?...because I feed Mer-boy crap so we can listen to the "The Jonas Brothers" on the CD player while cruisin' in a sweet ride... (No offense if you do, I just choose to make different investments with my $102,432.00 a year. (insert eye rolling here)

This challenge, to educate the ones unaware, and convince the ones who simply don't care...is like an evil and corroding thread, touching every aspect of our community.

The system is broken and only we can fix it.

Food Stamps Cut For "Non Compliance" AKA "Harassment"

Over the last three days I've received letters back dated two weeks stating the $56.00 a month I receive to feed my son were first...

Being raised on Tuesday to $100.00 because of "a change in Federal regulations."

Wednesday I received another letter stating the $100.00 was being cut to $16.00 because "my income changed"?

Then yesterday the final letter came stating I was being terminated from the program for "Non Compliance".

I called our Senators office immediately and made an appointment to bring the letters in. To meet with the people we placed in office and discuss the ineptness of this Human Service Employee.

If this is a case of an employee not taking the time to do her job, she needs to be replaced (this is the second time this worker has terminated my sons medical assistance for "Non Compliance")

If on the other hand this is in direct proportion to joining the Oklahoma Family Rights Coalition and having my face seen at a JD hearing...
then it's considered harassment.

Either way, I believe documentation at the highest level is called for.

State Question 745 Overhaul OKDHS/CPS

If you haven't heard about SQ745 by now, you will.

Please take the time to read Index of Document Archive seeing for yourself especially the "Compendium" by R. Brown of Arkansas.

I started this site nearly five years ago in an attempt to heal from the loss of my daughter at the hands of OKDHS...what happened was I found a network of people across the U.S. who had also been victimized by CPS.

Then I got scared.

I quit writing about the corruption because I was just one woman. I was afraid they would come take Mer again like they had in the past.

Unless you have lived it, unless you have experienced your constitutional rights being violated with nowhere to turn...because the monster is too big, no Attorney wants to tackle it, you've run out of money, lost everything precious to you in the world...

You don't have a clue.

Here are a few others fighting for the system to change:

FamilyRights.us
ParentalRights.org
SaveAParent.org
connecticutDCFwatch.com
FightCPS.com
nfpcar.org
LegallyKidnapped.blogspot.com
Kidjacked.com 

I recall finding several of these sites back then, but they weren't local...
Take some time and have a good read, see what's happening in this country, contact anyone of us connected with SQ745 and sign the petition before you lose your children for homeschooling, feeding organic, unschooling, composting too close to your home, some of the allegations of "Neglect" have become so outrageous...all for a "Body Count"

If you want to go back to the beginning of this site, by all means read away...my time today is spent advocating for parents who DON'T know their rights.

Educate yourself.

Spring Break's 'Aint What They Used to Be...

Attending an acquaintance's JD case this morning in connection with SQ 745...
spent most of Mer's Spring Break working on a site, running and...running.

I don't even have enough time these days to write, and that saddens the writer, snif snerf.

I need hormone replacement therapy, and sentences that don't begin with "I"

Being apart of a pro-active group of people, enlightened about their Constitutional Rights, with no one telling them they're crazy....whew!

The "If Only's" will kill your spirit if you let them.