Oklahoma Improves Treatment of Children in Need

Here is some very GOOD news about Oklahoma!

Oklahoma House of Representatives
Media Division

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Ron Peters
Capitol: (405) 557-7359

Oversight Committee Reports DHS Reforms a Success

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 22, 2009) – Fewer children are being traumatized by unnecessary admission into a children’s shelter because of DHS reforms enacted by the Legislature this past session, the committee overseeing its implementation reported today.

The shelter population in Tulsa is down to 26 children today and Oklahoma City’s shelter population is down to 19. Before the reforms were enacted, those numbers were between 75 to 80 in Tulsa and 65 to 70 in Oklahoma City, state Rep. Ron Peters said.

“The issue at stake was how many children were being needlessly traumatized by being placed in shelters when they could be staying with a relative or in emergency foster care,” Peters, R-Tulsa, said. “In Tulsa and Oklahoma City, law enforcement did not have to consult with DHS before dropping a child off at the shelter. I authored legislation that would get DHS involved in the removal decisions based on the recommendations of an independent audit of DHS.”

The audit shows Oklahoma has nearly twice the U.S. average of children in state custody and that 20 percent of children removed from their home were returned within one week of removal. In the Tulsa area, 40 percent of children removed are returned in that same timeframe. Furthermore, after the audit it was discovered that this rate routinely ran as high as 70 percent.

“These numbers show that there are instances in which children are unnecessarily being put through the system,” Peters said. “I’m pleased to see that the number of shelter admissions is down considerably thanks to our legislation and the intense cooperation between DHS, law enforcement, district attorneys and judges.

The oversight committee also reported that joint response protocols have been completed and signed in 11 counties and that more than 40 counties have developed rough draft protocols that are being reviewed by law enforcement, district attorneys and judges.

The DHS reform legislation called for law enforcement, courts and DHS to work together when removing a child from a home is under consideration; the creation of a passport program to allow information about a child’s physical and behavioral health and educational needs to be available electronically; implementation of a phase-down of public shelters; establishment of a centralized statewide hotline for all reports of abuse and neglect of children; and a reorganization of the department offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma CouChildrennties. It also called for improved and expanded training for DHS workers to better assess the risk to and safety of a child.

“It is a testament to all parties involved that they care enough about children in Oklahoma to move so quickly on implementing this reform,” Peters said. “This will not only minimize the trauma that children in Oklahoma suffer, but will benefit all of us down the road as these children grow up and become the next generation of parents in our community.”