Oklahoma DHS Struggling To Find Foster Homes

State leaders say they are trying to carry out the court-mandated Pinnacle Plan and the Governor has even appointed a special advisor to make sure of it.

Thursday, April 30th 2015, 7:16 pm

By: News 9


The latest report for our state's child welfare system is a mixed bag. State leaders say they are trying to carry out the court-mandated Pinnacle Plan and the Governor has even appointed a special adviser to make sure of it.

This is the 4th report from the Co-Neutrals, the experts who monitor and evaluate the state's performance following a 2012 federal class action lawsuit. Their report said the state made good faith efforts in some areas and failed in others.

“I am pretty delighted that there have been some positives that the Co-Neutrals have found,” said Jari Askins. “I think it's a step forward since the report six months ago,” she added.

Former Lt. Governor Askins is the newly-appointed special adviser to the Governor tasked with making sure Oklahoma's DHS is carrying out the Pinnacle Plan.

“Realistically, everyone here at the Department of Human Services and Child Welfare Division understands there is more work to do,” Askins told News 9.

The experts stated the state's child welfare system is improving in areas like workers visiting children in foster-care placement within the required time period, young children are rarely being placed in shelters and the backlog in abuse and neglect investigations has been significantly reduced.

However, the report said one of the biggest struggles for DHS continues to be finding enough foster homes. DHS and the agencies it is contracted with cannot recruit enough Oklahomans.

Askins said they want to better their service to current foster families who could later encourage others to become fosters.

“Our foster families would probably be our best recruiters and so if we are providing good service to them, they can tell their friends and neighbors,” Askins said.

The report also said safety for children in foster care is not improving, DHS continues to place more children age 13 and over in shelters, and providing permanency for children is not getting better.

DHS has received about $30 million a year from the state to pay for the Pinnacle Plan. With the state's budget shortfall, it's unclear if the agency will get as much this year.

Click here for more information about becoming a foster parent.

Full Co-Neutrals 4th Report

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