'Disappointed and saddened': Oklahoma County Social Services to disband on Oct. 31 [View all]

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'Disappointed and saddened': Oklahoma County Social Services to disband on Oct. 31


OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — The Oklahoma County Social Services Department will cease to exist at the end of the month.

The planned closure arose in response to the passage of Senate Bill 1931, which takes effect Nov. 1.


Chief Deputy Commissioner Joe Blough told FOX 25 that the change is playing out differently than he originally expected.

As the legislation moved through the Oklahoma State Capitol, Blough understood it "would not impact [counties'] ability to provide these types of services."

However, "SB1931 repealed [the] ability of counties to provide these services because it removed [the] statutory authority of [county commissioners'] as 'overseers of the indigent for their county,'" he said.

Certain programs will stop functioning, including the Homeless Navigator program that connects the homeless to service providers, the Gatekeeper Program for elderly residents in need, and the county's pharmacy that gives free prescriptions to low-income residents.

While the county won't lead those efforts after Oct. 31, Blough expects other nonprofits and agencies to pick up the slack.