Pro Tem Treat, Sen. Rosino Applaud DHS for Progress on Pinnacle Plan

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and Senate Health and Human Services Committee chair Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, today released the following statements in response to the latest report on the Department of Human Services’ Pinnacle Plan.

“Today is an historic day for Oklahoma and our ongoing effort to improve the foster care system in the state,” said Pro Tem Treat. “To go from where we were around a decade ago to now being praised as a ‘model child welfare system’ is certainly something to be celebrated. I applaud the countless individuals who got us to this point. I also appreciate the current leadership at the Department of Human Services for recognizing their work to protect children in the foster care system is not done. I am confident with their ongoing work and commitment the remainder of the outstanding measures will be addressed in short order.”

The latest report covers January 1 through June 30, 2022, during which time the Co-Neutrals found the agency to have achieved substantial and sustained progress toward all 23 Performance Area Measures not impacted by COVID. Because of this finding, the agency is now dismissed from those measures for all future reports. 

“This report is assurance that the Department of Human Services has taken this seriously and have taken the appropriate steps to advocate and protect vulnerable children in Oklahoma,” said Sen. Rosino. “The agency’s openness, willingness to share information and continuous communications with me and my colleagues on the HHS committee has been commendable. Today’s news is not just great news for the agency, but for the children in their care.  

The 19 co-neutral commentaries along with the agency’s reports can be found on the Oklahoma Human Services website.

###