Vision

Our vision defines what success looks like for the people we serve and guides how we direct our attention, resources, and efforts.

Be the safest state for children. Prevention, protection and permanency judged by whether children are safe and families are stable.

Be the best place for vulnerable adults to live and age with dignity. Independence supported at home and in the community.

Create the strongest pathways to prosperity. Assistance that stabilizes a household and then moves it toward flourishing.

Be the place where people want to work. A workforce with the capacity, training and support the work requires.

Values

Our values define how we approach our work and how we show up for the people we serve and for one another.

Accountability: We act with integrity, follow through and own the outcome.

Compassion: We meet people where they are, with dignity and without judgment.

Excellence: We pursue the highest standard in everything we do.

Accountability in Action

Creating stronger pathways to prosperity requires a human services system Oklahomans can trust. That means providing timely support, making accurate decisions, protecting public resources, and removing unnecessary barriers that can prevent individuals and families from achieving stability and independence.

Accuracy and integrity are fundamental to that responsibility. In FY26, our Office of Inspector General identified $8.4 million in benefit overpayments and $2.7 million in SNAP savings. Investigative efforts also resulted in 660 individuals being disqualified from SNAP due to fraud, reinforcing our commitment to protecting resources intended for eligible Oklahomans.

We are also strengthening the processes that prevent errors before they occur. During FY26, Adult and Family Services introduced new training, electronic employment verification, and statewide case-quality monitoring to improve eligibility accuracy and identify issues earlier. Child Care Services also completed its federal improper-payment reporting in June 2026, supporting continued oversight and program integrity.

Accountability extends to ensuring resources reach the families who depend on them. In FY26, Child Support Services collected $294 million for Oklahoma children, serving 138,700 families and helping strengthen household financial stability.

We also hold ourselves accountable to the people we serve. During FY26, our Director's Helpline handled 11,254 constituent contacts, providing an additional avenue for Oklahomans to raise concerns and helping agency leadership identify recurring service challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Ultimately, accountability is about outcomes, not simply outputs. Applications processed, calls answered, investigations conducted, and dollars protected are important measures of our work, but they are not the destination. They help us understand whether we are delivering services responsibly and where we must do better.

Our greater responsibility is to ensure those efforts lead to something meaningful: children who are safer, families who are more stable, resources that reach those who need them most, and fewer barriers standing between Oklahomans and a better future.

We measure what we do so we can improve what matters –– helping more Oklahomans move from hardship toward stability, independence, and lasting prosperity.