OPEA

Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services recently received an incentive payment of more than $600,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for finding new, permanent families for state children leaving foster care.

For federal fiscal 2007, DHS finalized 1,250 foster care adoptions, 86 more than the baseline set in 2006.  DHS also finalized 591 special needs adoptions, an increase of 144. 

Each foster child adoption above the specified baseline earned the state $4,000; each child under the age of 9 with special needs earned the state $2,000.  The Adoption Incentive Payment Program pays incentive funds to states that increase the number of children adopted in specific circumstances.  ACF rewards states that exceed the overall foster child adoption, older child adoption or special needs adoption baselines.

“Finalized adoptions indicate true, forever families,” said DHS Director Howard Hendrick.  “Our success is due to many, many persons.  Our permanency, planning staff and our Swift Adoption team work together with the prospective adoptive families.  Mostly we are grateful for the wonderful commitment of the families who fold these special children into their existing families.  Their commitment makes a great difference.”

Oklahoma Public Employees Association Executive Director Sterling Zearley said that, all too often, all the good news from DHS gets overshadowed.

“Last week, during our lobby day for DHS workers, we had an opportunity to get the message out that these are dedicated, hard working public servants,” he said.  “We plan to help spread the word about our fine members of this agency.”