OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Department of Human Services isn’t happy with the latest report on its efforts to improve foster care for children.

“We are strongly objecting to a dismaying number of aspects of this report,” said Ed Lake, DHS Director.

The progress report comes from three out-of-state child welfare experts every six months.

DHS says the number of children reported as maltreated is inflated because DHS investigates threats before abuse happens.

“We believe this report contains a number of misleading comments, isolated facts stated without important context, hindsight bias, and inconsistencies with prior reports, all seemingly intended to portray the agency’s actions or alleged inaction in as unfavorable a light as possible.”

DHS leaders say more than 840 new case workers and supervisors have been added, resulting in lower caseloads.

Workers are also being paid 33 percent more and due to funding for raises.

Improvements were ordered after a 2012 settlement of a class-action lawsuit alleging foster children were victimized.