DHS achieves same-day turnaround on background checks for child care facilities

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Care Services Licensing Records Office (LRO) has achieved same-day turnaround on background checks for child care facility owners, directors and caregivers. Background checks must be completed prior to operating a child care facility or hiring facility staff or teachers.

LRO submits a request for Fingerprint-based National Criminal History Information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).

“LRO staff evaluate the National Criminal History Information reports provided by OSBI,” said Veronica Franks, LRO Programs Process Administrator. “They also evaluate reports from the Oklahoma State Courts Network, county docket searches, National Sex Offender Registry, Child Care Restricted Registry, out-of-state background reviews, district attorneys, court clerks and law enforcement. It’s a very thorough process.”

The law requiring background checks for child care providers went into effect Nov. 1, 2013. Franks says 26,195 background check requests were made from Jan. 1, 2014 through Dec. 31, 2014. In March 2014, there was a 48 day backlog of background checks. By December 2014, the backlog had been cut to 24 to 48 hours. As of March 5, 2015, LRO staff were completing same-day turnaround on an average 129 background checks each day.

“The LRO staff are just the best,” said Franks. “They have worked long hours and given up time with their own families in order to complete the backlog and achieve same-day turnaround.”

Background check results are made available to child care providers through a secure website. In calendar year 2014, a total of 941 persons were restricted or prohibited from working with or residing in a child care facility based on background checks.

“DHS leadership supported us every step along the way as we streamlined processes, added additional staff, and reduced paperwork in order to make this happen,” said Franks. “The background checks are an additional tool we have to help keep children safe. We understand that parents trust child care providers every day and we are committed to using every resource we have to help ensure that trust. It’s what we do - we try to make things better.”

DHS ranks number one in the nation for standards and oversight of child care homes and number four in oversight of child care centers. Each day more than 3,800 DHS-licensed child care facilities provide child care to more than 131,000 Oklahoma children.

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