Child Welfare Services (CWS)

​Child Protective Services (CPS) are provided through Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) to identify, treat and prevent child abuse and neglect. The two purposes of CPS intervention are to protect the safety of children and to provide services to help families with any difficulties that cause the safety of their children to be at risk. S

The Office of Background Investigations (OBI) Child Welfare Unit handles background checks for those seeking custody both temporary and permanent of children in the state. Our mission is to ensure that each child is placed a safe, healthy and productive home. 

​​Family-Centered Services (FCS) provides voluntary services to families following an investigation or assessment of child abuse or neglect, in which abuse, neglect or both have been identified. 

The Office of Background Investigations (OBI) Fingerprinting Unit handles background checks for those seeking custody both temporary and permanent of children in the state. Our mission is to ensure that each child is placed a safe, healthy and productive home. 

Foster Care is a planned, goal-directed service that provides 24-hour-a-day substitute temporary care and supportive services in a home environment for children birth to 18 years of age in OKDHS custody.

Oklahoma Children's Services (OCS) comprises of Comprehensive Home-Based Services (CHBS),
Parent Aide Services (PAS), and Title IV-E
Prevention Services. OCS is designed to meet a
child's, parent's, or kin caregiver's needs directly
related to the child's safety, permanency, and
well-being, or to prevent the child from entering
foster care. OCS are provided statewide by
community agencies through contracts with
OKDHS. OCS services are provided in the home
and community and are provided to families
that are involved with child welfare.

The Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program (OKSA) Mission is to empower youth in and from foster care to lead safer, healthier, more independent and productive lives.

​The Permanency Planning Unit is responsible for ensuring policy and training meet the federal and state mandates for services that are provided to children and their families who have become involved in the juvenile court system due to child abuse and neglect.

Post Adoption Services help to secure and support safe and permanent adoptive families for children with special needs. 

Respite services can provide a much needed, temporary break from the often exhausting challenges faced by family caregivers. Respite vouchers let caregivers hire another person (respite provider) to temporarily care for their loved ones.

The School-Based Services Program is a contractual and collaborative partnership between OKDHS and local school districts. Through the partnership, a School-Based Specialist (SBS) is placed in the school with the dedicated purpose of providing a human service connection and support to the children and families served by the school, as well as the school’s teachers and administrators. 

​When a child who receives or may be eligible to receive Social Security (SSA or SSI) or Veteran's Administration (VA) benefits is placed in the custody and paid care of the Department of Human Services, the Department will make application to the appropriate agency to receive these benefits on behalf of the child.