Oklahoma Human Services has launched its first Youth Advisory Board for Child Welfare Services, creating a new pathway for young people with experience in Oklahoma’s child welfare system to share their perspectives and help strengthen how the system supports children and families.

The board brings together young adults who have experienced foster care firsthand and who want to ensure the voices of youth remain part of the conversation in order to improve outcomes for current and future children.

The board’s leaders include Michalann Clark, Elijah Counts, Nieva Whitney and Annemarie Corbin.

“We wanted to come together and share what we experienced in the child welfare system with the agency’s leadership team,” said Clark. “Some of the experiences we had were good and others were challenging. Either way, our hope is to turn our pain into purpose and use our perspectives to strengthen the system and improve outcomes for children currently in care.”

For Oklahoma Human Services leaders, the board reflects the important role youth advocates play in shaping the agency’s work and creates a more formal space for their insight and leadership.

“The insight these young leaders bring is invaluable, but just as important is the example they set for other youth in care,” said Oklahoma Human Services Child Welfare Director Michael Williams. “Their willingness to share their experiences strengthens the entire community around our children.”

The launch of the board comes as Oklahoma becomes the first state to join “A Home for Every Child,” the national initiative led by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families focused on ensuring every child has access to a safe and stable home.

Currently, for every 100 children entering foster care, only 57 licensed foster homes are available nationwide. Likewise, while the number of children entering foster care in Oklahoma has decreased significantly over the past decade, the state continues to face a foster home shortage. There are approximately 6,000 children currently in Oklahoma’s foster care system and a need for more than 500 foster homes across the state.

“A Home for Every Child is about making sure more children experience safe, stable homes during their time in care,” said Williams. “The Youth Advisory Board reflects Oklahoma’s belief that young people who lived this experience should help influence how the system evolves.”

The Youth Advisory Board is actively seeking members who are between the ages of 16 and 23 and who have either spent time in the child welfare system or are currently in the system. Those interested in joining the board are encouraged to reach out to The Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program (OKSA) at 1-800-397-2945.

Those interested in becoming a foster parent are encouraged to learn more and apply at okfosters. org.