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340:75-7-12. Initial screening and requirements

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Revised 6-1-08

(a) Inquiries. Any person who is at least 21 years of age may apply to become a foster parent by contacting the local Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) office. • 1

(b) Requirements. Requirements described in OAC 340:110-5 serve as a framework for families and OKDHS in the mutual assessment process that assists in selecting the best home for children placed in foster family care. All applicants must:

(1) be at least 21 years of age and preferably no more than 55 years older than the child considered for placement;
(2) have healthy relationships whether married, single, separated, or divorced;
(3) have the ability to manage personal and household financial needs without relying on the foster care reimbursement;
(4) provide appropriate sleeping arrangements for each child placed;
(5) provide verification that all household members are in sufficiently good physical and mental health to provide for the individual needs of each child placed;
(6) submit to a search of all OKDHS records, including Child Welfare records;
(7) ensure that each household member, 18 years of age or older, submits fingerprints for a state and national criminal history records search;
(8) submit to a search of Juvenile Justice Information System (JOLTS) records for any child older than 13 years of age in the household;
(9) ensure that no household member has a prior conviction of any sexual offense;
(10) not smoke in the home when a child is placed in the home;
(11) not smoke in the automobile when transporting a child placed;
(12) provide references;
(13) complete 27 hours of pre-service training;
(14) complete 12 hours of in-service training each calendar year;
(15) demonstrate the basic competencies that are to:
- (A) protect and nurture children who have been abused, emotionally maltreated, or neglected;
- (B) meet the medical and developmental needs of these children;
- (C) support relationships between children and their parents, siblings, and kin, as specified by OKDHS;
- (D) connect children to safe, nurturing relationships; and
- (E) collaborate with OKDHS as a team member;
(16) provide a home that is clean and safe;
(17) have a house assessment completed;
(18) have extended family or friends to provide support and child care other than, or in addition to, licensed child care paid by OKDHS;
(19) submit verification of employment when requesting OKDHS paid child care services for a child in foster care;
(20) acknowledge and agree to abide by applicable Oklahoma statutes and OKDHS rules regarding the child in their care that include, but are not limited to:
- (A) OKDHS, as the legal custodian of the child, has the right to move any child from any foster home at any time when in the child's best interests and in accordance with statutes governing movement of children;
- (B) the necessity of maintaining and respecting the confidential nature of all information regarding a child placed in the foster home. A breach of confidentiality may be grounds for closure of the foster home and termination of the foster care contract; and
- (C) the requirement that OKDHS investigate or assess allegations of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment of any child in OKDHS custody placed in an approved foster home in the same manner as any other abuse or neglect investigation or assessment conducted by OKDHS;
(21) notify OKDHS whenever any member of the foster family is seriously ill or hospitalized;
(22) provide a physician's statement, once approved as a foster parent:
- (A) for any hospital stay;
- (B) for ongoing outpatient medical or mental health care, including psychological counseling; or
- (C) upon OKDHS request;
(23) agree to provide foster care as a planned, temporary placement for the child whose permanency plan is family reunification or other permanency plan;
(24) work as a member of a professional multidisciplinary team with OKDHS staff to develop a permanency plan for each child placed;
(25) share parenting of the child in care with the parent(s), who may have different values and lifestyles;
(26) be willing to actively mentor the parent in helping them improve their ability to safely care for their child;
(27) treat all information regarding the child and family as confidential, only sharing such information necessary to obtain services for the child or with persons who are directly involved with the case;
(28) participate in the development of an effective parent and child visitation plan that may include contact with the parents and siblings, if siblings are separated;
(29) comply with OKDHS rules on discipline;
(30) maintain requirements necessary for continued approval as a foster home;
(31) participate in the re-assessment of the foster home and the evaluation of the OKDHS Foster Care program and services;
(32) utilize the foster care reimbursement for the care and maintenance of the child's basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter, incidentals, non-prescription medications, including special activity fees, allowances, and recreational opportunities;
(33) utilize the clothing allowance included in the foster care reimbursement to provide adequate clothing for the child placed; and
(34) comply with all Oklahoma statutes relating to the care and support of minors including those that prohibit the use of tobacco, alcohol, or non-prescribed medications.

(c) Specific inquiries. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and OKDHS employees may apply to be OKDHS foster families. • 2

(d) Requests from other states. When former foster parents apply in another state to be a foster resource and that state requests information about the foster parents from OKDHS, Children and Family Services Division Foster Care Section responds to the request. • 3

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-7-12

Revised 6-1-08

1.   Response to inquiry. Child Welfare (CW) staff:

(1) responds within one week of the inquiry;

(2) documents each inquiry in KIDS Pre-Resource screen by noting the referral source;

(3) if no response is received after the inquiry, contacts the applicant a minimum of twice in a 45-day period to determine the applicant's interest;

(4) if there is no response from the applicant after the 45-day period, closes KIDS Pre-Resource within one week;

(5) discusses with each potential applicant the:

(A) basic responsibilities and requirements expected of a foster parent;

(B) children requiring out-of-home placement; and

(C) elements of the application and training process;

(6) discusses with the applicant his or her ability to meet the day-to-day needs of a child, such as providing a stimulating environment and ensuring a child the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities.

(A) When the age difference between the applicant and the child considered for placement is more than 55 years, CW staff consults with the CW field liaison (CWFL) and county director. If the applicant does not have the ability or willingness to meet these responsibilities and requirements, CW staff explains that the application may be denied.

(B) If the applicant still wishes to make a formal application, the application is accepted and processed. Specific information obtained is used as the basis for denial of the application and is documented in the KIDS Pre-Resource screen;

(7) carefully considers the responses of each potential applicant to an explanation of the focus and goals of Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) programs;

(8) obtains information regarding the person's particular circumstances, motivation, and ability to be a foster parent; and

(9) makes a referral to other Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) units, such as Adoption Services, or other divisions within OKDHS, such as Division of Child Care or Office of Volunteerism, when the applicant's needs or expectations are better met through these sources.

2.   Foster parent eligibility.

(1) TANF recipients. The assessment process explores the ability of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipient to provide for the child's needs pending receipt of the foster care reimbursement.

(2) OKDHS employees. An OKDHS employee interested in becoming a foster parent submits a written inquiry to the employee's supervisor. If the employee is assigned to CW, the written inquiry is also sent to the CWFL.

(A) Assessment of the request. Each applicant's request requires assessment on a case-by-case basis. The supervisor and county director or division director, as applicable, discuss the:

(i) potential for a conflict of interest between the role as an employee and that of an OKDHS resource parent; and

(ii) employee's understanding that employment with OKDHS is not used as a means to obtain information about the child's case or gain services.

(B) Memorandum. The county director or division director, as applicable, submits the application request in a written memorandum to CFSD Foster Care Section. The memorandum documents the discussion of conflict of interest and the separation of job duties as an employee and foster parent.

(C) Written approval. The resource family assessment process for an OKDHS employee is initiated only after receiving written approval from the Foster Care Section.

(D) Placement considerations. When an OKDHS employee is an approved foster or tribal foster parent, placement of a child is not considered when the child is on the employee's caseload.

3.  Inquiries from other states. Requests from other states, agencies, or persons regarding information from an active or closed resource are routed to CFSD Foster Care Section for response.

(1) The Foster Care Section requests information from the county, if necessary.

(2) The county office removes all reference information and child abuse and neglect information from the requested resource record before sending the information to the Foster Care Section.

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