A fun way to get the word out

By Barry Porterfield
Staff Writer

May 05, 2008 09:29 am

— Providing answers to important questions for some while also making it fun is the idea behind a resource fair planned for later this week in Pauls Valley.
It’s the Garvin/McClain County Department of Human Services that plans to bring out fun stuff like free hot dogs and drinks and activities for the kids while providing useful information on a variety of community related programs.
The fair is scheduled to go from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 9 at the pavilion in Wacker Park. In case of rain the event would move to old gym in the park.
County director Pat Bain said this is DHS’ first ever resource fair here, which is being held the same week as the period set aside to officially recognize state employees.
“This is something we decided to do this year. It’s the first time we’ve done this,” Bain said.
“We wanted to get information out to the public on our programs and at the same time possibly recruit employees,” she said.
“We also wanted to make it fun and get the opportunity to visit with the community.”
The fun part comes from a kind of carnival atmosphere with such activities as face painting, balloons and a moon bounce for the kids.
Then there’s the resource part of the fair as all kinds of information will be available about the services available from the DHS, county health department and Delta Community Action.
Some examples of the things the public can learn more about is how to apply for food stamps and medical care, child care assistance, home health assistance (Advantage Program), Temporary aid to needy families (TANF), Liheap (Low income energy assistance), family planning waivers, RX Oklahoma and Delta Transit and health department programs like WIC and those for breast and cervical cancer.
There will also be staff on hand to offer more detailed information when needed.
“Plenty of people representing various agencies will be there to explain things,” Bain said.
“They will explain how to recognize and report child neglect or abuse, how to recognize and report adult neglect or abuse, how to obtain a license to care for children in your home, how to become a foster parent, how to apply to be an adoptive parent and even how to apply for a job with the state of Oklahoma.”
For more information, call 405-238-6461.