Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, says he had the hearing in order to learn what to do next. Former Department of Human Services workers, grandparents and many more came hoping to bring strong reform to what they call an empire they fear.
"The average Oklahoman is petrified when you mention DHS," says Allene Hebensperger a speaker at the forum. "The state of Oklahoma has taken a little girl, a three-year-old girl from everything she knew and loved. She was nurtured, protected, taught and appreciated and [DHS] handed her over to three pedophiles."
Strong words and even stronger feelings were relayed to anyone who would listen.
"She was diagnosed with PTSD at age four," says Hebensperger. "She's living in nothing less than sexual slavery in her own home, thank you DHS."
Hebensperger has a nine-year-old granddaughter she says has been sexually abused since the age of three. The nine-year-old lives with Hebensperger's daughter-in-law, and Hebensperger says the evidence of sexual abuse is shocking. But she says DHS isn't acting.
"You just get to the point where you go through the meltdown and the crying, and you just come to a place you're the only voice she's got," says Hebensperger.
She says the only thing DHS has done is continue to put children at risk. At the forum the biggest complaint against DHS was that the only thing they worry about saving is themselves.
"I was told that if you can't stand the sight of your own blood, don't get involved in politics, and I want to tell you right now that I would rather cut my arm off and lose all my blood rather than have to go through and see my granddaughter go through what she's been through," says Hebensperger.
The director of DHS attended part of the forum, but KSBI was told he had to leave early for another meeting. We were unable to reach him for comment specifically on the forum. Earlier he did tell us that child death due to abuse or neglect has dropped by 37 percent compared to two years ago. He says that's progress.
Morrissette has asked anyone affected by DHS to submit their story and comments to his office along with contact information. He's asking for no more than two pages per person and to receive all of them within seven days to begin reviewing.
