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More Progress Sought In Plan To Improve Foster Care System

Oklahoma Department of Human Services

Plaintiffs in a now-settled lawsuit say not enough progress is being made to improve the foster care system in Oklahoma.

The Pinnacle Plan is an agreement to the suit, which claimed the Oklahoma Department of Human Services had policies that led to the harm of abused and neglected children in state custody.

The plan has a list of specific improvements that should be met by 2017, with goals to reach along the way. Monitors of the plan have given mixed verdicts in the agency's success in meeting the benchmarks.

The Tulsa World reports that plaintiffs have written a letter to the monitors, seeking them to intervene to spur faster change.

A department spokeswoman says it has until June 9 to submit a written response to the letter.

The legislature appropriated $15.9 million for the Pinnacle Plan for the next fiscal year that begins on July 1.

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