OPEA

The forces seeking the privatization of Child Welfare services are gearing up for their shot at making millions at the expense of Oklahoma’s children. The legislative interim study hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 28, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and continuing all day.

OPEA has learned that some of the providers pushing for the move that could land millions of dollars in private hands are, Providence Service Corporation, Dayspring Community Services, Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Baer Foundation and St. Francis Community Services.

“We have been told that some of the members of this group are forming a coalition to lobby for passage of privatization measures,” said OPEA deputy director Scott Barger.

According to recent press reports, Representative Gus Blackwell, R-Guymon is pushing the measure fashioned from his efforts in HB 3258 presented in the last legislative session. This bill directed the Department of Human Services to develop a plan to outsource faster care and related services statewide. It directed OKDHS to submit the plan to accomplish the outsourcing no later than July1, 2011, and require implementation of the plan to take place by July 1, 2013.

The bill would have allowed private agencies case management responsibilities transferred from the state to act as the child’s guardian for the purpose of registering a child for school and seeking emergency medical attention.

According to Blackwell, his bill would encourage the adoption of children by offering more funding to those private entities that have higher adoption rates.

The Center for Public Policy Priorities indicates the opposite may be true. “Private providers may be more hesitant to encourage foster parents to adopt, because it means losing the daily rate and a foster home, which is an important business asset,” the report states.

OPEA is disappointed in Blackwell’s continued efforts to privatize state services.

“The Association believes this is horrible public policy that has been tried and found wanting in several states, often with disastrous results,” said Barger. “It is not a model Oklahoma needs to try when we are already in possession of a national model with recent changes taken prior to and along with the reforms in HB 1734.”

OPEA is encouraging DHS employees to attend the study to show legislators their support to keeping these services public.

For more information, contact Scott Barger or Trish Frazier at 1-800-880-OPEA (6732).