OPEA

DHS Quarterly Meeting Helps Resolve Issue

 

When a resignation in the Latimer County DHS office caused a clerical position to be removed , two OPEA members took advantage of the quarterly meeting between OPEA members and DHS director Howard Hendrick to explain how the loss was affecting productivity.

 

We are not providing good service to our community,” Cheryl Wood Myers told the director.  “Workers are leaving clients in the waiting room while we cover the phones.” 

 

“Many of our elderly clients call the ‘welfare office’ for any problem they encounter,” said Wood Myers.  “In a small town, they have no where else to turn.  These are our community neighbors we see at the grocery store on our way home from work.  They need our help.”

 

Once alerted, Director Hendrick promised to look into the matter.

 

“Don’t ever lose your customer service mindset,” Hendrick told them.

 

As a result of the meeting, the workers at the office had an opportunity to discuss the problem during a visit with the Area Director Judy Wyatt.  The area office allotted a temporary position to the Latimer until a new phone system could be installed, allowing workers to receive calls from clients without going through the front desk.

 

“For now the situation has been resolved,” Wood Myers reported in an e-mail to the OPEA office.  “We greatly appreciate the efforts of OPEA on our behalf.”

 

The next opportunity to meet with Director Hendrick for an informal discussion will be January 4.  The OPEA/DHS Council will meet at the OPEA office in Oklahoma City at 11:00 to discuss issues and upcoming events, including the possibility of a DHS Lobby Day.  After lunch, provided by OPEA, the group will meet with DHS Director Howard Hendrick. 

 

All OPEA members who work at DHS are welcome to attend.  Please RSVP to trishf@opea.org or call Trish Frazier at the OPEA office (405-524-6764 or 800-880-6732) so plenty of food and materials can be prepared