OKDHS.org - OAC 340:75-6-45. Case planning for incarcerated parents

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340:75-6-45. Case planning for incarcerated parents

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Revised 6-27-02

(a) Treatment planning. When a parent is incarcerated, treatment and visitation, if appropriate, is attempted through the correctional system. • 1

(b) Termination. Section 7006-1.1(12) of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes provides that the parental rights of an incarcerated parent can be terminated if the all of the conditions as described in the statute are met. [OAC 340:75-1-23]

(c) Probation. Contact is initiated and maintained during the treatment process with a parent's probation officer. The probation officer can provide information relating to the client's adherence to the probation requirements or new or existing charges that could relate to the child's safety.

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-6-45

ITS only revised 10-24-03

1. (a) Contact with incarcerated parents. When a child in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) has an incarcerated parent(s), the Child Welfare (CW) county of jurisdiction worker has phone or face-to-face contact with the parent(s) no later than 30 days from the child's removal. This contact is arranged through the parent(s)' prison case manager. If the name of the assigned case manager is unknown, the CW worker contacts the prison's Records Department.

(b) Assessing the incarcerated parent. The CW county of jurisdiction worker completes Form CWS-KIDS-9 (new form number 04KI006E), Family/Child Strengths and Needs Assessment, with the incarcerated parent(s) in the time frame required by OAC 340:75-6-40.3. If the parent(s) is incarcerated in a county other than the county of jurisdiction, the assessment may be completed by phone. In addition, the CW worker requests a copy of the parent(s)' assessment completed upon admission to the correctional system and files this in the paper case record.
(c) Treatment planning. The CW county of jurisdiction worker contacts the parent(s)' prison case manager and inquires as to the availability, type, and frequency of treatment services. If the correctional facility provides treatment services that relate to CW involvement, a copy of Form CWS-KIDS-9 (new form number 04KI006E) and Form CWS-KIDS-10 (new form number 04KI008E), Treatment Plan, or CWS-KIDS-24 (new form number 04KI012E), Individualized Service Plan, are forwarded to the case manager. Arrangements are made for a method of receiving periodic progress reports from the prison in order to update the appropriate forms and include them in the case record.
(d) Visitation. Ongoing visitation with the incarcerated parent depends on the case plan goal and is coordinated with the prison case manager. The CW worker determines whether visitation with the incarcerated parent(s) occurred prior to the child's placement in OKDHS custody, the frequency of visitation, and the preference of the child in order to establish an appropriate visitation schedule. The CW worker is encouraged to use a relative(s) to assist in facilitating visitation between the child and the incarcerated parent(s).
(e) Exceptions to contact and visitation. Exceptions to the contact and visitation requirements are made on a case-by-case basis for incarcerated parents. The CW worker must request approval for a contact exception from the CW supervisor. If the CW supervisor determines that an exception applies, the CW worker enters an explanation into the KIDS Contacts screen. Appropriate exceptions include the:
- (1) parent(s) is incarcerated for a capital offense;
- (2) parent(s) has had no contact with the child and the child does not wish to have contact; and
- (3) length of the parent(s)' incarceration is expected to surpass the date of the child obtaining the age of majority.

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