Oklahoma welcomes new Child Welfare Director Michael with extensive experience

A powerful personal testimony highlighted the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth meeting on June 20, 2025, as a mother shared her journey from homelessness to reunification with her daughter. The mother, who gave birth to her daughter Harmony while unhoused and uninsured, described the challenges she faced, including the removal of her child into foster care despite her efforts to stay clean and seek help.

She credited programs like Hope for the Future and Hope Community Services for providing essential support, including supervised visitations and housing assistance. "Hope is the center of my wheel of supports," she stated, emphasizing the importance of ongoing assistance as she continues her recovery journey. Her heartfelt message underscored the need for sustained support for families in crisis, warning that cuts to these vital services could erode trust between families and the systems designed to help them.

The meeting also marked the introduction of Michael, the new Oklahoma Human Services Child Welfare Director. With nearly three decades of experience in child welfare, Michael expressed his commitment to improving the system in Oklahoma. He highlighted the importance of collaboration across agencies to enhance child well-being, drawing on his experiences from Connecticut and Florida. "Oklahoma has been one of those states that people quietly say, you should pay attention to," he noted, indicating a positive outlook for the future of child welfare in the state.

The discussions at the meeting reflected a deep commitment to addressing the needs of vulnerable families and children, with a focus on building trust and providing long-term support. As the mother concluded her testimony, she encouraged the commission to lean on the parent partnership board for insights, reinforcing the importance of listening to the voices of those directly affected by these systems.