Week 3 of Jake 66 Days Across the State

TODAY'S FOCUS: Raise the standard for removals. Courts would be required to find "clear and convincing" evidence, rather than the current "preponderance of evidence" standard, before allowing DHS to continue to keep a child from their family. This higher threshold protects parental rights and prevents unnecessary family separations by demanding stronger, more reliable proof of imminent danger before a child is held in state custody.

TODAY'S FOCUS: Prioritize immediate and extended family for foster care placement. When a child must be removed, Oklahoma DHS should first seek qualified relatives—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or close kin—before turning to non-relative foster homes. Keeping children connected to their own family network preserves cultural ties, emotional bonds, and stability during a difficult time.

TODAY'S FOCUS: Raise the qualifications for case workers. Oklahoma must require higher education standards, specialized training in child development and family dynamics, and ongoing certification for every DHS case worker. Better-prepared professionals make more accurate assessments, reduce mistakes, and ensure decisions truly serve the best interests of children and families.

TODAY'S FOCUS: Raise the personal and agency penalties for unjustified removals, including a mandatory 48-hour audit by an independent outside agency on every removal to prove justification. Case workers and supervisors who act without sufficient cause will face serious disciplinary action, up to termination, while agencies will be held financially and legally accountable. This rapid external review acts as an immediate check against overreach and builds public trust in the system.

TODAY'S FOCUS: Remove any financial incentive for DHS to remove a child from their family. The current federal Title IV-E funding structure provides greater reimbursements and bonuses for foster care placements and adoptions than for family preservation or in-home services, creating a perverse incentive that critics say encourages unnecessary removals to increase revenue. Reforming this by shifting funding priorities toward prevention, kinship care, and reunification—while eliminating placement-based rewards—would ensure decisions prioritize child and family well-being over budgetary gains.

TODAY'S FOCUS: Remove anonymous referrals because everyone deserves the right to face their accuser. Anonymous tips often lead to unverified investigations that disrupt innocent families, while ending anonymity allows parents to respond directly to allegations and promotes fairness. Child safety can still be protected through verified reports, mandatory follow-up, and swift action on credible threats without shielding false or malicious claims.