INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-1-29

1.  Case location and responsibility.

• (1) Location of primary case.
  • (A) When there is more than one assigned Child Welfare (CW) worker, the primary CW case is maintained in the county of jurisdiction.
  • (B) The exception to location in the county of jurisdiction is when the only CW service is foster care payments for a child in tribal custody per OAC 340:75-19-26.
• (2) Primary and secondary case responsibility.
  • (A) The designation of primary and secondary CW worker is not a reflection of the amount of case responsibility.  Each CW worker assigned to the case, whether primary or secondary, has equal responsibility to:
    • (i) ensure the safety, well-being, and permanency of the child and family; and
    • (ii) work together in a professional manner to meet the needs of the child and family.
• (B) If assigned CW workers disagree regarding the case plan or case actions after consultation between the respective supervisors, the CW supervisors contact the respective county director and CW field liaison (CWFL) to:
  • (i) review the matter and reach a consensus; or
  • (ii) if unable to reach a consensus, consult with Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) Permanency Planning Section for direction.
• (C) The county of jurisdiction worker is the principal case coordinator and is responsible for:
  • (i) gathering information regarding the circumstances of the child and, if applicable, parent(s); and
  • (ii) preparing and submitting the court report.
• (D) The principal decision maker is the county of jurisdiction worker, except when the county of jurisdiction is not providing service to a parent(s) working toward reunification.  The principal decision maker in this case is the worker providing service to the parent(s).
• (E) When a child is in permanent Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) custody and the county of jurisdiction is different from the county providing service to the child, the assigned CW workers jointly develop recommendations to the court and determine appropriate case actions.
• (F) When a youth is going to age out in OKDHS custody and:
  • (i) the county of jurisdiction is different from the county of placement, the assigned CW workers meet with the youth at least three months prior to the youth's 18th birthday to determine the youth's plan.  If the youth has not obtained a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or high school diploma and wants to continue in voluntary placement, the county where the youth is located after turning 18 provides the appropriate services.  For the youth in above foster care level placement, where the only assigned CW worker is a liaison, a new CW worker in the county of placement is assigned after the youth turns 18; or
  • (ii) receives Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) services, the assigned CW worker and DDSD case manager meet at least three months prior to the youth's 18th birthday to determine the steps necessary for the continuation of appropriate services to the youth.  A follow-up meeting is held with the CW worker and DDSD case manager at least one month prior to the youth's 18th birthday to determine whether the necessary steps were completed.
• (G) When the only CW service provided is foster care payments for a child in tribal custody:
  • (i) the primary record is maintained by the CW tribal liaison; and
  • (ii) when the child's placement is in a different county, a secondary case is sent to the county of placement.
• (H) Secondary case responsibility is assigned to the facility liaison for any child in OKDHS custody placed in community-based residential care (CBRC) settings, per OAC 340:75-11-233 and 340:75-11-239.
• (I) Refer to OAC 340:75-3-11 for information regarding coordination between counties for completion and submission of Form CWS- KIDS-3 (new form number 04KI002E), Report to District Attorney.