Oklahoman: DHS Gets It Wrong Again

There's another, new relevation that the Oklahoma Department of Human Services sometimes appears to be an inept, unfair agency that can't get it right and ruins lives in the process.

The newest example comes in The Oklahoman's Sunday edition, in which reporter Randy Ellis details the troubling case of Tulsa athlete Micheal Thomas, 21, who was mistakenly declared to be the father of the child of a Lawton drug user he says he's never met and as a result, was badgered by DHS until he dropped out of school, forfeited a football scholarship, found his paychecks garnished and his state and federal tax returns seized.

Read all of this troubling story at http://www.newsok.com/article/3281266/.

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Morrissette Wants DHS Investigation

Rep. Richard Morrissette today called on House leaders to appoint a bipartisan committee with subpoena power to investigate allegations of mismanagement at the Department of Human Services.

He said the committee must compel testimony if lawmakers want to receive a "true picture" of agency operations.

"I have been contacted by many citizens and even state employees who have identified major problems at the Department of Human Services," said Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City. "However, these individuals fear reprisal for their testimony if they voluntarily appear before a standing committee. The only way we can receive a full accounting of DHS management is to give people the legal cover provided by a subpoena."

Because several children have recently died in state custody, Morrissette has called for a major investigation of DHS and complete reform of the agency.

Morrissette filed legislation this year that would have divided DHS into three separate agencies. However, his House Bill 2890 did not receive a hearing.

Recently, Morrissette hosted a public forum for citizens and agency officials to air their concerns about DHS. Since that hearing, he said, "I have received calls and e-mail from many people who are employed by DHS who can't go public unless legally compelled to do so. They are afraid of losing their jobs."

He said some citizens are also reluctant to publicly discuss their concerns about DHS unless the House makes clear that a true investigation is being conducted.

Morrissette said a recent lawsuit should motive legislators to thoroughly investigate DHS. The New York-based child advocacy organization Children's Rights has sued the Department of Human Services on behalf of nine children who were allegedly physically and psychologically damaged by Oklahoma's foster care system. The lawsuit alleges that abused children are often re-traumatized while in state custody because of numerous flaws in DHS oversight and management of the foster care system.

The group is seeking class-action status so they can represent more than 10,000 children in DHS custody. Children's Rights has successfully used similar class-action lawsuits to force changes in child-welfare systems in around a dozen states.

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House Approves DHS Performance Audit

The House voted 91-8 today to order a thorough review of the Human Services Division of the Department of Human Services via an independent performance audit.

The bill by Rep. Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha, now goes to the Senate for action.

The Human Services Division of DHS includes family support services, children and family services and field operations.

Winchester says she's concerned about allegations in a federal lawsuit that says the DHS work force is overburdened and mismanaged and children in its custody are in danger.

Opponents, including Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, say lawmakers should correct the problems and not wait for auditors to tell them what to do.

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Peters: DHS Audit Needed Before Any Other Action

An independent audit of the Department of Human Services is needed before other efforts to reorganize such a vital agency are considered, Rep. Ron Peters said today.

"Completely reorganizing the Department of Human Services, as Representative (Richard) Morrissette proposes is a very huge undertaking. To assume in advance, without any study of the matter, that we know the best course of action is naïve at best, and foolhardy at worst," said Peters, chairman of the House Human Services Committee. "This is a very serious issue, and we need to move cautiously to make sure we don't take steps that could make matters worse."

Legislation calling for an audit of the human services division of the department passed out of Peters' committee last month and will be heard on the House floor this week.

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Committee Approves DHS Performance Audit Bill

The House Human Services Committee today approved Rep. Susan Winchester's bill authorizing an independent performance audit of services provided by the state's child welfare agency to children who have been abused or neglected.

The measure now goes to the full House for a hearing. It would require a thorough review of the Human Services division of the Department of Human Services.

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Morrissette Seeks Division Of DHS

Rep. Richard Morrissette of Oklahoma City today urged legislators to break up the state Department of Human Services,warning that federal officials may step in if the Legislature fails to act.

House Bill 2890, by Morrissette, would require the Department of Human Services to develop a plan to divide the agency into three separate entities: the Children and Family Services Division, the Aging Services Division and the Developmental Disabilities Services Division.

"This transition is long overdue," said Morrissette. "During my years of practicing law, I have represented hundreds of clients dealing with this gargantuan behemoth of an agency. DHS needs to be broken up. My bill was filed last year before the recent class-action lawsuit was initiated. The longer we wait, the more we imperil those people who need to be protected. Let us remake DHS today before the federal courts tell us how to do it."

Last week, New York-based child advocacy organization Children's Rights sued DHS on behalf of nine children who were allegedly physically and psychologically damaged by Oklahoma's foster care system. The lawsuit alleges that abused children are often re-traumatized while in state custody because of numerous flaws in DHS oversight and management of the foster care system.

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