New Oklahoma law adds turn in complicated child welfare maze

New Oklahoma law adds turn in complicated child welfare maze
THE tug of war that Oklahoma's child welfare workers face every day was highlighted recently by The Oklahoman's Randy Ellis, who reported on a change in state law that took effect at the start of this year.
The Oklahoman Editorial
Published: December 16, 2010
 
THE tug of war that Oklahoma's child welfare workers face every day was highlighted recently by The Oklahoman's Randy Ellis, who reported on a change in state law that took effect at the start of this year.

New Oklahoma law adds turn in complicated child welfare maze

The law was the result of a study that showed Oklahoma children were removed from their homes at a much higher rate than the national average. That study noted the potential emotional damage to children who are pulled from their homes, even if for a short time.

The large majority of those children were returned to their homes within a week. That led legislators to conclude that providing services to parents, without removing a child from the home, would be preferable when possible.

The law passed in 2009 requires that before a child is removed from a home, child welfare workers, law enforcement and the courts must determine that an “imminent safety threat” to the child exists. Previously, officials had to show that a child's surroundings were a danger to his or her welfare.

What constitutes an imminent safety threat?  FULL STORY