Olivia Turner is a proud resident of Santa Fe Place in Moore. Santa Fe Place is an intermediate care facility that provides services to Oklahoman’s with intellectual disabilities. Thanks to their services, Turner has learned valuable life skills.
"I’ve learned how to manage money better. Still working on it, but I’ve learned how to cook. I do still have to have a little bit of help with that though, but the staff are really great. They really do help me out.” Turner said.
Jessica Smith, Quality Assurance Dir., Santa Fe Place says, "We have three homes for adults with intellectual disabilities and each home has 16 beds. What we do here is we help them with their everyday life, so that they can learn to become more independent and they can do it on their own. So, we help guide them through those decisions and we help give them training on how to do those things safely and efficiently.”
All of that could change after COVID-19 relief funding ends this summer. Care Providers Oklahoma CEO, Steven Buck says, "During the pandemic the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority gave additional COVID-19 relief funds to nursing homes and IFCs.
"Those supplemental payments were extremely meaningful and have allowed facilities to keep up with the pace of inflation that has occurred since COVID-19. I can't tell you where we would be had those things had not been in place. They’ve been extraordinarily helpful,” Buck says.
Now, facilities like Santa Fe Place are hoping state lawmakers will step in before funding runs out in June.
"I’ll be very candid with you, if the legislature isn't able address the funding gap, then the result when those payments go away is that we will lose access to care in buildings across the state," Buck says.
Jessica Smith says facilities like Santa Fe Place are funded through Medicaid instead of the Department of Human Services.
“The hardest part right now for IFCs is that we already are the lowest paid providers in Oklahoma. So, receiving that additional COVID-19 funding was really the only way we could keep staff going. Whenever that goes away, it's going to be very difficult to try and compete and keep staffing because we can't compete with other types of providers if we can't get some help with the funding.” Smith says.
"In 2019, the legislature did something very bold with what was senate bill 280 and it fundamentally set the course for funding within nursing homes," Buck says, "So, unlike a hospital that might be able to change the prices in these spaces, we're dependent on what the government pays us to provide this care and because of that, we have to have this conversation about raising the rate at the Capitol."
The funding shortage could interrupt the lives of those living in places like Santa Fe Place. They enjoy opportunities to work and volunteer just like any other Oklahoman. The Santa Fe Place's Aktion Club was first created with the Moore Kiwanis in 2015, to find the residents opportunities to help their community.
"So, Aktion Club is, it is a service leadership project through Kiwanis. It is the only service leadership project for adults with disabilities in the world. We are currently the only action club in Oklahoma.” Smith says.
Members of the Aktion Club get to have a positive impact and they hope the possible funding shortfall doesn't stop that.
"We do a lot of volunteering. So, like we help clean Fresh Start or the Evans parking lot. We help with Bella Place, an animal shelter place that we help clean up. So, we do a lot of cleaning." Turner says.
"And what it does is it teaches them their value and it takes away that sense of victimhood or that sense of needing so much sympathy, and gives them another step in there, in their adventure forward.” Smith says.
Aktion Club members are known for their bright orange shirts and smiling faces. "Every time they come in it’s with a smile on their face and they ask what more can they do and they work together as a team. They are unified and their heart is in it. Everything they do, they do with joy and excellence." says Brian Marlett, Pastor at Fresh Start.
On Tuesday, Santa Fe Place hosted the Kudos to Aktion Award Ceremony. The organizations that Aktion Club helped came to show their appreciation to club members.
“They don't know how much they pour into us. We would not be in the place that we are if it we did not have a connection with the Aktion Club,” says Jane Elkin-Baker, Jordan’s Crossing.
"You guys are changing the minds, you guys are changing the heart, you guys are making the impact because you're not saying 'I can't do this. I can't do that.' You guys are taking it by the reigns and making a difference in your community." Says Patrick McCage, Kiwanis
Turner says it's rewarding to give back to her community.
“The fact that everybody was like really appreciative of us because knowing that just like it puts a smile on my face and I’m sure it does to the others.” Turner says.
During her time as at Santa Fe Place, Turner says she's gained independence and life-long.
"I love the freedom where we get to do pretty much anything we want to do. I live in a girls house, so all the girls and I get along for the most part. So, we, you know, help each other. We have lots of fun.” Turner says.
Smith says she will continue advocating for her residents and encourages others to speak with lawmakers.
“Unfortunately, you know, ICFs don't have a lot of money for lobbyists and we don't have a lot of money for those things like DHS does. So, we don't get a lot of the attention. Right now, a lot of it is trying to just talk ourselves to legislators and trying to educate families and trying to get in the community as much as possible," Smith says.