Dossett study investigates Oklahoma’s foster care reimbursement rates

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, led an interim study in the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee investigating Oklahoma’s foster care reimbursement rates. The study included an expert on the foster care reimbursement landscape nationwide, as well as three in-state experts on foster care in Oklahoma.

Emily Mikkelsen from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) revealed that in 2025, 45 state legislatures introduced 128 measures related to child welfare financing. These measures included direct allocations in appropriations bills, modifications of eligibility requirements for those receiving reimbursement, and authorization for state agencies to determine the appropriate reimbursement rate within set parameters.

Lynn McCarn, Deputy Director of Foster Care Field Staff at the Department of Human Services (DHS), explained the difference between traditional foster families and kinship foster families, and the opportunities and challenges associated with both types. She noted how challenging it has become to retain a base of trained, experienced traditional foster families who are able and willing to say yes to DHS placement requests. 

Laynie Gottsch, foster parent and advocate, shared the challenges associated with short-term emergency foster placements and emphasized how current foster care reimbursement rates do not cover the expenses foster families incur when they accept such placements.

Jennifer Abney, founder of Angels Foster Family Network, reminded the committee that reimbursements for child-placing agencies in Oklahoma have lagged just as reimbursements to foster families have, causing them to spend an ever-growing amount of time soliciting donations and grants.

“Foster care reimbursement rates in Oklahoma have stayed the same since 2018, but expenses for foster families are only going up. They need our help so they can keep saying yes to children who need it the most,” Dossett said.

To view the interim study, visit oksenate.gov/live-chamber, go to the Calendar-Day/Month tab, and select the Health and Human Services Committee hearing held at 9:30 a.m. on Sep. 29, 2026.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Jo Anna Dossett at (405) 521-5624 or JoAnna.Dossett@oksenate.gov