Getting

1
Getting Keeping People at the Table
Vyonda G. Martin, M.A. Center for Learning and
Leadership Oklahoma UCEDD University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center
2
Oklahoma Demographics

• The name "Oklahoma" comes from the Choctaw words
  "okla" meaning people and "humma" meaning red.
• We are celebrating our 100th birthday this year!
  Oklahoma became the 46th state in the Union on
  November 16, 1907.
• Oklahoma is about 69,000 square miles in area.
• Our population is about 3.5 million, which is
  approximately 50 people per square mile.
• Oklahoma includes 39 federally recognized Indian
  tribes, which are sovereign nations, and is home
  to over 67 different tribes.

3
Oklahoma Population

• American Indian 8.1
• White/Caucasian 78.5
• African-American 7.7
• Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 1.6
• Hispanic/Latino 4 - 6
• Two or more races 6
• This places Oklahoma third in the nation, behind
  Hawaii
• And Alaska, in people who list themselves as
  members
• of more than one race.

4
Oklahoma Demographics

• About 12.8 of Oklahoma families live below the
  federal poverty level. while across the nation
  9.8 of the countrys families live in poverty.
• About 1.3 million live in rural areas and about
  2.2 million in urban or suburban area.
• Two major population areas - Oklahoma City and
  Tulsa

5
Oklahoma History

• 1820s Five Civilized Tribes from southeastern
  U.S. were relocated to Oklahoma Indian Territory
  - Cherokee Trail of Tears.
• Between 1866 and 1889 cattle ranches and
  railroads came to Oklahoma
• Between 1889 and 1895 six land runs were held by
  the US government Boomers and Sooners! 
• Late 1800s U.S. government forced the tribes to
  give up their communal lands and accept
  individual property allotments. 

6
Oklahoma History

• African Americans
• Pamphlets promising a black paradise in
  Oklahoma lured tens of thousands of former slaves
  from the South. 
• Eventually 27 black towns grew to encompass 10
  percent of Indian Territory.
• By statehood in 1907, African Americans
  outnumbered both Native Americans and first- and
  second-generation Europeans.
• Depression caused loss of farms and livelihood
  resulting in Northern relocation

7
Barriers to Reaching Out

• No Trust/Credibility
• History of being done to
• Broken promises
• Government punishes or takes away
• Poverty
• Focus on survival and day-to-day existence
• No time or means to be involved
• Not able to connect to future benefits
• Language
• Access to material in native language
• Frame of reference for the information

8
Less Effective Strategies

• Presenting at conferences
• Bringing our agenda to a group
• Funding singular projects
• Diverse faculty or staff who are not connected to
  the community
• Partnerships that did not sustain

9
More Effective Strategies

• Partnering
• Linking Needs
• Being Invisible
• Mentoring
• Relationships/Personal Connections
• Family Leaders
• Family Support Principles

10
Building Trust

• Show respect and listen
• Families talk to families
• Learn what they consider important
• Find partners who are already connected
• Find opportunities to support what is working
• OK Mamas

11
The Family Discipline

• Family Expertise and Experience
• The Family Discipline
• that body of knowledge about the child/family
  member with a disability, that is inherent to the
  family, acquired by life experience and affected
  by culture and community.
• - Center for Learning and Leadership

12
Oklahoma Individual and Family Support Principles

• are guiding truths that shape the way
  individuals, families and service providers
  interact
• establish common ground upon which individuals,
  families, advocates and service providers operate
• form the basis for program policy and practice.
• WHEN WE ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WE
  WILL
• HONOR THEIR EXPERTISE and right to make choices
  that they know to be in their own best interest
• RESPECT AND ACCEPT THEIR VALUES that are based in
  personal preferences, cultural beliefs and
  life-ways
• SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS that
  are safe, stable and long lasting
• FOCUS ON THE ENTIRE FAMILY as it is defined by
  the family
• PROMOTE FLEXIBLE SERVICE AND FUNDING supporting
  individual and family control over who, what,
  when, where and how supports are provided
• AFFIRM LIFESPAN PLANNING AND SELF-DETERMINATION
  that encourages decision-making and planning for
  independence beginning within the family when
  children are young, following the individual
  throughout their life and including aging issues
• ASSURE PARTNERSHIPS WHICH ACTIVELY INCLUDE
  INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES in planning,
  development, implementation and evaluation of
  policies, practices and personal programs

13
Consumer Advisory Committee

• Members are people who participate in other
  projects, activities and advisory groups of the
  UCEDD
• Members have multiple layers of interface with
  staff and faculty so trust is established
• People First members have contractual agreement
• Members are provided with individual support
• Material are translated and provided in
  accessible formats

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Consumer Advisory Committee - Race
Hispanic/Other3
Native American6
African American6
Anglo 85
15
Consumer Advisory Committee - Role
Advocates10
Higher Education 22
Self-Advocate22
Policy Maker 7
Service Provider 2
Family Member37
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• For more information please contact
• Vyonda G. Martin, M.A.
• Center for Learning and Leadership/UCEDD
• University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
• College of Medicine
• P.O. Box 26901, ROB 342
• Oklahoma City, OK 73126
• Toll Free 800.627.6827
• 405.271.4500, ext. 41005
• vyonda-martin_at_ouhsc.edu