By Rich Fisher
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwgs/local-kwgs-1001391.mp3
Tulsa, OK – On today's ST, we offer a detailed look at the recent settlement of the Children's Rights / DHS class-action lawsuit concerning Oklahoma's foster care system. The New York-based organization Children's Rights (a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to reforming government child welfare services) had originally sued the State of Oklahoma in 2008 on behalf of nine foster children; this action was expanded to a class-action lawsuit in 2009. Our guests today are Tulsa-based attorney Fred Dorwart, who represented Children's Rights in the suit, and Steven Dow, one of the DHS Commssioners who voted in favor of the settlement. As they tell us on today's program, some of the key issues of the suit refer to the systemic abuse of children within the state's foster care system, a shortage of homes with that system (with many of those homes, moreover, being unsafe), excessive case loads for social workers within the system, and a high risk of harm for those children entering said system. Our guests also explain the 15-point "improvement plan" that the settlement calls for --- a plan which is to be created by the DHS itself, and which is to be overseen by three national experts (or so-called "co-neutrals") in child welfare and childcare services.