OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 21, 2023) -- Oklahoma Human Services has received the latest co-neutrals commentary measuring the agency’s progress on the Pinnacle Plan, the state's foster care reform plan. This latest report covers July 1 through Dec. 31, 2022 and reflects a return to reporting on seven COVID-impacted performance measures for which the co-neutrals had suspended judgment during an 18-month COVID Recovery Period. In this 20th commentary, the co-neutrals have found the agency achieved good faith efforts in the remaining seven Pinnacle Plan performance measures which focus on Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) and timely permanency for children after removal from their biological homes.

“We’re making Oklahoma the most pro-family state in the nation,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “While we want every kid to grow up at home with their mom and dad, we also need to guarantee that kids who are living outside of their home with a foster family have the resources and opportunities to thrive. I’m so grateful to Secretaries Brown and Shropshire, as well as their predecessors, and the team at Oklahoma Human Services for working tirelessly to make sure every kid in Oklahoma has the opportunity to succeed.”

Providing therapeutic foster homes for children and youth needing extra supports has been a critical step in improving Oklahoma's Child Welfare system. With the assistance of private Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) agencies and the development of the Enhanced Foster Care (EFC) program, the agency has achieved progress in this area.

In their latest commentary, the co-neutrals noted, “[Oklahoma Human Services] is building a system that assesses the therapeutic and mental health needs of children in custody and identifies many of these children, of all ages, as early as possible.” The agency continues to seek additional TFC/EFC families to support Oklahoma children who need it most.

“The TFC and EFC programs are critical to ensuring our kids grow up with the love and security that only a family setting can provide, rather than in a shelter or group home,” said Secretary of Human Services and Director of Oklahoma Human Services, Dr. Deborah Shropshire. “Our TFC/EFC parents are essential partners to the healing and growth we know is possible for our kids when they have appropriate care, supportive resources and trauma-informed advocacy to meet their individual needs. If you’ve ever thought about joining an effort that could change the trajectory for kids in Oklahoma, we need you to consider TFC. We’ll walk with you every step of the way!”

The co-neutrals also noted the agency has “made concerted efforts to reduce the number of children who enter [Oklahoma Human Services] custody by supporting families with services and supports to maintain children and families together in their homes, when possible. As a result,…[Oklahoma Human Services] has steadily reduced the total population of children in…custody by 43 percent over the last eight years.” Additionally, the agency is achieving outcomes near or above the equivalent national standards for the amount of time it takes for children to find permanency after entering foster care.

“Just as I want the very best for my own family, I also want the very best for the children and families we serve,” said Director of Child Welfare Services, Tricia Howell. “When we can keep kids safely at home and reinforce their parents’ strengths through additional services or support, we are setting that family up for success and reducing the likelihood that they will ever need intervention from Child Welfare Services in the future. Similarly, we can reduce trauma for kids and help them achieve better long-term outcomes when we can safely and quickly get them back home or, when that can’t happen, onto their permanent home. They deserve no less.”

Both the co-neutrals and Oklahoma Human Services leadership noted appreciation for Governor Stitt and Oklahoma’s legislature for their “proactive and strong support for [Oklahoma Human Services’] child welfare reform and efforts to improve outcomes and well-being for children and families who come in contact with the child welfare system.”

“We are grateful for the incredible support of Governor Stitt and the legislature who continue to help us address the needs of Oklahoma’s children and families through dedicated investments of their time and targeted investments of Oklahoma’s resources,” said Dr. Shropshire. “It is impossible to do this work alone and they are helping us move mountains to create more hopeful futures for all Oklahomans.”

While the agency briefly pauses to celebrate the second of the four good faith determinations needed on the remaining seven performance measures, it remains committed to practice improvements to meet the needs of Oklahoma families for now and into the future.

“The child welfare system exists to strengthen families and keep our children safe,” said Dr. Shropshire. “I am incredibly proud of the tireless work of our staff, legislative and community partners and foster families that has brought us to this point. Still, our work is never complete, and we will continue to develop a system that provides the support and resources all children and families need to truly thrive.”

Howell echoed her appreciation for the agency’s dedicated partners and called on all Oklahomans to step forward to support their community’s children and families.

“This work would not be possible without the staff and foster families who so selflessly dedicate themselves to creating a brighter future for Oklahoma,” said Howell. “If you have ever considered how you can make a difference in your community, there is a place for you at Oklahoma Human Services. We continue to need more child welfare specialists and foster families across the state to serve the children and families who need us, and you could be part of this movement of hope!”

Foster families play a vital role in the child welfare system, offering a safe place for children while their families work to improve safety concerns. Oklahoma Human Services continues to need more foster families in every community to serve children in state custody, particularly families who are willing to serve children with significant behavioral health needs. For more information about becoming a foster parent, visit https://okfosters.org/ or call 1-800-376-9729.

To learn about career opportunities where you can bring hope to your community, click the Careers tab at https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs.html.

• Co-Neutral Commentarry - Sept. 2023

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About the Pinnacle Plan

In January 2012, Oklahoma Human Services settled a class-action lawsuit filed against its foster care system by a child advocacy group. As a result of this settlement, the agency created, and in SFY 2013 began to implement, the Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan which was a measurable plan to improve the foster care system. Three out-of-state child welfare experts, referred to as "co-neutrals," issue reports every six months on Oklahoma Human Services’ progress and determine whether the agency has made good faith efforts to make improvements in the state's foster care system. This latest report covers July 1 through Dec. 31, 2022, and represents returned reporting on seven COVID-impacted performance measures. During the last reporting period, the Co-Neutrals’ found the agency had achieved substantial and sustained progress toward the 23 Performance Area Measures not impacted by COVID and dismissed the agency from those measures for all future reports. However, the agency remains committed to report publicly on its performance. The 20 co-neutral commentaries along with the agency’s reports can be found on the Oklahoma Human Services website.

About Oklahoma Human Services

Oklahoma Human Services offers help and hope to more than a million Oklahomans each year through a wide range of services and support that promote their safety, independence and wellbeing. Learn more at https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs.html and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.