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340:75-6-40.3. Family/Child Strengths and Needs Assessment

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Revised 6-1-07

(a) Purpose of assessment. Completing Form 04KI006E, Family/Child Strengths and Needs Assessment, is the initial and most important step in the permanency planning process. Information obtained during the assessment or investigation of the referral is the foundation for the treatment and service plan. The process is ongoing as information is gathered, obtained, and added to the assessment document. When the initial permanency plan is not reunification, such as when a heinous and shocking petition includes a recommendation for immediate termination of parental rights or a court finding of reasonable efforts is not required, the assessment is conducted on the child rather than the family.

(b) Assessment procedure. The assessment is conducted in the family home no later than 60 days from removal or the filing of the petition, or sooner if the family is willing to begin the process earlier.

(1) The assessment is completed with as many members of the household present as possible.
(2) A child in placement may be brought to the home for the assessment, if case circumstances and safety permit, affording an opportunity to observe parent‑child interaction.
(3) Assessment information is obtained from immediate family, extended family, placement providers, service providers, schools, other Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) units or divisions, and the Office of Juvenile Affairs. • 1
(4) The assessment assists in establishing rapport, learning the family’s history and current functioning patterns, and identifying support systems, strengths, and the child's and family’s needs. • 2 & 3

(c) Assessment results. The assessment provides a list of the child's risk related, safety, and other needs. The child's safety needs are incorporated into the parent’s individualized treatment and service plan along with desired results that demonstrate the parent(s) can meet the child's needs. Services are provided to enhance and develop the child's strengths and focus on the child's well-being.

(d) Subsequent family strengths and needs assessments. When a child moves from temporary to permanent custody, a subsequent family strengths and needs assessment is conducted on the child to identify specific services and activities to enable completion of the child's permanency plan. An additional assessment is completed whenever needed, such as when there is a substantial change in the family structure or risk factors affect the safety of the child. • 4

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-6-40.3

Revised 6-1-07

1. Case review. Prior to initiating the assessment, the Child Welfare (CW) worker reviews the entire CW record, including previous child abuse or neglect investigations, reports to the district attorney, and all other previous Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) history with the family.

2.   (a) Establishing rapport. In an effort to establish rapport during the assessment process, the parent(s) is informed that the initial goal is assisting the parent(s) in developing the ability to protect and care for the child in order for reunification to occur in a timely manner. The CW worker:

(1) informs the parent(s) that CW will assist in obtaining the required services and encourages the parent(s) to access needed services immediately;

(2) discusses with the family the importance of the court and permanency planning process; and

(3) provides to the parent(s) OKDHS Publication No. 99-27, Away From Home, A Parent's Guide to Out-of-Home Placement, which explains what happens with the child, what the parent(s)' rights are, and what is expected of the parent(s).

(b) Problem resolution. If a parent and a CW worker are in disagreement and the parent has a complaint the CW worker is unable to resolve, the CW worker advises the parent that complaints regarding staff performance and other staff related issues are handled within the CW worker's Field Operations Division chain of command. The CW worker provides the parent information regarding reporting complaints to the Office of Information and Referral.

3.   Helpful assessment tool. Form ODH 347, Medical and Social History Report for Adoption, is an excellent tool to assist in the assessment process and is an essential piece of concurrent planning. Form ODH 347 helps identify child and family needs and facilitates the identification and documentation of relative resources.

(1) For any relatives who are identified during completion of the form, the CW worker requests current addresses and phone numbers.

(2) For biological parents whose permanency plan is reunification, the CW worker removes the first page of Form ODH 347 that refers to adoption and files this page in the case record.

4.   Pregnancy and newborns in an open or closed permanency planning case.

(1) A newborn is at serious risk of harm when:

(A) reunifying a sibling(s) currently in out-of-home care remains unsafe;

(B) there is a pending request for termination of parental rights to a sibling(s); or

(C) termination of parental rights has occurred to another sibling(s).

(2) When a CW worker becomes aware of a pregnancy involving a mother or father who is included in an open permanency planning case, the CW worker:

(A) requests the mother or father provide the name and phone number of the physician and sign a release for the CW worker to consult with the physician. If the mother or father refuses to provide the information or sign the release, the CW worker contacts the district attorney to request a court order to obtain the physician's information and allow the CW worker to release information to the physician;

(B) contacts the physician and provides pertinent information regarding the mother's or father's CW history;

(C) requests the mother or father and physician notify the CW worker immediately upon delivery of the child;

(D) when the mother or father refuses to disclose or provide information and the district attorney declines to request a court order, establishes contact with other known family members or service providers who may provide information about the birth of the newborn;

(E) maintains weekly contact with the mother or father during the month prior to delivery;

(F) if at any time during the pregnancy, the location of the mother or father is unknown, requests a protective service alert, per OAC 340:75‑3-6 Instructions to Staff 7;

(G) upon delivery of the newborn, immediately initiates a referral and an investigation, per OAC 340:75-3-6.1.

(i) The risk of harm is based on the CW history of the mother, father, or both. New allegations are not required to initiate court intervention on behalf of the newborn.

(ii) Inclusion of information on the newborn in Form 04KI009E, Court Report, or 04KI014E, Individualized Service Plan Progress Report, is not sufficient and does not replace the need for an investigation and a determination regarding court involvement; and

(H) documents all contacts in the KIDS Contacts screen.

(3) When a CW worker becomes aware of a pregnancy involving a mother or father who previously participated in a permanency planning case where reunification was not successful, the CW worker follows OAC 340:75-6-40.3 Instructions to Staff 4(2)(G).

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