The New York Times published an article today, Bleak Stories Follow a Lawsuit on Oklahoma Foster Care, in which it was reported that Oklahoma boasts one of the worst records for children enduring abuse within foster and group homes. The Federal data also shows that Oklahoma children experience frequent moves, extended stays in shelters and lack getting much needed therapy. The state is also needing more social workers, foster homes, and various therapies to offer the children in its care.
A new lawsuit, filed in February by advocacy group, Children’s Rights, as well as local lawyers, details not only the above stated issues within the Oklahoma foster care system, but also the psychological damage that the children suffer after placement in the system. The hope is that this lawsuit will force change, as this course of action has helped other states overhaul broken systems.
Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services is fighting the suit. Their defense? A good record for monthly checks, which are performed by social workers, on the foster families. Allegedly, they are so diligent with the monthly checks, more issues are found. Therefore, their record appears to be worse than other states where they are not as diligent in making their monthly rounds. Foster parents and children in Oklahoma are not buying this story as they report that the workers are not showing up for the checks, but falsifying documents stating that the visits occurred.
For now, the hope is that the lawsuit will proceed and the court will force Oklahoma to step up and take care of the children in foster care.
Are you an Oklahoma foster parent? Is it as bad as they say? What do you think needs to be done to improve the foster care system?
About Yvonne Mason Sewell
Background:
The eldest of five children, Yvonne was born May 17, 1951 in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in East Point, Georgia, she moved to Jackson County, Ga. until 2006 then moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida where she currently makes her home.
Licensed bounty hunter for the state of Georgia.
Education:
After a 34 year absence, returned to college in 2004. Graduated with honors in Criminal Justice with an Associate’s degree from Lanier Technical College in 2006.
Awards:
Nominated for the prestigious GOAL award in 2005 which encompasses all of the technical colleges. This award is based not only on excellence in academics but also leadership, positive attitude and the willingness to excel in one’s major.
Affiliations:
Beta Sigma Phi Sorority
Member of The Florida Writer’s Association – Group Leader for St Lucie County
The Dream:
Since learning to write at the age of five, Yvonne has wanted to be an author. She wrote her first novel Stan’s Story beginning in 1974 and completed it in 2006. Publication seemed impossible as rejections grew to 10 years. Determined, she continued adding to the story until her dream came true in 2006.
The Inspiration:
Yvonne’s brother Stan has been her inspiration and hero in every facet of her life. He was stricken with Encephalitis at the tender age of nine months. He has defied every roadblock placed in his way and has been the driving force in every one of her accomplishments. He is the one who taught her never to give up
The Author:
Yvonne is currently the author of several novels, including:
Stan’s Story- the true story of her brother’s accomplishments, it has been compared to the style of Capote, and is currently being rewritten with new information for re-release.
Tangled Minds - a riveting story about a young girl’s bad decision and how it taints everyone’s life around her yet still manages to show that hope is always possible. This novel has been compared to the writing of Steinbeck and is currently being written as a screenplay. This novel will be re-released by Kerlak Publishing in 2009
Brilliant Insanity – released by Kerlak Publishing October 2008
Silent Scream – Released by Lulu.com October 2008- Slated to be made into a movie
Yvonne’s Philosophy in Life - “Pay it Forward”:
“In this life we all have been helped by others to attain our dreams and goals. We cannot pay it back but what we can do is ‘pay it forward’. It is a simple
Jim Black
savethechild2013
Yvonne Mason Sewell
How Child Protection Services Buys and Sells Our Children 
You’re amazing. This is great information and I am sincerely grateful that you allow me to share this with my readers. Excellent work here, Yvonne. Keep it up.
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Great work Yvonne so glad to see others getting the word out. I love that comment from DHS stating that the reason to not allow this suit is because they made regular visits. I have a lot of stories of children dieing and it was proven that the worker did not visit the house. Check out the story of Aurora Cruz for example. You should see what they do to workers who have proven they broke the law. The stories I could tell you would curl your hair and I have documents to prove all of them. I have been threatened, thrown in jail, charged with crimes I did not commit just to try and keep my quite. I also learned that the organization Lawyers For Children only do their work for DHS they will not protect a child that is being abused by DHS. A easy way to do this is to find the list of volunteers for your state and then call them and listen to their reaction when they find out you are trying to protect a child from abuse done by DHS.
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Oklahoma is a sick state. The reasons Oklahoma continues to hold the #1 spot for child abuse are numerous. State officals claim they need more federal funding to deal with the problem when it was they who created and continue to create the problem. Oklahoma is a master at extorting money from the federal goverment. Rather than fix the problem they prefer to extort funds.
The judical system in oklahoma is corrupt. Attorney to citizen population is out of control. Family attorneys line their pockets with no concern for children. Fathers are distroyed in the Oklahoma courts, the children of these broken families are your future criminals. Woman are allowed to persecute men and corrupt attorneys help them do it. Abuse mothers are the number #1 child killers, then abusive step-fathers. Federal intervenion is required in Oklahoma.
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