Oklahoma Community-Based Providers, Inc.

04/19/2023

What an honor it has been to serve the last three years as Executive Director of one of the best non-profits in our state, Oklahoma Community Providers. Tremendous mission with the most amazing people!
Thank you!!

01/30/2023

A New Era for Oklahoma Community Providers
By Pat Ownbey

A new era is on the horizon. One that brings great promise for providers and those that they serve. After a three year absence, Samantha Galloway begins her job as Executive Director of Oklahoma Community Providers. Make no mistake, Samantha has done it all, from provider work in her early days to Deputy Director, then Interim Director of the Department of Human Services. During Samantha’s absence at OCP, member providers have experienced a lot of successes in crucial areas, which has brought about continued growth in membership. But we should note that many of those accomplishments members have applauded can be traced directly back to Samantha, leading from behind the scenes. That’s what she does so effectively, in fact with Samantha, those that know her well also know that it has never been about notoriety, it has always been about results.

So what’s ahead for OCP? Samantha’s goals include continuing the momentum to strengthen the system that serves Oklahomans with developmental disabilities; Elevate and solution workforce issues through rates and service modernization; Lean into State Use and help ensure the new contractor is sophisticated and functional; Start preparing for the eventual loss of 14c certificates; Elevate and sophisticate the OCP brand through a new logo, website and social media presence; and Work with DHS and the legislature to have funding in place for applicants 5/2/22 forward and forever to come.

As I close out my tenure with OCP, it’s worth sharing that during my ten years in the legislature, including six as Human Services Chair and an additional four as a lobbyist, I never came across a more honest and devoted individual than Samantha. Actually, it’s not even close! That’s what makes Samantha Galloway so effective; today’s legislators know it as well. In Human Services, she understands what needs to be done to get things done, even better, she knows how to navigate the slippery slope of politics to successfully cross the finish line. The end and exciting result is that Oklahoma Community Providers is in great hands. The future is bright. The new era begins February 1st.

12/05/2022

This Week: DDS Launches Regional Meetings for Families Coming off Waitlist
The PossABLE initiative helps families transition and connect with resources launches and this exciting series of meetings launches this week! DDS will have 6 events across the state between Dec. 5 and Dec. 14, and we still have openings for families to RSVP for the events in each host city. We would appreciate providers sharing our press release with your networks, email lists and on social media to help us get the word out and get families signed up for this new opportunity. RSVP options and contact information are provided in the attached link.

DDS Launches Regional Meetings for Families Coming off Waitlist PossABLE initiative helps families transition and connect with resources

11/17/2022

Good read for all Sooner Fans and those who say they are.

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10/20/2022

Congratulations to Chairman Kevin Wallace for receiving the Oklahoma Community Provider Strong and Steady Award. Thank you Chairman Wallace for all of your hard work on behalf of the developmentally disabled. Pictured is OCP Executive Director Pat Ownbey, DHS Interim Director Samantha Galloway, Chairman Kevin Wallace and OCP President Aaron Brown.

09/08/2022

Making a difference in the lives of so many amazing people!

South Central Industries is providing employment opportunities for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities.

08/02/2022

Samantha Galloway has been named the interim Director of the OKDHS following the announcement that Justin Brown, who served as agency director since June of 2019, will step down from his role effective Aug. 19.

In this interim season, Galloway will continue to refine and institutionalize all transformative initiatives that are already in progress.

Read full release here:
https://oklahoma.gov//okdhs/newsroom/2022/august/comm08022022.html

07/20/2022

What an amazing legislative year which included funding to eliminate the Waiting List as well as a 25% Provider Rate Increase. OCP honored these leaders for their work on these important issues: Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson, Senate President Pro-Tem Greg Treat, Senate Health and Human Services Chair Paul Rosino and House Human Services Sub-Committee Chair Mark Lawson. Other Award Winners include House Appropriations Chair Kevin Wallace and former Health and Human Services Chairman Frank Simpson.

05/31/2022

Government CAN do hard things when we anchor the work we do in our True North, serving the public, especially our most vulnerable neighbors. The OK Department of Human Services has operated the Developmental Disability Waiting List for decades.

That wait is now about 13 years long. We at Oklahoma Human Services laid out a bold vision to eliminate the waitlist, and the end of the legislative session last week saw Governor Stitt and the legislature plant a flag in the ground, on behalf of Oklahomans with Developmental Disabilities.

$32.5MM state dollars were appropriated, which allows for a total investment, including federal match, of $174MM to fully fund the DDS waitlist and provide a rate increase for partners to hire the teams necessary to serve.

This is transformative for Oklahomans and a real accomplishment for our state. This is another example that government CAN do hard things, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to partner with the legislature and our Governor to serve those in need in Oklahoma.

The complex strategy required deep work from a wonderfully committed team in the DDS division. They are passionate heroes that deserve recognition. Many Oklahomans don't have the chance to witness a very talented and mission focused state workforce in action.

05/28/2022

Samantha Graham Galloway shares:

It’s done and now we celebrate!

We made a bold commitment in 2019 that our priority was to eliminate a 13 year wait for services for 5,000 plus Oklahomans with developmental disabilities and their families. This has been a decades long issue in Oklahoma that most thought was impossible to fully solution in five years, much less in any single budget year. We have worked diligently every single day since and have never taken our eye off of the goal, to end the wait and for people to be well served.

Yesterday, the bills sent to Governor Stitt by the House and Senate that made this bold plan a reality for Oklahoma families crossed the finish line. We owe a true debt of gratitude that will never be able to be fulfilled adequately to:

Greg Treat
Roger Thompson
Frank Simpson
Paul Rosino
Kevin Wallace
Mark Lawson

We also celebrate all members of the legislature that voted yes to provide a dignified and inclusive life for people with developmental disabilities in communities all across Oklahoma.

So much work lies ahead to accomplish the mission of working through the list in chronological order, determining eligibility and connecting people with services. BUT, today we celebrate a HUGE milestone.

The amazing OKDHS team that lead the way and laid an amazing foundation over the past three years include, but are certainly not limited to:

Justin Brown
Cathy Menefee
Beth Scrutchins
Amy Baustert
Sheila Bowen
Mark Lewis
Debbie Moneypenny
Ray Hester

It’s important to acknowledge that many others have given their careers to service of people with developmental disabilities. Our beloved Jim Nicholson taught us all, and certainly me, to be bold and push hard for what is good and right.

None of this is possible without an amazing community of providers. Providers have served people incredibly well during many fiscally lean years including the uncertainty created by a global pandemic. We sincerely thank them for an unwavering commitment to our people. It’s been an honor to advocate along side providers and Pat Ownbey for a 25% rate increase that will help recruit and retain a direct care workforce and continue to be the backbone of the service delivery system that thousands of Oklahomans depend on to lead safe and full lives outside of institutions.

It’s an amazing day for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities, their families and the people who have dedicated their lives to serving.

I truly could not be one single ounce prouder of this accomplishment and all the people who have and will make it possible. This is the Oklahoma Standard. 💚💚💚💚

05/18/2022

Oklahoma Community Based Providers say Thank You Representatives Wallace & Lawson!