(a) Pre-service training.  Applicants and adult household members who will be caring for a child in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) custody are required to complete a prescribed course of training prior to the approval of the Bridge resource home that addresses the values and competencies essential to caring for a child who is a victim of maltreatment.  • 1

• (1) Each adult age 18 years or older in a Bridge resource home identified as a provider for a child completes required training or is determined to possess required competencies as a result of prior foster care training and experience.
• (2) Required pre-service training consists of approximately 27 hours of instruction addressing required competencies, including, but not limited to:
  • (A) protecting and nurturing children who have been abused, emotionally maltreated, or neglected;
  • (B) meeting the medical and developmental needs of these children;
  • (C) supporting relationships between children and their parents, siblings, and kin, as specified by OKDHS;
  • (D) connecting children to safe, nurturing relationships; and
  • (E) collaborating with OKDHS as a team member.
• (3) Applicants providing kinship foster care may be approved as initial placements before the completion of classroom training.
• (4) Applicants providing kinship foster care must complete pre-service training including self-studies no later than 120 days after placement of the child with the kinship parent.
• (5) An applicant with a break in OKDHS service of less than five years meets the training requirements.
• (6) Applicants may request a permanent training waiver.  Requests for training waivers are reviewed and acted on by the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) Foster Care Section programs manager or designee.  The requests may be based upon:
  • (A) equivalent training from another state, tribe, or private agency with a list of subjects addressed in the training submitted for approval; or
  • (B) verification that the adult in the household has a significant disability that precludes the completion of training.  Persons who are granted a permanent training waiver for disabilities may not be considered as a caregiver for a child.
• (7) Applicants may request exception to training based on work schedule or disability and complete a self-study curriculum approved by the Foster Care programs manager or designee.  The assigned resource specialist supervises self studies.  A self-study curriculum addressing the required competencies may be requested by an adult in the applicant's home when the person's:
  • (A) work schedule precludes the completion of classroom training; or
  • (B) significant disability precludes the completion of classroom training.

(b) In-service training.  All Bridge resource parents complete 12 hours of continuing in-service training per calendar year on subjects that promote their skills and interests as providers.  • 2

• (1) OKDHS offices provide free in-service training options to Bridge resource families, including conferences, video and taped instruction, and literature.
• (2) Internet instruction through recognized state and private foster care agencies is accepted as meeting in-service training requirements.  The Bridge resource family provides to the resource specialist the certificate of training, if available, from the training source, listing the completed approved hours.
• (3) Bridge resource families have options in selecting classes, conferences, reading materials, or other learning opportunities that enhance their skills as providers and meet the in-service training requirement.  Prior approval from the resource specialist is secured to ensure a common understanding of credit for each event.
• (4) Bridge resource families caring for children in OKDHS custody residing in another state must meet the requirements of that state for ongoing training to maintain approval.