Bill to protect foster parents signed by Fallin

Senate Bill 1793 by Sen. A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie, and Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, allows the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth to provide training programs regarding child abuse and multi-disciplinary teams that were previously administered by the Child Abuse Training and Coordination Council, which was abolished by HB 1467 in 2013. Engrossed SB 1793 allows the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth to provide training programs regarding child abuse and multi-disciplinary teams that were previously administered by the Child Abuse Training and Coordination Council.

SB 1793 also gives the Office of Juvenile System Oversight within the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth the responsibility to investigate allegations that a DHS employee retaliated against a foster parent for filing a grievance or making a complaint against the Department. The Office of Client Advocacy within DHS will retain responsibility for investigating allegations of retaliation made by relative kinship foster parents against the Department.

Link to legislation: http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1793

DHS concludes Quinten Wood investigation

Initiates disciplinary actions, efforts to improve collaboration of services

Ed Lake
Director of OKDHS

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) has completed its internal investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Quinten Wood, a 15-year-old boy with disabilities who died in his home over a year ago from complications of pneumonia.  While the criminal investigation is ongoing and the agency’s child death summary is pending, DHS is taking actions based upon the information obtained through the internal investigation. 

“Quinten’s death has been heart-wrenching for all of us at DHS and our deepest sympathies go out to his sister, Valerie Wood-Harber, and his brother,” said Ed Lake, DHS Director. “Ms. Wood-Harber deserves full credit and our appreciation for pushing the system--our agency, law enforcement, the school, and health care officials--to investigate the circumstances that led to Quinten’s death.

Ms. Wood-Harber refused to let her brother’s death be accepted as something unpreventable that occurred as a result of his disability,” said Lake.  “Had it not been for her advocacy and persistence, the truth about what Quinten and his brother endured might never have been fully investigated. We hope that through discovery of the facts and the actions we are taking, they will have some peace going forward.”

Quinten’s death should not be in vain,” said Lake. “Just as we have done, we encourage every entity involved in this case to evaluate its response to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may be vulnerable to abuse and neglect. DHS has an important role to play in the child protection system, but not the only role.”

Upon reviewing child death cases, the agency takes into account all of the facts and the full context of cases, including the responsibility and the involvement of staff members. 

“This agency will not rush to blame or scapegoat front-line staff when the facts show they have performed appropriately and have acted in good faith.  We will not punish staff for system failures that are beyond their ability to control,” said Lake.

“Unfortunately in this case, a thorough and comprehensive review of the facts and circumstances of Quinten’s death led us to the difficult and sad conclusion that the individual actions of two employees associated with this case clearly violated agency policies and reasonable child protection practices,” Lake said. “Based upon the information that has been obtained, the decision has been made to initiate steps to terminate those employees.”

“Despite this instance, we have confidence in our child welfare workforce,” said Lake. “Child protection is anxious work.  Our workers are making life and death decisions every day under tremendous pressure never to err. Given the nature of our work, the fragility of the families we serve, and daunting caseloads, we know that tragedies may occur despite our best efforts.  When our people are acting in good faith, doing everything they know to do, this agency should and will support them when that occurs.” 

“I want to express special thanks to Kathryn Brewer, the Advocate General over the Office of Client Advocacy, for her untiring and passionate work on this case. Ms. Brewer deserves great credit for leading this internal investigation, collaborating with the family and law enforcement, not stopping until every stone had been turned in pursuit of the facts.” 

Through this investigation, DHS has also identified areas within its own organization that the agency will strengthen to improve child protection, particularly when it becomes involved in cases with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 


Some of these efforts include improving collaboration between its Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) and Child Welfare Services (CWS), beginning with child protective investigations and continuing through permanency planning for children in the foster care system. CWS is updating child welfare worker training to include more specific information about children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and services available. Also, DDS and CWS will work together to recruit families who have the desire to provide care for children with severe disabilities who enter the foster care system. 

Legislation Would Empower Parents in Crisis

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation unveiled today would empower parents who are in crisis to find a home for their children without the involvement of the Department of Human Services, according to the bill’s author.

House Bill 2536, by state Rep. Jason Nelson, would create a legal power of attorney for parents to use when placing their children with a host family. The legislation also modifies existing child placing licensure laws to ensure that the laws don’t frustrate or prohibit the work of private groups and host families who are caring for the child of a parent in crisis.

“Many people may see this as a radical concept and it is unfortunate that we live in a day when such a common-sense approach comes across as radical,” said Nelson, R-Oklahoma City. “The assumptions that underpin this approach are that parents love their children and are capable of making major decisions on behalf of their children even in the midst of a family crisis.”

Even as reforms and additional resources are put in place at DHS the number of children coming into state custody continues at an alarming and unsustainable pace, Nelson said.

In 2009, a research report that examined Oklahoma’s foster care system recommended that the state seek partnerships with the faith community in meeting the need for foster homes. The Count Me In 4 Kids collaborative is ready to take this a step further by working with the faith community to help families in crisis get back on their feet and avoid the circumstances that lead to DHS involvement.

“Many of us from the Count Me In 4 Kids collaborative are excited to be here today as our state moves forward in helping many more compassionate and caring Oklahomans step up to love and nurture some of our most vulnerable children,” Lynn Institute President Karen Waddell said. “We are committed to bringing the Safe Families model to Oklahoma out of our shared belief that every child deserves to have a safe place to call home and celebrate this next important step.

“Over the past year, it’s been amazing to watch over 50 organizations set aside their individual agendas, instead working collaboratively to find a way to reduce the number of children in foster care.  We are on mission together and over the coming months we’ll be creating even more ways for Oklahomans to stand up and say, count me in for our state’s children. The answer to the problem lies in all of us working together.”

Nelson said he is confident in the ability of Count Me In 4 Kids to help with child welfare challenges in Oklahoma.

“I have confidence in this effort because of the dedicated and seasoned coalition, Count Me In 4 Kids, that is taking on this challenge,” Nelson said. “And I’ve heard from many churches and church leaders that they want to help meet the needs of vulnerable families. This effort brings a proven approach to our state that facilitates this partnership with private nonprofits and the faith community. That’s why I’m excited to run House Bill 2536 that opens the door in our state to this effort.”

DHS Director Ed Lake said he supports the legislation.

“We are delighted that these efforts are being made to prepare the way for Safe Families to come to Oklahoma,” Lake said. “This has proven to be an effective model in 25 other states offering options to people in crisis before the state has to become involved.  We appreciate all efforts that help vulnerable Oklahoma families work through challenges and ensure children are safe and well cared for in the process.  Government agencies cannot do this work alone which is why we welcome the support of communities, faith groups, and organizations whose goals are to better the lives of the children in this state.” 

For more information on Count Me In 4 Kids and ultimately Safe Families, visit www.CountMeIn4Kids.org.

Ownbey, Nelson Bill Would Aid Foster Care Parents



OKLAHOMA CITY – Helping foster parents will help children in Oklahoma, said state Rep. Pat Ownbey today about a new bill to create a foster parent mediation program.



“After conducting a study where we talked to foster parents about their experience in the child welfare system, it became clear that foster parents need a third party to help them resolve conflicts that occasionally arise between child welfare workers and foster parents,” said Ownbey, R-Ardmore. “DHS on the whole does an excellent job of partnering with foster parents, but the current system provides little recourse for foster parents when a conflict does arise, because there is not a mediator to help resolve conflicts. My proposal is to designate a third party to mediate these conflicts.”



House Bill 2588 would create procedures for mediating and addressing grievances by foster care parents that would be overseen by the Oklahoma Commission of Children and Youth Office of Juvenile System Oversight.



The legislation would give foster parents the right “without fear or reprisal” to present grievances with respect to providing foster care services.



“Foster care parents came to us with a real problem that will improve their ability to help children and encourage more foster care parents to join the child welfare system,” Ownbey said.

OKDHS Response to 1st Co-Neutral Commentary

Statement from OKDHS -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services appreciates the Co-Neutrals’ recognition of the progress our agency has made during the first year of implementing the Pinnacle Plan. This includes the reorganization of Child Welfare Services to achieve sustained progress, greater accountability and transparency, as well as more effective and efficient communication and performance. The new management team assembled within Child Welfare Services ensures new and current workers will have the necessary leadership and supervisory guidance to carry out their child welfare responsibilities. 

Co-Neutral Commentary One, Issued October 24, 2013

Another main point of progress was the integration of the Office of Client Advocacy and Child Protective Services investigation protocols, standards and reporting systems. This change will provide us with consistent child abuse and neglect data in both family homes and settings where children are placed in congregate care such as group homes and residential treatment facilities. 

We believe we have in fact made a lot of progress in just one year’s time. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon. We acknowledge that we have not yet met every target, however, we are totally committed to making the necessary improvements to our system that everyone wants. We fully expect to meet the Pinnacle Plan goals over the next four years. 

DHS greatly appreciates the Governor’s and the Legislature’s strong support of our work and in securing $57 million in additional funding to assist DHS in meeting our obligations under the settlement agreement. 

We wholeheartedly agree with the co-neutrals this is an iterative process to establish baselines and targets for DHS to report progress with Pinnacle Plan initiatives. This will be an ongoing process for some metrics due to the realization that further clarification is needed about the data which could not have been predicted when the Metrics Plan was agreed upon. For example, the public reporting requires DHS to post data each month prior to the co-neutral’s validation process. The validation process may result in additional changes in previously reported data, future targets and measures. Both parties are continuously working on the data and what the data means. 

Ongoing review of the data may often result in revised measurements. Another example of a changing data set is the foster home recruitment goal. DHS, in good faith, recruited and approved in excess of the target number of foster homes as defined in the baselines and metrics both parties agreed to previously. Only after further reflection on the data did the issue of how long the approved homes would be open without children being placed become a factor in determining the counting of such homes towards the target. 

“[T]he Co-Neutrals will judge good faith from the activities and decisions of the state, and not just its intention to do better or improve,” and “will not draw any conclusions with regard to DHS’ good faith efforts until their next report to be released in the first half of 2014.” -- From the Co-Neutral Commentary

Obviously, DHS needs a sufficient number of active foster homes to care for the children coming into state care. To recruit homes that are never used would be a waste of resources. 

DHS committed in the Pinnacle Plan to build a pool of homes and create a matching process whereby children would be placed with the best foster home and avoid multiple moves. To have a successful matching process, DHS will need a wide variety of homes across the state in which to place children together with their siblings, in their home communities and in their same schools. In a statewide system such as this, it stands to reason that some of the homes may not have children placed in them for a period of time. 

We understand further discussion of the metrics in this data set is warranted in light of these circumstances and additional consideration given to the goal of a statewide matching process. We are committed to continuing our work with the co-neutrals to further refine data collections and definitions, and to ensure accuracy and consistency in our data reporting. We appreciate the expertise and the guidance offered by the co-neutrals as we work together to develop the measurements of our progress.

The seven performance categories measured:

• Maltreatment (abuse and neglect) of children in the state’s legal custody; 

• Development of foster homes and therapeutic treatment foster homes (TFCs); 

• Regular and consistent visitation of caseworkers with children in the state’s legal custody; 

• Reduction in the number of children in shelters; 

• Placement stability, reducing the number of moves a child experiences while in the state’s legal custody; 

• Child permanency, primarily through reunification, adoption or permanent guardianship; and, 

• Manageable caseloads for child welfare staff. 

DHS seeking agencies to help with backlog of case reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is asking for

proposals from qualified vendors to help resolve past due Child Protective Services (CPS) case reports. As of September 9, 2013, approximately 3,100 CPS case reports were backlogged, meaning the case is pending after 60 days. In these cases, an investigation was conducted, the children interviewed and an initial safety decision was made by CPS staff; however, the case has not been documented in the child welfare system and closed according to DHS policy. DHS is working aggressively to address the backlog using a variety of approaches, but there will likely be around 2,000 past due cases still requiring closure.

“This backlog is the direct result of the sharp growth in the number of children in our custody combined with the lag time it takes to hire, train and deploy the many new caseworker positions we began filling at the start of the calendar year,” said DHS Director Ed Lake. “Our efforts to reduce what is essentially a paperwork backlog are taking significant time and resources away from child safety, foster care and permanency planning priorities.”

Approximately 65,000 allegations of possible abuse and neglect are received each year by the DHS Abuse and Neglect Hotline. Approximately half of the reports are accepted for investigation with abuse and neglect found in around 20 percent of the cases. A significant number of children are found to be in immediate danger and must be placed in the foster care system. Many other families are offered services to remain together and the cases closed without need for further intervention. Documentation of all investigations is critical in the event any future reports are made which could indicate a pattern of problems within the family.

DHS is looking to partner with successful vendors to close all backlog cases by January 31, 2014. DHS will provide training to vendors on Oklahoma State Statutes regarding child abuse investigations, CPS policy and procedures, best practices related to child abuse investigations and documentation in the child welfare system.

Interested vendors can view the request for proposals and qualifications posted on the Office of Management and Enterprise Services Central Purchasing Division website at https://www.ok.gov/dcs/solicit/app/viewAttachment.php?attachmentID=58857.

A bidders’ conference will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 in the Sequoyah Auditorium, 2400 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City.

First DHS Joint Citizens Advisory Panel Meeting Scheduled Today

OKLAHOMA CITY --The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Joint Citizens Advisory Panel will hold its first meeting Wednesday, August 14, at the Credit Union House, 631 East Hill Street in Oklahoma City, beginning at 10 a.m.

House Bill 3137 from 2012 established four citizen advisory panels in the areas of administration, aging issues, children and family issues, and disability issues.

They will serve to provide advice, information, findings and analysis to the Director regarding policies and practices of DHS and their impact on outcomes. The panels will study and make recommendations to the Director regarding the management and operation of DHS, and will also offer recommendations for the implementation of the Pinnacle Plan.

Each advisory panel will meet at least four times a year; the entire Joint Citizens Advisory Panel will meet at least once a year.

The Human Services Commission for the DHS was abolished by the voters of Oklahoma on Nov. 6, 2012 with the passage of State Question State Question 765.

Previously, the Commission had oversight of DHS, but the passage of SQ 765 means that the Director of DHS makes all decisions for the agency and reports directly to the Governor.

The four citizen advisory panels will report to the Director and provide advice and recommendations on Administration issues, Aging issues, Children and Family issues, and Disability issues. Each advisory panel has five members, with one member on each panel appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Senate Pro Tempore, the Minority House Leader and the Minority Senate Leader.

Agenda:

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
JOINT CITIZENS ADVISORY PANEL MEETING
Aug. 14, 2013 10 a.m.
CREDIT UNION HOUSE
631 EAST HILL STREET
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

AGENDA
Call to Order and Roll Call

Welcome and Opening Comments – Ed Lake, Director

10:15 a.m. Legislative Intent of House Bill 3137 –Senator Greg Treat and Representative Jason Nelson

10:30 a.m. Co-Neutrals –Eileen Crummy, Kathleen Noonan, and Kevin Ryan

10:45 a.m. Open Meeting Act and Open Records Act – Jan Preslar, Attorney General’s Office

11:15 a.m. Finance and Administrative Services –Melissa Lange, Finance Division

11:45 a.m. - Lunch

12:15 p.m. Media Relations – Sheree Powell, Director, Communications and Community Relations

12:30 p.m. Services under the oversight and direction of Chief of Staff:
12:30 Diane Haser-Bennett, Director, Human Resource Management
12:40 Connie Schlittler, Director, Planning/Research/Statistics
12:50 Samantha Galloway, Coordinator, Intergovernmental Relations/Policy

1:00 p.m. Legal Services – Richard Freeman, Legal Services Division

1:15 p.m. Community Living and Support Services - Mark Jones, Chief Coordinating Officer, Community Living and Support Services

1:45 p.m. Adult and Family Services – Jim Struby, Director, Adult and Family Services

2:15 p.m. Child Welfare and the Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan – Deborah Smith, Director, Child Welfare Services

Adjournment

Go to http://www.okdhs.org/divisionsoffices/panel/default.htm for additional information and a complete list of scheduled meetings.

DHS Awards Foster Care Recruitment Contracts

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) has awarded contracts to private partnerships for the recruitment, support and retention of foster families.

To keep up with the rising number of children coming into the foster care system, DHS must have an adequate number of foster families. Following the settlement of a class action, civil rights lawsuit against the state's foster care system, DHS developed the Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan, a five year improvement plan. The process for selecting the new foster care providers met the requirements of the plan.  

Foster care contracts have been awarded to the following vendors:
 

• Angels Foster Family Network, Inc., Oklahoma City
• DCCCA/Tall Grass Family Services, Lawrence, Kansas
• St. Francis Community Services, Tulsa
• TFI Family Connections, LLC, Emporia, Kansas

Through partnerships with these agencies, DHS will provide seamless customer service through one point of contact for foster families during recruitment, assessment, training and on-going support. The agencies will help support families as they interact with DHS throughout the foster care approval process, during placement and care of children in their homes, and help provide an understanding of the child welfare system.

The contracts were awarded on Aug. 6, 2013 and are valid through June 30, 2014, with an option for renewal. All providers have the option to sub-contract with local child placing agencies in the retention and recruitment of foster families.

This was DHS' second attempt at a bidding process for private agencies to provide foster care recruitment and retention services. In April, DHS Director Ed Lake canceled the previously awarded contracts because of concerns over the prescriptive nature of the contracts, how the service areas were defined, and the process did not allow for provider input.

Although the previous bidding process was carried out faithfully in accordance with state purchasing rules, Director Lake believed the result of that effort would not fully achieve the goals DHS established and there were serious enough problems with the approach that it was better to restart the process than to continue on that path.

During this new solicitation process, DHS, in conjunction with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) Central Purchasing, enlisted the aid of Dr. Dean Kashiwagi and his team from the Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University, in utilizing the Performance Information Procurement System, or PIPS, to initiate three phases of the procurement process: selection, clarification, and management by risk minimization.

In the selection phase, DHS conducted a blind evaluation to rate provider capabilities, past performance, and cost, and hosted interviews with each provider to determine their expertise. In the clarification phase, DHS worked with providers who were identified as experts in foster care to develop the project scope and identify any risks to successful completion of the project. In the management phase, contract performance will be results-driven with all parties being held accountable for their respective responsibilities.

For more information about the foster care contracts, follow this link to view the award information posted on the OMES Central Purchasing website:https://www.ok.gov/dcs/solicit/app/solicitationDetail.php?solID=692.

To learn more about how to become a foster or adoptive parent, visit the DHS Bridge Family Resource Center website at okbridgefamilies.com or call 800-376-9729.

Statement by the DHS reform working group in the House of Representatives

DHS Director announces several organizational changes

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Effective August 1, 2013, several organizational changes will take place which reflect the leadership of Director Ed Lake and goals in a new agency strategic plan. 

Ronald Baze, assistant attorney general with the Office of Attorney General Scott Pruitt, has been selected as the new General Counsel. Baze will remain an employee of the OAG while serving under contract as the head of DHS Legal Services.   He will begin his duties as general counsel August 12. 

Ed Lake
Director, OKDHS

“We are breaking new ground in pioneering this relationship between DHS and the Office of Attorney General Scott Pruitt,” said Lake.  “I believe this new legal model will be mutually beneficial to our agency and the state of Oklahoma.  DHS will now have access to all of the resources the Attorney General’s office has to offer.  I was particularly impressed with Mr. Baze’s professional experiences which combined will enable him to make a great impact on our Legal Services.”

Lake has created a new position, the Director of Communications and Community Relations, and has appointed Sheree Powell, the current Coordinator of Communications, to this role.  Powell will oversee the Offices of Communications as well as Community and Faith Engagement, and Information and Referral. In addition, she will also manage Provider Relations.

“This is a move to enhance our engagement with community partners, volunteers and contract providers,” said Lake. “I heard over and over during my listening sessions and through subsequent encounters with our partners that we need to have better communication and more cooperative relationships with them.  This has emerged as a major objective in our agency’s new strategic plan and I have asked Sheree to work with all programs agency wide to improve upon and build those relationships.

“The combination of these particular offices is a natural fit since their responsibilities are so intertwined with one another. This was also a great fit for Sheree.  In addition to being an experienced communications director, she also has an extensive background managing provider relations and building community partnerships,” Lake said. 

The current functions of Finance and some Administrative Services will be moved under a new Director of Finance and Administration.  Lake has appointed David Ligon to this position.  Ligon is currently the Interim Director and former Chief of Staff with the Department of Rehabilitative Services.  Beginning with DHS August 19, Ligon will oversee all finance functions of the agency as well as Support Services and the Office of Business Quality. 

“I am excited about adding David to our DHS team,” said Lake.  “He has a 30-year history and impressive reputation for solid financial and administrative management in state government, including 18 years as a House fiscal analyst, ending as the Deputy Director.  David brings a wealth of valuable experiences that will benefit our agency.”

Director Lake has decided to move Child Care Services under the management of Jim Struby, Director of Adult and Family Services. 

“This move will benefit both Child Care Services and the work within Adult and Family Services since the two programs overlap in many areas,” said Lake.  “I believe Jim Struby and Lesli Blazer will work well together and both of their programs will benefit from this organizational relationship.” 

Adult Protective Services is being moved to Community Living and Support Services under the management of Mark Jones.  APS will be a free-standing program joining the ranks with Aging Services, Developmental Disabilities Services, and Child Support Services. 

“This move just made sense since APS serves both people who are aging and people with developmental disabilities.  Mark Jones will bring a valuable perspective to the work in APS from his previous work with the Office of Client Advocacy and his successful litigation experience with the Homeward Bound vs. the Hissom Memorial Center lawsuit,” Lake said.

Director Lake has created another new position, Chief of Staff, and is in the process of filling that position.  The Chief of Staff’s responsibilities will include management of Human Resources and the Offices of Intergovernmental Relations and Policy, and Planning, Research and Statistics.  

A new organizational chart is currently being developed to reflect these changes and will be posted to the website in the near future.

Respite Voucher Program Discussed at Developmental Disabilities Waiting List Meeting

  DDSD Respite Voucher Program Presentation at Waiting List Meeting - Jun 6, 2013, 3-58 PM

Link to the Respite Voucher Program page on the OKDHS website

Budget Hearings for Human Services Agencies Set

Oklahoma Capitol -- The House A&B Subcommittee on Human Services is set to meet on Jan. 22 from 9-5 in Room 511A of the State Capitol for pre-session Budget Performance Hearings. 

This is a joint meeting with the Senate A&B Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. 

During the morning session we will look at DHS as a whole but we have asked the agency to prepare for in-depth discussions of progress on child welfare reform, the closing of the two resource centers and the status of the developmental disabilities waiting list.

The meeting will be streamed live over the internet through the State Senate's website. 

House of Representatives

State of Oklahoma

REVISED

(To reflect change in location and start time)

January 16, 2013

TO:                                         A&B Human Services

            

SUBJECT:                             Performances Reviews

DATE:                                    January 22, 2013

TIME:                                    9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

LOCATION:                         Oklahoma State Capitol Building

                                                Room 511-A

AGENDA:                  

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.          Department of Human Services

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.          Lunch Break

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.            Office of Juvenile Affairs

                                                

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.            Department of Rehabilitation Services

                                                

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.            Commission on Children and Youth

                                                

                                                Other Business and Adjournment

CHAIR:                                  Representative Jason Nelson

VICE CHAIR:                       Representative Jadine Nollan

MEMBERS:                           Representative Pat Ownbey

                                                Representative Pam Peterson

                                                Representative Anastasia Pittman

                                                Representative Dustin Roberts

                                                Representative Wade Rousselot

OKDHS hits first major reform milestone

Oklahoma Capitol—The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) has fulfilled a New Year’s resolution, so to speak—ensuring no more children under the age of two spend the night in a shelter. The “resolution” is the first major goal in the Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan, ensuring by Dec. 31, 2012 that all children under the age of two-years-old will be placed in family-like settings.

Deborah Smith

“This was a very important goal for our state to achieve not only for the Pinnacle Plan--it’s the right thing to do for young children,” said Deborah Smith, Director of OKDHS Child Welfare Services. “I am very proud of our child welfare staff. Achieving this goal has taken a lot of teamwork and I commend everyone for their efforts.”

“OKDHS cannot do this work alone and we would like to thank all Oklahomans who have stepped up recently to become foster parents,” said Smith. “We would also like to thank all of our private partners and the faith community for helping recruit, train and support foster families.”

Since July 1, 930 new foster parents have been recruited statewide.

Exceptions to the “under two” rule are allowed for medically fragile children requiring 24-hour supervision, large sibling groups of four or more, and teen moms with infants. Overnight is defined as “being present at midnight.” If a child should enter an emergency shelter after midnight, they would not be counted in this measure until the following night. This allows staff to put the children to bed and not move them around during the night hours.

The Pinnacle Plan is a five-year improvement plan created by OKDHS and key stakeholders for the improvement of the state’s foster care system. The plan includes numerous initiatives divided into seven major categories called “Pinnacle Points.”

“Pinnacle Point 1” refers to expanding the number of foster homes available and reducing the use of shelters statewide, particularly for young children. OKDHS committed to ensuring that children are cared for in family-like settings and outlined timelines to meet these goals.

Often, children are brought to shelters after removal from their homes to receive medical treatment, assess their needs, and to provide a safe shelter while a family member or a foster home is being located. The goal was to ensure these young children were placed in a home as quickly as possible without spending the night in the shelter.

The next major timeline the agency has committed to in the Pinnacle Plan is June 30, 2013. By that date, OKDHS must ensure no child under the age of six-years-old spends the night in a shelter, and the agency must have recruited 2,000 new foster families--500 more than had been previously recruited.

Other goals OKDHS has already achieved in the Pinnacle Plan include: increasing the reimbursement rates for foster parents, increasing salaries for child welfare workers, and restructuring the Child Welfare Division.

For those interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please contact the Bridge Family Resource Center at www.okbridgefamilies.com or call 1-800-376-9729. Those interested in a career as a Child Welfare Specialist should go to the OKDHS website and look under “Careers.”

Update 2: Charges Filed Against 2 Former DHS Workers in Serenity Deal Case

I will be posting more information as I get it ...

(Updated 11-9-12 at 8:00 p.m.)

Statement from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services reference misdemeanor charges filed against former child welfare workers in Serenity Deal case:
 
"The tragic death of little Serenity Deal shocked and saddened everyone at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.  We share the District Attorney's belief that the child welfare workers handling Deal's case, Jennifer Shawn and Randy Lack, were negligent in their duties which is why they were terminated last year.  We continue to regret the heartwrenching outcome of this child's case."


(Updated 11-9-12 at 6:00 p.m.)
Link to copies of the charges that were filed

SQ 765 necessary to rebuild Oklahoma’s broken Department of Human Services

Supporters say the welfare of Oklahoma’s children need a voice

OKLAHOMA – Passage of State Question 765 is a major component of Oklahoma’s effort to rebuild and improve the state’s broken Department of Human Services (DHS). The welfare of Oklahoma’s children, families, aging and disabled need a voice, supporters and authors of the ballot measure said Friday at a news conference at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

“Currently, the Department of Human Services is largely governed by a volunteer board which, however well-intentioned, does not answer to voters,” said Governor Mary Fallin. “The passage of SQ 765 will put authority for appointing an agency director in the hands of the governor, who was chosen to represent the people of Oklahoma and whose job it is to be responsive to their concerns. I am supportive of SQ 765 because it offers the governor more flexibility to pursue the reforms and improvements needed to keep Oklahoma children safe and to deliver higher quality services.”

See also: DHS will be improved, not abolished by SQ765

See also: Vote YES on SQ765 for Real DHS Reform

Under the watch of the DHS nine-member board, the Oklahoma Commission of Human Services, numerous child deaths, lawsuits and the resignation earlier this year of the DHS chairman have occurred.

Five-year-old Serenity Deal died while in the custody of the state in 2011, after repeated concerns were expressed by her foster parents about the danger she was in. DHS employees testified as to the safety of her father’s home, despite proof of repeated physical injuries.

Linda Terrell

“The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy fought hard last session to bring bold reforms to the broken child welfare system through the Serenity Project,” said Linda Terrell, OICA executive director. “The next crucial step is for voters to say yes to SQ 765 to abolish an antiquated oversight commission to bring greater accountability and ensure the safety of our most vulnerable Oklahomans.”

“The death of any child is tragic, but when a child dies because a government bureaucracy failed them is simply unacceptable,” said Annette Deal, grandmother of Serenity Deal. “Voting yes on State Question 765 means we are doing everything in our power to ensure no family has to endure the pain of losing a child the way our family lost Serenity.”

Under the watch of the DHS commission, DHS recently paid $9,500 to settle a lawsuit filed after a temporary DHS worker picked up the wrong girl from a Harrah elementary school in 2006. Additionally, the agency is involved in a lawsuit with a New York-based child advocacy group, Children’s Rights, that alleges Oklahoma’s system of caring for abused and neglected children is so bad that children are being injured and otherwise harmed while in shelters and foster homes. Earlier this year, the state of Oklahoma paid $300,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a mother who hid her young girl after DHS workers allegedly rejected concerns the girl had been molested.

“The agency’s governance structure is broken. It’s a 1930s governance model that fails to meet the needs of a complex 21st century agency,” said Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City and leader of the House DHS Working Group. “Nearly all the agency’s major problems can be traced back to an unaccountable commission and the historical tendency to insulate the director from any real accountability. If DHS is really going to improve, it must start at the top.”

In 2009, 3-year-old Ryan Weeks was beaten to death after being placed back in his mother’s custody from foster care despite pleading with the agency not to return the boy to the home. The mother’s live-in boyfriend eventually pleaded no contest to first-degree murder.

“Weeks spent his entire life in a home plagued by drug abuse and domestic violence,” said Steven Dow, executive director of the Community Action Project of Tulsa County and former DHS commissioner. “Children like him need the support and encouragement of a child welfare system that works and acts as a savior.”

DHS Commission meeting earlier this year

Three former or current Oklahoma Commissioners of Human Services, including Dow, are in favor of SQ 765 and getting rid of the commission altogether. The additional members include, Anne Roberts and former chairman Brad Yarbrough, who is a current commissioner.

Voter approval of the measure would end Oklahoma’s distinction as the only state where the director reports to an unelected commission rather than a governor whose elected position makes them directly accountable to the people ofOklahoma.

If the state question passes, HB 3137, passed in the legislature earlier this year, would require the DHS director to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Currently, the director is hired by the Commission for Human Services.

“It puts the agency’s leadership closer to the people because the governor is accountable to all the people of Oklahoma,” Nelson said. “The pressure will be on the agency director to do what is right or they’ll have to answer to all the people ofOklahoma rather than an unelected, unaccountable commission. This agency is too important to leave it in the hands of people who don’t directly answer to the public.”

HB 3137 would also establish advisory panels that would monitor each of the agency’s divisions to help agency leadership make informed decisions. The legislation was developed and supported collectively by a bipartisan group of legislatures comprised of House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee; Reps. Wade Rousselot, D-Okay; Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City; Pat Ownbey, R-Ardmore; Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa; and Sens. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City and Rick Brinkley, R-Owasso.

“The state question would not only abolish the commission but also a bad statute that goes back to 1936, Dow said. “Nothing has happened or can happen to improve the system because of the laws that are currently in effect. It’s time to change our system and SQ 765 is the first step.”

“A vote for SQ765 is a vote to fix DHS,” said Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City. “It is a vote to bring greater oversight and accountability that is desperately needed.”

Supporters of SQ 765 to gather for news conference

See press release from this press conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 1, 2012

Supporters of SQ 765 to gather for news conference on importance of rebuilding Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services

OKLAHOMA CITY– Authors and supporters of legislation that led to State Question 765 will gather at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2 in the Blue Room at the Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., to voice their support to help Oklahoma rebuild and improve the state’s broken Department of Human Services. 

WHO: 
Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City

Linda Terrell, executive director of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy 

WHAT: 
Conference in support of State Question 765 to rebuild and improve the Oklahoma Department of Human Services

WHEN: 
10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 2

WHERE: 
4th Floor Broadcast Room at the Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.

###

Commentary: DHS will be improved, not abolished by SQ765

Oklahoma Capitol - A recent letter from Senior Assistant Attorney General Sandra Rinehard helps clarify what will happen if State Question 765 is approved by voters next week.

Rinehart wrote in an October 19, letter, "The ballot title informed the voters of the repeal of the constitutional provisions and informed the voters of the added powers of the Legislature to enact laws to create a department or departments to administer and carry out the duties of the Department of Human Services." 

SQ765 simply removes provisions of our state Constitution added in 1936 that required the creation of a Department of Public Welfare. DHS will not be abolished. 

Rinehart says, "We recognize that, in anticipation of the passage of the constitutional proposal, the Legislature enacted HB 3137. That legislation, among other provisions, creates four Citizen Advisory Panels to evaluate programs and develop recommendations and gives the Governor appointment power."

House Bill 3137 only goes into effect if voters approve SQ765.

House Bill 3137 says, “The Governor shall have the power and duty to select a Director of Human Services who shall serve as executive and administrative officer of the Department of Human Services. The Director shall be appointed wholly on the basis of ability, training and experience qualifying him or her for public welfare administration. The Director shall serve, subject to the confirmation of the Senate, at the pleasure of the Governor.”

Currently the unelected, unaccountable DHS Commission selects the Director of the agency. 

House Bill 3137 also creates “four Department of Human Services Citizens Advisory Panels to evaluate core program and administrative areas of the Department and to develop recommendations to improve the programs and administration of the Department.  These Panels are for Children and Family Issues, Aging Issues, Disability Issues and Administration.  Each Panel shall be composed of five (5) members.  Each appointee shall demonstrate an interest or expertise in the area of responsibility of the Panel to which the member is appointed.”

The current system doesn't work. SQ765 and HB 3137 make DHS accountable to the public and will give the Governor and Legislature the tools they need to reform DHS. Oklahoma is the only state to have a dysfunctional commission system running their human services agency. Let's abolish the Constitutional Commission and bring real reform to DHS. 

Vote YES on SQ765 on November 6!

Commentary: Vote YES on SQ765 for Real DHS Reform

Vote YES on SQ765 if:

• You DON'T like what you've been learning about DHS the last several years, 
• You DO want to see long term improvements in DHS operations, 
• You DO want to see increased accountability at DHS, 
• You DON'T think nine unelected officials should have complete constitutional authority over the state's largest agency, 
• You DO think the agency should answer to the public through elected representatives, and 
• You DO want to give the Governor and the Legislature the tools they need to fix problems facing the agency.

Remember, it was the Commission that refused to review child death cases like Serenity Deal until recently. Under Commission leadership three federal class action lawsuits have been filed against the agency. What could the Governor or the Legislature do? Nothing. The commission is isolated from public accountability by the Constitution. 

The Constitution says:

1. DHS is to be "under the control of a commission," not the legislature, not the governor and not even the Director. Sole authority over DHS is given to the commission.
2. The Commission is 'composed of nine members appointed by the Governor." The governor selects a commissioner to serve as chairman of the commission. Commissioners serve staggered nine year terms. 
3. It is the "duty of the Commission to select a Director."
4. The Commission shall formulate the policies, rules and regulations for the administration of the Department. 
5. All executive and administrative duties and responsibilities carried out by the Director are "Subject to the approval of the Commission."
6. Hiring personnel, setting standards, qualifications, examinations and salary schedules for employees are all "subject to the control of the Commission."
7. "No member of said Commission shall be subject to removal by the Governor."

The current system doesn't work. Oklahoma is the only state to have a dysfunctional system like this. Let's abolish the Constitutional Commission and bring real reform to DHS. 

Vote YES on SQ765 on November 6!