OKDHS - OAC 340:75-7-10. Recruitment of Bridge resource families

340:75-7-10. Recruitment of Bridge resource families

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Revised 3-26-10

(a) Bridge resource families. The recruitment of Bridge resource families is a crucial component for providing safe home environments for children requiring out-of-home placement due to child abuse, neglect, or other special circumstances. Diligent recruitment ensures children have access to Bridge resource families who:

(1) live in close proximity to biological families;
(2) can meet each child's unique needs;
(3) allow sibling groups to remain together; and
(4) reflect and understand the racial and ethnic diversity of local communities.

(b) Recruitment and retention. In order to impact the availability and diversity of Bridge resources, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) implements recruitment and retention activities that are defined by each county. • 1

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-7-10

Revised 12-15-11

1. Recruitment plan. Each county develops, implements, monitors, and refines a plan annually to increase the availability and diversity of Bridge resources to serve the child in Oklahoma Department of Human Service (OKDHS) custody and retain current resources.

(1) A copy of the annual recruitment plan is provided to Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) Foster Care and the Adoption Sections and to the respective Field Operations Division (FOD) area office by May 1st of each year.

(2) The recruitment plan:

(A) is developed with input from key stakeholders within the community, including Bridge resource families and Child Welfare (CW) staff;

(B) is based on an assessment and prioritization of need. Data and knowledge of children's needs is used to develop a county specific profile. Needs assessments consider the:

(i) proximity of available Bridge resources to families;

(ii) language skills of Bridge resource families;

(iii) racial and ethnic diversity of Bridge resources;

(iv) availability of tribal resources to serve Indian children who fall under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA); and

(v) ability of available Bridge resources to provide care for sibling groups, older children, and children with special needs;

(C) includes objectives and strategies to recruit and retain Bridge resources by:

(i) developing strategies for at least two specific recruitment activities and one retention activity per year; and

(ii) incorporating steps with time requirements to accomplish the strategies;

(D) may include interacting with the local media. All materials used in the media activity are approved prior to use by the CFSD Foster Care Section and OKDHS Office of Communications.

(E) is implemented under the direction of the county director;

(F) is monitored monthly by the county director. The results and status of implementation are reported in a prescribed format quarterly to the respective FOD area office; and

(G) is modified as objectives are achieved or the need for different strategies is identified.

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