| April 30, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
With just weeks
remaining in this year’s legislative session, conference committees
will soon begin to meet as we attempt to reach compromise on legislation.
Budget negotiations have begun in earnest, as legislative leaders and
Gov. Mary Fallin must reach an agreement in principal on the state’s
fiscal year 2012 budget prior to the Legislature’s planned May
25 sine die adjournment.
I’m pleased
to have been named to serve as a member of the General Conference Committee
on Appropriations and look forward to working with my fellow legislators
to craft a responsible, balanced budget within the next month.
In other news, May
is Foster Care Appreciation Month. Relative to the size of our population,
Oklahoma has a high number of foster children. Tragically, there are
not enough healthy, stable foster homes in the state. Worse yet, this
inequity doesn’t account for the many children in out-of-home placements
because they require a higher level of care.
Living in a stable
home is important to a child’s well-being and prospects for future
success. The prospect of a foster child becoming a successful, productive
citizen is significantly jeopardized if they lack a stable environment
and support structure.
If you’re
able to consider the responsibility of caring for a foster child, I
hope you will call the Department of Human Services and request further
information. The program represents an opportunity to positively impact
a child’s life, while enriching your own. It can be an extraordinary
gift for a child.
If you cannot take
a child into your home, there are numerous opportunities to help. Most
foster children are in need of clothing, shoes, schools supplies, and
other necessities. If you’re interested in helping children in
your area, you can donate items to your local DHS office. You can also
make donations to the Foster Care Association of Oklahoma (FCAO), which
helps raise funds to support Oklahoma’s foster families and children.
This is a 501(c) 3 organization, so all cash contributions are tax deductible.
Last year, I co-authored
a proposal creating a Task Force to examine the state’s foster
care system. As a result of the Task Force’s recommendations, legislation
is currently advancing at the state Capitol to significantly reform
the state’s foster care system and give foster children better,
more stable environments.
The importance of
recruiting and retaining good foster parents cannot be overstated.
Please feel free
to contact me at the state Capitol by calling (405) 521-5566 or by email
at brinkley@oksenate.gov.
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