OPEA

In a recent letter to legislative leadership, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association blistered corporate lobbyists who are attempting to privatize foster care, residential treatment centers, group homes. In addition, OPEA Deputy Director Scott Barger spoke to the Democratic Caucus about the issue.

“The Oklahoma Public Employees Association opposes the privatization of child welfare as proposed in HB 3258 (Blackwell, Newberry),” the OPEA’s letter said. “This legislation is an affront to the dedicated public servants who perform the difficult and often dangerous task of protecting Oklahoma’s neglected and abused children.

“The proponents of this legislation are claiming with implementation of HB 3258 the services would be brought closer to the community. However, child welfare workers are currently in every community of the state, working with families, law enforcement and the courts to ensure the safety of children,” the letter continued.

In addition, OPEA pointed out that if the provisions of HB 3258 are passed, the full continuum of child welfare services would be privatized and the state will lose expertise in this function.

“DHS will have no control over whether vendors decide to continue contracting with the state for this service, because the contractor is free to walk away at any time with limited notice,” wrote OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley. “A provider for mental health services in the Tulsa area suddenly decided to no longer contract with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services forcing the state to pick up the pieces and provide inpatient services in one month. In addition, constant change in contractors and service providers could be devastating to children and families in the child welfare system. The county DHS office, while sometimes having high employee turnover, has consistent standards and supervisory staff to pick up the slack if a child welfare worker leaves.”

“Every day and throughout the night, child welfare workers are watching over children in every corner of the state,” concluded Zearley. “They are working in every community to ensure the best outcome for vulnerable children who have been let down by their own families. Privatizing this system that is continuing to make great strides is not the solution. Let the reforms of HB 1734 continue to work and improve outcomes for children.”

Leading the fight to privatize services is former Speaker of the House Steve Lewis who represents a private entity interested in benefiting from child welfare privatization. In addition, former state representative Laura Boyd, who is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Therapeutic Foster Care Association, is pushing for the bill. According to OPEA, privatization is clearly a high risk move and legislators should beware.

“The long term policy implications of this type of legislation are very dangerous,” said Zearley. “As fewer children are brought into care, vendors will be advocating for more out-of-home placement. They will need more children in the system to be able to make money. We find this type of activity deplorable.”

OPEA is urging members to continue to make call legislators in opposition to HB 3258.

“OPEA has met with legislators and members have been calling and e-mailing,” said Zearley. “The interests who are promoting this issue are continuing to try to move the bill forward. We must continue to stand up for the children of Oklahoma and the dedicated public servants who protect them.”