DHS Commission to Review Modifications to Settlement Agreement

For Media Inquiries, Contact:

Oklahoma City—The Contingency Review Board (CRB) met for the second day to discuss a settlement agreement in the DG vs. Yarbrough case, a federal class action civil rights lawsuit involving Oklahoma’s child welfare system.

"It appears the CRB preferred certain modifications to the agreement which will require our Commission's approval. We hope to schedule a Commission meeting in the next week," said Howard Hendrick, Director, Department of Human Services.

“While the terms of the settlement continue to remain confidential, I can say that the terms are unique in this kind of litigation.  We are pleased that the Governor, Speaker and President Pro Tempore agreed that the unique provisions of this proposed settlement were found to be beneficial.  We look forward to working with them as we move the settlement process forward and begin to implement the terms of the ultimate settlement."

"The strength of our defense and the excellent work of our child welfare workers created the opportunity for using a new approach to settle cases of this nature.  The future improvements, the details of which must yet be developed, are to be outlined in a framework that both sides hope will satisfy our shared desire to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.”

###

Continuous Oklahoma Child Welfare Improvements Timeline (Link opens in a new window)

Brad Yarbrough, Chairman of the Human Services Commission (front  center) and Fred Dowart, a Tulsa attorney representing Children’s Rights (back left) sign the settlement agreement on Jan. 4, 2012.