Felons As Foster Parents
Yesterday the Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked media access to the identities of foster parents.
This after the Department of Human Services argued it would deter felons from seeking to care for foster children.
Say what?
Yes, you read that right.
DHS does NOT want to DETER convicted felons from being foster parents.
Who wants convicted felons to be foster parents?
Only the Oklahoma Department of Human Services it would seem.
In most states they try to insure convicted felons do not become foster parents.
According to a Newsok.com report titled, “Court blocks access to foster parents’ IDs”
DHS lawyers fear a “breathless television reporter” or “2-inch banner headlines” reporting children in the hands of convicted criminals would harm the agency if the emergency delay wasn’t granted, according to court papers.
Agency attorneys said people with criminal backgrounds would be discouraged from seeking to become foster parents if they knew their past might become public.
This of course leaves a reasonable person to question what kind of idiots are running the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, when it seeks convicted felons as foster parents…
This is a problem the Oklahoma Legislature should address as soon as the 2008 session begins.
In the mean time, Legislators need to be explaining to their constituents exactly why there is no law in place now prohibiting convicted felons from being accepted as foster parents by the Department of Human Services…
Atoka county DHS has placed my husband’s son with his aunt, touting her to be an outstanding citizen. Come to find out, dhs told her to get her records expunged so she could be a foster parent!! she did and now has his son….but i found the records!! GUILTY–”contributing to the delinquency of a minor” and”carrying a concealed weapon”. other charges include grand larceny for a theft ring she had at McAlester Walmart in 2002.. Anyway, she was a jailor in Delaware County around 2000+- who got busted for dealing and selling drugs from the Armadillo Club. I cant find any record of it, would u know of some info?? thx. My husband is in Kuwait, they are trying to take his son (now 15) while he is on active duty. all their info is based on false allegations, but DA and judge wont hear our info or admit it in court.
Now they don’t even worry about your record they will just give the child to a convicted felon some of which are still on parole.