Troxell v. Oklahoma Department of Human Services

REIF, V.C.J.

1 1 This case concerns the monthly subsidy provided by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) to adoptive parents of special needs children. The controversy in this regard stems from a decision by DHS to pay foster parents of special needs children a higher subsidy amount than is paid to adoptive parents. DHS has set the monthly foster placement subsidy at $365.00 per child, while capping the monthly adoptive placement subsidy at $310.50 per child.

T2 Kelly and Tina Troxell, the adoptive parents of two special needs children, challenged this two-tier subsidy system through…