Reviewed Content on April 2, 2024
Within this article are the OKDHS / CSS “big picture”, human aspect contributions, culture, and missions.
The Big Picture
Some years ago, the University of Oklahoma surveyed a number of people about their perception of the Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS). Their findings were surprising on a couple different levels. They found that Oklahomans generally do not have a bad perception of OKDHS; rather they don’t know what we do.
That same is often true of our own employees; we don’t know what we do. We don’t get “the big picture.” To have a better understanding of the significant role you play, it’s important that you understand all of the different ways we help individuals and families in need have safer, healthier, more independent and productive lives.
Here is a glimpse of the programs and services we offer: OKDHS Programs and Services
Contributing to More Than Just a Job
Every day you work, you have the opportunity to contribute to the human aspect of OKDHS. You will touch lives through your role. You will be helping people who are vulnerable and experiencing difficult life circumstances.
We challenge you to look deeper at the opportunity you have in making a difference in the lives of other human beings — both individuals and families. You are not just part of an agency. You are a part of a mission!
“We help individuals and families in need help themselves lead safer, healthier, more independent and productive lives.”
The responsibilities you perform in your position — no matter what division, job classification or level it may be – greatly impacts our mission. Whether your role requires you to deal directly with our clients or support those who do, you are important. The reward for your contributions as a member of OKDHS goes beyond your salary.
First, we understand that you need to be able to live well and be able to take care of yourself and your family. On Workday, you can see an estimate of your total compensation. Your longevity, benefit allowance, annual and sick leave and the amount that OKDHS contributes to your defined-benefit retirement plan are all part of your total compensation. On occasion, an employee has left OKDHS for a job with a higher salary, only to find that their paycheck is less because a greater percentage of that salary is required to pay for their benefits and retirement account. See the CS Quest article What You Need to Know about OKDHS.
In addition, the knowledge, skills and experience you gain from performing well in your current position will allow you to access the vast wealth of resources and opportunities available for your career growth in OKDHS. Do not be deceived by the fact that we are a state government agency. OKDHS has approximately 6,200 dedicated staff throughout the state of Oklahoma. OKDHS is a big bureaucracy tasked with some of the most vital responsibilities to ensure the safety and basic needs of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable residents. Our organization is as vast, multi-dimensional and fiscally-driven as any of the Fortune 500 companies; however, we place our emphasis on human services rather than profit.
Getting Onboard with OKDHS and CSS
Welcome to OKDHS and CSS. We are delighted to have you as a member of our team and want to make your transition as smooth as possible. The work you’ll be doing has great meaning for our fellow Oklahomans and we hope your career will bring meaning to your life as well.
In these first days, as you’re trying to remember all of the new faces, places and names, there is one thing we don’t want you to forget:
You are OKDHS / CSS.
You are what people see when they step into one of our offices, or you step into their homes.
Yours are the eyes they look into when they are in crisis.
Yours are the comments people hear when they can’t think.
Yours is the intelligence and caring that people hope they’ll find when they need our help.
If you’re rude, so is OKDHS / CSS.
If you’re apathetic, so is OKDHS/ CSS.
And if you’re wonderful, so is OKDHS / CSS.
We know that you want to succeed. We want you to succeed as well. We have a stake in your attitude, and in the collective attitudes of everyone who works at OKDHS. We are judged by your performance. We are the professionalism you give, the attention you pay and the courtesies you extend.
Onboarding is the term for those things we do to welcome, orient, and engage new employees in our culture over the course of their first year with OKDHS / CSS. Certainly, it’s important to complete all of the initial paperwork so that you can be paid on time and select the benefits package that fits your situation. But in the long run, it’s much more important that you learn about our culture, and how you can become an important part of a team whose work supports the DHS mission and exhibits our values.
Again, welcome to OKDHS. Together, we can build an engaged workforce of Oklahomans helping Oklahomans.
Welcome to “We!”
Congratulations on becoming part of our “we.” No matter which office you’re in, what position you hold, or what work you’ll be doing, you are now “we,” – more than 6,000 individuals bound together by 17 words:
“We help individuals and families in need help themselves lead safer, healthier, more independent and productive lives.”
We know for a while, you’re going to feel like “we” is “they” or “them.” That’s OK. When we first came, we didn’t understand the lingo, the rules, or the culture either. You may want to review CSS Onboarding Process and other CSS CSQuest articles about onboarding. Beginning on day one, we want you to feel you are a part of us. From this time forward, even if your career someday takes you elsewhere, your work and the experiences you’ll have doing your work will bind you to “we.” We are OKDHS Child Support Services, and we’re glad you’re here.
Child Support Services are bound together not just with the OKDHS mission but with our own words:
“Our mission at Child Support Services is to promote healthy families by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing reliable support while encouraging self-sufficiency and strengthening relationships. We are an innovative team dedicated to improving the lives of children and families
through our core values of caring, fairness, honesty, integrity, respect, and trust. As a respected partner in the community,
we are the first choice for families seeking quality support services.”
Conclusion…but only the beginning
Chief Executive leaders are dedicated to meeting our customers where they are and serve them with dignity – and to empower our workforce to make innovative decisions to remove barriers to services through collaborative efforts with partners and stakeholders across Oklahoma.
You may want to review a few CSQuest articles:
- Being Your Authentic Self
- How Emotionally Intelligent are You?—Boosting Your People Skills,
- Resiliency—Overcoming and Bouncing Back
- Just BREATHE
The accuracy of this CS Quest Article is up to date as of 4/2/2024.