(a) Purpose.  Contract foster care (CFC) is available to children who are in the legal custody of, or voluntarily placed in, Oklahoma Department of Human Service (OKDHS) care.  CFC services are provided by a contract child placing agency to meet the child’s needs through service coordination and delivery in conjunction with OKDHS.

(b) Admissions.

• (1) Therapeutic foster care (TFC) agencies.  Requests are initiated by the TFC agency to the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) liaison.  To access CFC services, the child approved for TFC services must:
  • (A) no longer require TFC services and be ready to step down to traditional foster care;
  • (B) have a sibling(s) who needs traditional foster care; or
  • (C) be the parent of a child  who needs traditional foster care. The therapeutic foster care agency considers the placement of the child stepping down or the placements of additional children into the home.  When it is in the best interest of all children in the home, the therapeutic foster care agency makes a written request to the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) liaison no less than three days prior to the need of the placement.  Placement does not occur until written approval is received from the CFSD liaison. • 1
• (2) Other sources for CFC use.  Children under the age of six years whose legal jurisdiction is in Oklahoma, Tulsa, or Comanche Counties, are considered for CFC when ready for discharge from:
  • (A) a hospital;
  • (B) an OKDHS operated shelter; or
  • (C) an Emergency Foster Care (EFC) home.  The CFSD foster care liaison and the CFC agency make a joint decision after considering information about the child and the placement possibilities.• 2

(c) Roles and responsibilities.

• (1) Child Welfare (CW) worker.  The CW worker remains the primary connection among the child, parent(s), CFC agency, CFC provider, OKDHS liaison, other service providers, and court while the child is in CFC.  The CW worker:
  • (A) visits the child placed in CFC per OAC 340:75-6-48;  and
  • (B) provides Form 04KI004E, Placement Provider Information, to the CFC provider at the time of admission or as soon as possible after placement, but no later than 30 days after the initial placement in out-of-home care or 14 days after subsequent placements in out-of-home care. This form includes, but is not limited to, the most recent information available regarding the health and education records of the child.
• (2) CFSD liaison.  The CFSD liaison is the contact person for the contract agency regarding certification of homes, determining eligibility of placements, and monitors the CFC contract.
• (3) Foster Care liaison.  The foster care liaison is the OKDHS contact person for determining appropriate placements for children who are admitted from sources other than the TFC agency.
• (4) CFC agency.  The CFC agency:
  • (A) ensures the availability of qualified and trained providers and staff;
  • (B) coordinates requests for placements with the CFSD and foster care liaisons;
  • (C) coordinates placement and discharges with the CW welfare;
  • (D) coordinates with the CW worker to afford the child all services that promote the child’s progress; and
  • (E) ensures the child’s total care needs are met while in placement. • 3

(e) Discharge from CFC.

•       (1) Notice.  When a child discharges from CFC, the CW worker coordinates with the CFC agency and advance notice is provided according to OAC 340: 75-6-86(d).
• (2) Information accompanies the child.  All forms completed by the CFC provider while the child was in care are given to the new provider to:
  • (A) assist in helping the child adjust to the placement;
  • (B) provide information needed for continuity of care; and
  • (C) alert the new provider of the child’s special needs and strengths.
• (3) Information and items given to the new provider include:
  • (A) all medications, with instructions for dosage and use;
  • (B) equipment or supplies required for the child’s special care;
  • (C) dates of any follow-up appointments;
  • (D) personal items or clothing purchased by OKDHS, including disposable diapers; and
  • (E) Women, Infants and Children (WIC) vouchers, non-perishable food, or other items obtained for the child.