Okla. Stat. tit. 10, § 10-1424: Department as next friend of institutionalized persons -

Procuring appoint of guardian.

The State Department of Public Welfare shall have the power and

the Department shall have the duty to appear as next friend for all

minor orphans, incompetents, dependents and delinquents who are

inmates of any public institution maintained and operated by the

state, county, city or municipality before the district court having

probate jurisdiction, and ask that legal guardians be appointed for

the estates of such minor orphans, incompetents, dependents and

delinquents when it appears that such persons have an interest in

some estate, legacy, or property, and shall have such power and

authority in any and all litigation where interests of such persons

may require to be prosecuted or defended or instituted in any and

all courts in this state.

The State Department of Public Welfare, in addition to the

foregoing, is hereby empowered to intervene as next friend in cases

of all minor orphans in this state when it is shown or appears to

the Department that the estate of such minors is being mismanaged or

dishonestly administered.