OKDHS.org - OAC 340:75-7-19. Joint approval of foster homes

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340:75-7-19. Joint approval of foster homes

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Revised 06-1-07

(a) Joint approval of resource homes. Resource families may be jointly approved to provide foster care services to children in the custody of Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) while approved by other agencies, OKDHS divisions, or tribes. Joint approval decisions follow assessment by all involved that the child's needs are best met in a jointly approved home. While the home is jointly approved, any changes or concerns are shared between all involved with the joint-approved home. Joint approval is child specific and occurs when:

(1) a child's need for specialized services, treatment, or placement changes;
(2) a child re-enters the Child Welfare (CW) system and has a previous relationship with the placement provider;
(3) the placement provider is a kin to the child;
(4) siblings need to be placed together;
(5) an infant of a child in OKDHS custody requires placement; and
(6) a child in OKDHS custody requires specialized services or treatment in a kinship placement. • 1

(b) Joint use of Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) homes. Joint approval of a DDSD home as a CW foster home occurs after a case-by-case assessment and approval from the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) DDSD liaison.

(c) Joint use of CW foster homes by Oklahoma Juvenile Affairs (OJA). Joint use of a CW foster home occurs after a case-by-case assessment and approval from the CFSD Foster Care section.

(d) Joint use of kinship homes. Using a kinship foster home as a CW foster home requires that the kinship family continue to meet all the requirements of a CW foster home. • 2

(e) Joint use of adoptive home. OKDHS advises the family of the differences in the goals of foster care and adoptive services and the differences in the roles and responsibilities that the family has to the child in foster care and the child's family. OKDHS advises the family that a child in foster care is not moved in order to place a child for adoption and considers the needs of all children in the home when making decisions about adoptive placements. • 3

(f) Joint use of licensed family child care homes. Only a CW kinship foster home is considered for joint approval of a licensed family child care home after a case-by-case assessment. • 4

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-7-19

Revised 6-1-07

1. Joint approval of foster homes.

(1) Process for joint approval of a therapeutic foster care (TFC) home as a foster family home.

(A) The child's Child Welfare (CW) worker contacts the county of placement resource specialist before placement of a child.

(B) The resource specialist then contacts the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) TFC programs manager and verifies the TFC agency agreement to share the resource.

(C) Following verification by the TFC agency that the resource may be shared, the CFSD TFC programs manager or designee notifies the resource specialist and CFSD Foster Care programs manager to proceed with the assessment of the home.

(D) The resource specialist contacts the TFC agency and requests:

(i) a copy of the family assessment;

(ii) a copy of the most recent re-evaluation;

(iii) training records; and

(iv) a recommendation from the TFC agency.

(E) Upon reviewing the documentation from the TFC agency and recommendation, the resource specialist:

(i) has the family complete and sign Forms 04AF001E, Resource Family Assessment Application, and 04AD003E, Request for Background Check, authorizing OKDHS to conduct an investigation into criminal and OKDHS records, including CW records, of the applicant and each adult household member, per OAC 340:75-7-15;

(ii) assesses the home using Form 04AF004E, House Assessment;

(iii) has the family send a letter to the CFSD Fingerprinting Process Section that includes the foster parent's:

(I) name;

(II) date of birth;

(III) Social Security number; and

(IV) signature;

(iv) requests that a copy of the fingerprint results be sent to the resource specialist;

(v) explains Form 04FC003E, Notice to Foster Parent Applicant(s), and has the family sign it;

(vi) obtains copies of all required verification, such as driver license and liability insurance;

(vii) completes an addendum;

(viii) submits the training information to CFSD Foster Care Section via Fax; and

(ix) submits all information to the CW supervisor for approval.

(F) The resource specialist completes and attaches the addendum to the TFC agencies home assessment documenting updated information and making a recommendation regarding the approval as a foster home.

(G) Upon approval, the resource specialist has the family sign the foster care contract and Form 15GR008E, Notice of Grievance Rights – Foster Parent, creates a KIDS resource, and notifies the child's CW worker that placement may be made and payments may begin.

(H) Additional placements of children in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) custody are not permitted without written approval from TFC and Foster Care programs managers.

(2) Process for joint approval of a foster family home as a TFC home.

(A) The child's CW worker, following consultation and approval from the CW supervisor and CW field liaison (CWFL), contacts the county of placement resource specialist with the request and documentation of previous services before placement of a child.

(B) The resource specialist then contacts the Foster Care programs manager with all related information, verification that the foster family has adequately met the needs of the child placed, and a recommendation for joint approval.

(C) The Foster Care programs manager provides written approval to the resource specialist and the TFC programs manager. A copy of the written approval is given to the family for attachment to the TFC application.

(D) Upon TFC agency approval, the contract liaison creates a KIDS resource and the CW worker completes the KIDS Placement screens.

(E) Additional placements of children in OKDHS custody are not permitted without written approval from TFC and Foster Care programs managers.

(3) Process for joint approval of a tribal home as a foster family home.

(A) The child's CW worker contacts the CFSD tribal coordinator, county of placement resource specialist, and the tribal liaison before placement of a child.

(B) The tribal coordinator contacts the tribe to verify the tribe's agreement to share the resource.

(C) Following verification by the tribe that the resource may be shared, the tribal coordinator notifies the resource specialist and Foster Care programs manager to proceed with the assessment of the home.

(D) The resource specialist contacts the tribe and requests the resource record and recommendation.

(E) Upon reviewing the resource record and recommendation, the resource specialist:

(i) updates all required information, including training;

(ii) assesses the home using Form 04AF004E;

(iii) completes an addendum; and

(iv) submits this information to the CW supervisor for approval.

(F) Upon approval, the resource specialist creates a KIDS resource and notifies the child's CW worker that placement may be made and payments may begin.

(G) Additional placements of children in OKDHS custody are not permitted without written approval from the tribal coordinator and Foster Care programs manager.

(4) Process for joint approval of a foster family home as a tribal home.

(A) The tribe contacts the CFSD tribal coordinator with the request before placement of a child.

(B) The tribal coordinator contacts the Foster Care programs manager and the county of placement resource specialist.

(C) The Foster Care programs manager provides written approval to the resource specialist and tribal coordinator. The tribal coordinator gives a copy of the written approval to the tribe.

(D) Upon CFSD approval, the tribe completes and submits a foster home study to the tribal coordinator.

(E) The tribal coordinator creates a KIDS resource.

(F) The tribe notifies the tribal liaison of placement of the child in tribal custody in the tribal resource.

(G) Additional placements of children in tribal custody are not permitted without written approval from the tribal coordinator and Foster Care programs manager.

2.   Process for joint approval of a kinship home as a CW foster home. The CW worker creates a separate KIDS resource prior to any placements, with the resource type as CW Foster Family Care. A new contract number is not needed.

3.   Process for joint approval of an adoptive home as a CW foster home. The resource specialist:

(1) initiates a foster home assessment update, consisting of, but not limited to:

(A) updating Form 04AF001E, showing any changes since the original application. The family must provide references, per OAC 340:75-7-18;

(B) completing Form 04AF004E, House Assessment;

(C) obtaining a copy of the adoptive home assessment and reviewing and updating any information;

(D) completing a Juvenile Justice Information System (JOLTS) review of any child older than 13 years of age residing in the home;

(E) conducting an FBI national criminal history records search of all adults in the home, including submission of fingerprints, if not done previously;

(F) documenting pre-service training;

(G) explaining Form 04FC003E, Notice to Foster Parent Applicant(s); and

(H) obtaining a copy of all required verification, such as driver license and liability insurance;

(2) completes and attaches the addendum to the adoptive home assessment documenting updated information and making a recommendation regarding the approval as a foster home; and

(3) has the family sign the foster care contract after completion of the entire foster home update.

4.   Process for joint approval of a child care home as a kinship foster family home.

(1) When the licensed family child care home requests joint approval as a CW kinship foster home, the county of placement resource specialist and Licensing staff assigned to the child care home gather data that includes:

(A) information about the child considered for placement in the child care home;

(B) the number of children, and their ages, approved in the child care home;

(C) the number of children of their own;

(D) the history of licensing compliance that includes a description of any problems;

(E) information regarding the child care home from the assigned Licensing staff; and

(F) determination of the abilities of the child care provider to handle the needs of all the children.

(2) The Licensing staff assigned to the child care home and CWFL make the final decision for joint approval of the home.

(3) For child care benefits to a child care provider for a child in the custody of OKDHS placed in the child care provider's home, refer to OAC 340:40‑7‑8.

(4) The child care home is continually monitored by CW and Licensing staff and all relevant information is shared.

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