INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-7-19
Revised 12-15-11
1. (a) Joint approval of foster homes. During the time the Bridge resource home is jointly approved, changes or concerns are shared between each entity supervising the jointly approved home.
2. Joint approval of a therapeutic foster care (TFC) home as an OKDHS Bridge resource home.
(1) The Child Welfare (CW) specialist assigned to the child contacts the county of placement resource specialist and supervisor by email. Before the child is placed, approval by the county of placement is obtained.
(2) The resource specialist contacts the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) therapeutic foster care (TFC) programs manager and verifies the TFC agency agreement to share the resource.
(3) 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 home assessment.
(4) The resource specialist obtains a release of information from the resource parent requesting TFC agency documentation.
(5) The resource specialist contacts the TFC agency and requests:
(A) a copy of the family assessment;
(B) a copy of the most recent re-evaluation;
(C) training records; and
(D) a recommendation from the TFC agency regarding joint use of the home as a Bridge resource foster home.
(6) After review of the documentation and recommendation from the TFC agency, the resource specialist:
(A) asks the applicant to complete and sign Forms 04AF001E, Resource Family Assessment Application, and 04AD003E, Request for Background Check, authorizing OKDHS to conduct an investigation into the applicant and each adult household member's criminal and OKDHS records, including CW records per OAC 340:75-7-15;
(B) assesses the home using Form 04AF004E, House Assessment;
(C) asks the applicant to send a letter to the CFSD Fingerprinting Process Section requesting release of the national criminal history records check results based on fingerprints to the resource specialist including the applicant's:
(i) name;
(ii) date of birth;
(iii) Social Security number; and
(iv) signature;
(D) completes Form 04AF044E, National Criminal History Record Search Results – Bridge Resource Family Assessment Addendum;
(E) explains Form 04AF033E, Notice to Bridge Resource Applicant(s), and obtains the applicant's signature on the form;
(F) obtains copies of each required verification, such as driver license and liability insurance;
(G) completes an addendum;
(H) submits the training information to CFSD Foster Care Section via fax or email; and
(I) submits all assessment information to the CW supervisor for disposition.
(6) The resource specialist completes and attaches the addendum to the TFC agency's home assessment documenting updated information and the recommendation regarding the disposition of the TFC home as a Bridge resource foster home.
(7) Upon approval, the resource specialist:
(A) obtains the Bridge resource parent's signature on the:
(i) foster care contract;
(ii) Form 04AF021E, Verification of Receipt of OKDHS Rules; and
(iii) Form 15GR008E, Notice of Grievance Rights – Foster Parent;
(B) creates a KIDS resource; and
(C) notifies the CW specialist assigned to the child that placement may be made and payments may begin.
(8) Additional placements of a child in OKDHS custody is not permitted without written approval from CFSD TFC and Foster Care programs managers.
3. Joint approval of a Bridge resource foster home as a TFC home.
(1) The CW specialist assigned to the child, following consultation and approval from the CW supervisor and CW field liaison (CWFL), contacts the county of placement resource specialist to:
(A) request consideration of the Bridge resource foster home as a TFC home; and
(B) provide documentation of the child's previous behavioral health services; or
(C) explain why behavioral health services were not provided to the child prior to the child's placement in the Bridge resource foster home.
(2) The resource specialist contacts the CFSD Foster Care Section programs manager via email providing:
(A) information received from the CW specialist assigned to the child and any other related information;
(B) verification that the Bridge resource foster parent has adequately met the needs of the child placed; and
(C) a recommendation to approve or deny the joint approval request.
(3) The CFSD Foster Care Section programs manager provides written approval or denial via email to the resource specialist and the CFSD TFC programs manager. The disposition email is forwarded to the TFC agency and the CW specialist assigned to the child.
(4) When OKDHS authorizes the joint approval, the TFC agency requests a reference letter from CFSD TFC Section with the approval email attached.
(5) Upon receipt of a written release from the TFC agency signed by each resource parent, the resource specialist provides:
(A) a copy of Form 04AF003E, Resource Family Assessment – Bridge Family Profile, excluding the Reference and Verification sections;
(B) a copy of the most recent Form 04AF030E, Bridge Resource Family Re-assessment, the Reference and Verification sections; and
(C) each resource parent's training records.
(6) Upon request, the resource specialist provides copies to the resource parent of documents previously submitted by the resource parent.
(7) Additional children in OKDHS custody are not placed in the jointly approved home without written approval from CFSD TFC and Foster Care Section programs managers.
4. Process for joint approval of a Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) home as a Bridge resource home. The OKDHS resource specialist contacts the DDSD liaison and the Foster Care Section program staff to request joint approval consideration. Approval for joint use of the home is:
(1) granted on a case-by-case basis;
(2) child-specific; and
(3) limited to placement of the specific child only.
5. Process for joint approval of a kinship home as a traditional Bridge resource home. The resource specialist creates a separate KIDS resource with the resource type as CW Foster Family Care prior to the child's placement in the home. A new contract number is not required.
6. Process for joint approval of Bridge adoptive home as a traditional Bridge resource home. The resource specialist:
(1) initiates a foster home assessment update, consisting of, but not limited to:
(A) updating Form 04AF001E, Bridge Resource Family Assessment Application, indicating 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 the 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, when not previously completed in the last five years;
(F) documenting pre-service training;
(G) explaining Form 04FC003E, Notice to Foster Parent Applicant(s); and
(H) obtaining a copy of each 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) obtains the Bridge resource parent's signature on the foster care contract after completion of the entire foster home update.
7. Process for joint approval of a child care home as a kinship Bridge resource home.
(1) When the licensed family child care home requests joint approval as a kinship Bridge resource home, the county of placement resource specialist and Oklahoma Child Care Services (OCCS) worker assigned to the child care home gather data that includes:
(A) information regarding the child considered for kinship placement in the child care home;
(B) the number and ages of children approved for care in the child care home;
(C) the number of children that reside in the child care home;
(D) the OCCS licensing compliance history including a description of each violation;
(E) information regarding the child care home from the OCCS worker assigned to the child care home; and
(F) an assessment of the child care provider's ability to meet each child's needs.
(2) OCCS and the CWFL approve or deny the request for joint approval of the home.
(3) Refer to OAC 340:40-7-8 for information regarding child care benefits for the child in OKDHS custody placed in the child care provider's home.
(4) The child care home is monitored by OCCS for licensing purposes and by CW as a kinship Bridge resource home and all relevant information is shared between the OKDHS divisions.
8. Joint approval of foster homes by OKDHS and Indian Tribes. OKDHS cooperates and communicates with tribes in the joint approval of foster homes process and during the OKDHS child's placement in the jointly-approved home.
(1) When a tribal foster home requests joint approval as an OKDHS Bridge resource home, the OKDHS resource specialist contacts the CFSD tribal coordinator.
(2) The CFSD tribal coordinator contacts the tribe and requests permission to assess the tribal home as an OKDHS resource.
(3) The CFSD tribal coordinator notifies the resource specialist of the tribal decision.
(4) When the tribe is in agreement with joint approval assessment, the resource specialist:
(A) contacts the tribe and requests the tribal resource record and the tribe's recommendation regarding use of the tribal resource as an OKDHS resource;
(B) reviews the resource record and recommendation;
(C) updates all required information, including training;
(D) completes Form 04AF004E, House Assessment;
(E) completes an addendum; and
(F) submits the information to the CW supervisor for disposition.
(5) When the home is approved as an OKDHS Bridge resource home, the resource specialist creates a KIDS resource.
(6) When the tribe is in the process of assessing the prospective resource and the prospective resource is needed as an OKDHS kinship home for a specific child in OKDHS custody the OKDHS resource specialist completes the:
(A) initial kinship process per OAC 340:75-7-24; and
(B) approval process per OAC 340:75-7-18.
(7) When the tribe requests joint approval of an OKDHS Bridge resource as a tribal resource, the request is forwarded to the CFSD tribal coordinator.
(8) The CFSD tribal coordinator contacts the OKDHS resource specialist and requests permission for the tribe to assess the home for use as a tribal foster home.
(9) The CFSD tribal coordinator notifies the tribe of the OKDHS decision.
(10) When OKDHS is in agreement with the joint approval, the tribe contacts the OKDHS resource specialist and requests the resource record and the OKDHS recommendation regarding use of the OKDHS resource as a tribal resource.
(11) When concerns or disagreements arise during the joint approval process, the CFSD tribal coordinator and CFSD Foster Care Section facilitate the discussion with the tribe to resolve the concerns.
(12) OKDHS coordinates with the tribe to place a child in OKDHS custody in the jointly approved foster home.