The Child Welfare (CW) worker is responsible for the provision and documentation of services related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) for a child in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) custody.

• (1) Education.  The CW worker informs the:
  • (A) child about the methods of transmission, high risk behaviors, methods to reduce risk, consequences of the child's behaviors, and confidentiality related to HIV; and
  • (B) child's placement provider about methods of transmission, high risk behaviors, methods to reduce risk, consequences, confidentiality, infection control in the placement, and universal precautions related to HIV.
• (2) Early identification.
  • (A) Per Section 7004-1.1 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes (10 O.S. § 7004-1.1),. . . the Department shall . . . provide for each child placed in the Department's emergency custody to receive, as soon as practicable after the filing of the petition, an initial health screening to identify any health problems that require immediate treatment, to diagnose infections and communicable diseases and to evaluate injuries or other signs of neglect or abuse.  The Department shall provide such medical care as is necessary to preserve the child's health and protect the health of others in contact with the child . . .
  • (B) When a child's medical history or behaviors, as assessed by the CW worker, indicates risk of exposure to HIV, an HIV test may be performed at the time of the initial health screening.  The CW worker schedules the test as soon as feasible after the filing of the deprived petition.  
• (3) Testing.  Per 10 O.S. § 7003-5.4, … if requested by the placement provider, the Department shall provide for the examinations or tests on the child ... based on the Centers for Disease Control guidelines for time and frequency of testing ...
  • (A) The first test is obtained when requested by the placement provider if no previous testing occurred.  The first test serves as a baseline.
  • (B) Regardless of test results from the first test, a second test is done six months after the first test.  The second test confirms whether transmission has occurred.
• (4) Authorization.  When requested by the child's placement provider, per 10 O.S. § 7003-5.4, OKDHS obtains authorization for an HIV test for the child and release of such test results to the placement provider.  Authorization for HIV testing or release of HIV test results may be obtained by informed written consent or court order per OAC 340:75-1-116.  
• (5) Assessment and needs based treatment planning.  The CW worker includes an assessment of risk behaviors associated with the transmission of HIV in the development of each child's individualized needs assessment.
• (6) Counseling. The CW worker obtains HIV/Acquired Immune Syndrome (AIDS) counseling for the child who exhibits a need for such.  Specialized HIV/AIDS counseling is provided by persons trained through Oklahoma State Department of Health or American Red Cross.
• (7) Case management and planning.  Case management and planning activities for a child in emergency or temporary OKDHS custody include the child's parent(s).  The parent(s) is encouraged to provide input into the planning and management of the child's treatment and placement.  The CW worker shares HIV-related information concerning a child in emergency or temporary OKDHS custody with the child's parent(s).
• (8) Placement.  A child with medically diagnosed HIV infection is placed in an out- of-home placement consistent with the child's assessed treatment needs in order to participate in all program activities.  Disclosure of confidential HIV-related information to a placement provider must be accompanied by the required written statement, dated and signed by the placement provider, with a copy in the child's separate and confidential case record, per OAC 340: 75-1-114.
• (9) Case record maintenance and contents.  
  • (A) The CW supervisor responsible for the primary case oversees all case planning and maintains written documentation of all medical and case planning information regarding the health status of a child who is:
    • (i) tested for HIV;
    • (ii) HIV seropositive; or
    • (iii) medically diagnosed with AIDS.
  • (B) HIV-related information must be kept in a separate and confidential case record.   • 1
• (10) Public information.  Medical information concerning specific clients is not disclosed to the public.