Union Endorses Lawsuit Against DHS

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A state employees union is endorsing a lawsuit filed against the state Department of Human Services over the state's child welfare system.

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association says in a court document that the lawsuit is necessary to make changes in child welfare.

The OPEA has about 10,000 members with about 300 of them being child welfare workers.

The lawsuit was filed a year ago by New York-based Children's Rights on behalf of nine children. It calls for an overhaul of the child welfare system in Oklahoma.

1/21/2009  Related story: Federal Judge Dismisses Part Of DHS Suit

A federal judge in Tulsa has dismissed a portion of the lawsuit but allowed most of it to remain intact.