Grandmother Says She Reported Abuse To Oklahoma DHS A Month Before Child's Death

The grandmother of a 3-year-old girl, who died last year after alleged abuse, said she notified DHS about the abuse, but the agency did nothing. 

On Thursday, July 25 Baylee Sowards, 23, was charged with child abuse, and Lola's mother Alexis Nicole Caplan, 25, was charged with enabling child abuse.

More >> Grandmother Says She Reported Abuse To Oklahoma DHS A Month Before Child's Death

17-Year-Old Soon to Age Out of Foster Care Pleads to Be Adopted by ‘Anyone Who Will Take Me’

In just a few short months, a 17-year-old boy named Haven will age out of foster care and be forced to fend for himself. He’s now desperately seeking a family to call his own.

The teen living in Oklahoma City has been in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Humans Services since he was 12 years old. After living in a shelter for the past five years, he says that he is losing hope that a forever family will adopt him. With his upcoming 18th birthday in October 2019, time is now running out for Haven.

More >> 17-Year-Old Soon to Age Out of Foster Care Pleads to Be Adopted by ‘Anyone Who Will Take Me’

Former Oklahoma teacher sentenced for raping foster child

A former Oklahoma science teacher has been sentenced for raping a foster child in her custody.

According to an arrest affidavit filed in 2018, Stephanie Cowan admitted to having sexual contact with a 15-year-old foster child on four separate occasions since the boy was placed in her care in October of 2017.

More >> Former Oklahoma teacher sentenced for raping foster child

Former foster parent gets 8 years for rape of 15-year-old boy in her care

A former foster care mother was sentenced to eight years in prison for raping a 15-year-old boy.

Stephanie Cowan, 34, of Salina pleaded guilty on May 22 in Mayes County District Court to two counts of second-degree rape. One count of second-degree rape was dropped, online records show.

More >> Former foster parent gets 8 years for rape of 15-year-old boy in her care

Enid foster mother arrested on child abuse complaint

An Enid woman was arrested Wednesday on a complaint of child abuse after her foster child claimed she hit him.

Shannon Carter, 32, was arrested by Enid Police Department officers after the child told officers that when he was in the bath “mommy hit me,” according to the incident report.

More >> Enid foster mother arrested on child abuse complaint

Lawsuit against DHS claims agency 'failed to protect children'

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, families and former employees are moving forward with a class action lawsuit that was filed against the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

They plan to sue the agency for what they call "failing to protect children."

More >> Lawsuit against DHS claims agency 'failed to protect children'

Lawsuit against DHS claims agency 'failed to protect children'

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, families and former employees are moving forward with a class action lawsuit that was filed against the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

They plan to sue the agency for what they call "failing to protect children."

More >> Lawsuit against DHS claims agency 'failed to protect children'

Child Welfare Employee Wanted For Stealing From Disabled "Vulnerable Adult"

An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for a 33-year-old Child Welfare employee accused of stealing money from a disable person under her care.

The Comanche County District Court issued the felony arrest warrant for Tiffany A. Thompson, 33, of Lawton, for the charge of exploitation by caretaker of elderly or disabled person, records indicate. She faces up to 10 years in prison plus up to $10,000 fine and restitution if convicted.

More >> Child Welfare Employee Wanted For Stealing From Disabled "Vulnerable Adult"

Oklahoma Fathers' Rights Movement Holds First Meeting

A new movement in Oklahoma is trying to give fathers a better shot at custody of their kids.

The Oklahoma Fathers' Rights Movement says fathers lose 87-percent of the time when it comes to child custody.

More >> Oklahoma Fathers' Rights Movement Holds First Meeting

Report: Oklahoma DHS Shows Improvements, But Still Failing To Protect Children

The new report says DHS shows improvement in reforming the state's foster care system. However, the Co-Neutral report also says DHS is still failing in a number of areas, including protecting children in their care.

The reports are issued every six months as part of settlement of a federal lawsuit. The Co-Neutrals are charged with overseeing reforms mandated in the settlement.

More >> Report: Oklahoma DHS Shows Improvements, But Still Failing To Protect Children

Study on moms in jail merits policymakers' attention

AFTER studying practices at the Oklahoma County jail two years ago, researchers with the Vera Institute of Justice noted that roughly four-fifths of the population was made up of people awaiting trial. Those weeks or months (or sometimes longer) of waiting can turn a person's life upside down.

This is especially true for mothers, as is noted in a recent report by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union.

More >> Study on moms in jail merits policymakers' attention

A year after cutting child abuse prevention funds, state OKs new grants

The Oklahoma Department of Health has restored funding for child abuse prevention after it was cut during the state's budget crisis nearly a year ago.

Nonprofit community agencies across the state will again receive their share of about $2 million, which will be used for in-home support of new parents. Before the program was defunded, it served 700 families who were expecting a child or had young children in the home.

More >> A year after cutting child abuse prevention funds, state OKs new grants

Interview: How Mothers Jailed in the US Lose Custody of Their Children

As the number of women locked up in the US grows, Oklahoma has the grim distinction of being the state incarcerating more women per capita than any other. Most women in jail have yet to be convicted of a crime – they’re being held until trial – and the vast majority are mothers. jasmine Sankofa speaks with Amy Braunschweiger about the obstacles these mothers face trying to keep in contact with, and keep custody of, their children while behind bars.

More >> Interview: How Mothers Jailed in the US Lose Custody of Their Children

Washington County woman found guilty in death of 7-month-old foster son

On Thursday, a Washington County jury found 44-year-old Tracy Nelson guilty of first degree manslaughter in the death of her foster son in June 2017.

The police report said the child died from blunt force trauma to the neck and head. The medical examiner ruled his death as a homicide.

More >> Washington County woman found guilty in death of 7-month-old foster son

OKC Mom Speaks Out After Daughter Arrested For Abusing 3 Foster Children

A foster parent denies abuse allegations made against her daughter by their foster children.
Police arrested Tiara Kruta, 21, on Sunday on three child abuse complaints after one of the boys ran away from their home.

More >> OKC Mom Speaks Out After Daughter Arrested For Abusing 3 Foster Children

Metro children say foster mom’s daughter zip tied them when they were bad

Tied up and starved - those are just some of the allegations of abuse lodged by two boys. The 11- and 12-year-olds told police their foster mom’s daughter, Tiara Kruta, would "zip tie" them to their bed and only feed him once a day.

Oklahoma City police arrested Kruta over the weekend; the 21-year-old was booked on three counts of child abuse against children in the care of her mother.

More >> Metro children say foster mom’s daughter zip tied them when they were bad

Oklahoma DHS Disputes Report on Foster Care Reform Efforts

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services on Thursday took issue with the latest report by monitors that downgraded the agency's progress in improving the state's foster care program for children.

More >> Oklahoma DHS Disputes Report on Foster Care Reform Efforts

Oversight panel accuses DHS of failing to protect children, not making good-faith efforts to reform

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has failed even to make “good faith efforts” to improve services and protect children in state custody, according to a panel of experts who have been appointed by a federal court to oversee reforms in the agency.

DHS, in turn, accused the panel of omitting facts to portray the agency “in as unfavorable a light as possible.” And Gov. Mary Fallin expressed concern over the “tone” of the report, noting it seemed to contradict findings that the same panel issued only months ago.

More >> Oversight panel accuses DHS of failing to protect children, not making good-faith efforts to reform

Oklahoma Foster Mother Charged After Child Suffers Severe Burns

A foster mother is charged with multiple counts of child neglect, months after a little girl is hospitalized with 3rd and 4th degree burns.

It happened in Warr Acres while Dusty Hughes and five other children were left in the care of a 15-year-old boy.

More >> Oklahoma Foster Mother Charged After Child Suffers Severe Burns

Foster mother accused of child neglect after leaving 5 special needs children with teenager

A foster mother has been charged with neglect after leaving five special needs children with a 15-year-old. One of her foster children suffered serious burns.

All the foster children ages 11 months to 7 years old have been removed from Justine Kersey's home in Warr Acres.

More >> Foster mother accused of child neglect after leaving 5 special needs children with teenager