Number of children in DHS care is at all time low
Local churches served over 6,000 Oklahoma children throughout 2022 by utilizing a growing connection technology called CarePortal managed by 111Project.
Churches across the state met 2,700 requests made through CarePortal by caseworkers at government child welfare agencies or other child-serving organizations that can submit needs to local churches.
“OKDHS and Child Welfare Services are so thankful for the partnership of local churches through the CarePortal and the 111Project of Oklahoma,” Oklahoma Child Welfare Services Director Tricia Howell said. “Your support has significantly improved the lives of many Oklahoma families, serving nearly 22,000 children since the program began in 2016.”
111Project is a non-profit organization with the mission to mobilize the local church so every child has family. The goal of the organization is to mobilize 1000 churches across the state of Oklahoma that can serve at least a family a month on CarePortal and recruit and support a foster family every year.
The vision is if 1,000 of the 6,200 churches in Oklahoma recruit one foster family a year and served one child welfare family per month, there would be no child welfare crisis. Families could be waiting on children instead of children waiting on families.
In 2022, through partnerships with foundations like the Arnall Family Foundation, and a grant with Oklahoma Human Services, 111Project was able to expand its existing footprint to now statewide with regional managers in each region to equip churches with CarePortal to help serve their community.
“We have a structure now to support every county in the state,” 111Project Executive Director Chris Campbell said. “And if a church wants to be involved, we have someone that can take care of them and help them get involved in recruiting and supporting foster families.”
Campbell attended his first 111 event as a church leader in 2011 and learned that there were 8,046 children in care on Jan. 1, 2011. A number that would jump to almost 12,000 in 2012.
“Ever since then, we’ve had a slow creep back down,” he said.
There are 6,585 children in care as of January 1, 2023, according to OKDHS monthly numbers released.
“From what I can see, in the OKDHS annual reports, it seems like currently, the numbers are lower than what they have been in the last 20 years,” he said.
Howell said the support of the local faith community has helped families stay together safely, supported the safe return of children to their homes and has helped the families who have stepped up to care for children when they have had to leave their home on a temporary basis, or enter the foster care system.
“Each year of the program, more communities and churches across Oklahoma have joined in this partnership which has contributed to the opportunity for OKDHS to serve more children and families in their own homes,” Howell said. “In addition to helping the families we serve, the support provided to the child welfare staff is priceless. Knowing others in the community care about the families they are trying to serve, encourages them to keep doing this work.”
111Project has 537 church partners with 175 signing up in 2022.
In 2022, churches across the state made a $2.3 million impact by meeting 2,700 needs and serving 6,000 children. November was a record-breaking month of serving 614 children in one month.
Thirteen counties were launched in 2022 – including Haskell, McClain, Hughes, Carter, Okmulgee, Love, Woods, Pittsburg, Ottawa, Comanche, Garvin and Logan – for a total of 40 counties, which is more than halfway to statewide expansion.
When a county is launched, CarePortal is activated and available for requests to be submitted. There needs to be enough churches enrolled to support the OKDHS Child Welfare within that county in order to activate CarePortal.
Campbell said 111Project’s team not only serves as connectors and cheerleaders, but more importantly, serves to mobilize the church so hope can be provided to families in dark situations.
“We’re a small part in this whole story of redemption,” he said. “To know that we are hope dealers – that the church network is the conduit for the answer, the resource, and the solution – that gets me jazzed up every year.”
The heart of the organization is for every community to take care of the children within their community with more than enough resources, families and support – CarePortal can help facilitate that.
Any churches or individuals interested in learning more or getting involved can visit 111project.org.
“Hey, churches, wherever you’re at, here’s something that’s working,” he said. “Here’s something that’s making a difference and we really would love for you to be involved. We need every church across the whole state. You know, this is this is not just a Tulsa problem or an Oklahoma City problem.”
