The taskforce on the Uniform Representation of children and Parents in cases involving abuse and neglect was created by order of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma July 22, 2019. This 12 member task force has studied different models of representation to make a recommendation to the Supreme Court on the best representation model to help improve outcomes for children and families involved in the state child welfare system. An interim report was published in the August 2020 issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal.
The annual report was presented to the Supreme Court in February 2021.
The 2021 Annual Report of the Oversight Committee
The 2022 Annual Report of the Oversight Committee
FAMILY REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM
In June 2023 legislation was passed forming the Family Representation and Advocacy Program. Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma was selected by the Administrative Office of the Courts to be the vendor to implement the program and build the Central Office of Family Representation.
“Parents and children have a right to an attorney in Oklahoma child welfare court cases. Valuing our vulnerable families involved in child welfare cases means valuing their right to effective counsel. Improving family representation thru improving parent and child representation, preserves Oklahoma Families.” Gwendolyn Clegg, Executive Director of the Office of Family Representation