(a) An array of services, support options, and placement settings, designed to meet individual needs exist for a child in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) custody who has a developmental disability. Per OAC 340:75-8-36, the child may live with a family or in another community-based setting while receiving Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) services.
- (1) The Child Welfare (CW) county of jurisdiction worker pursues all appropriate placement resources for a child in OKDHS custody consistent with OAC 340:75-6-40.
- (2) Home and Community-Based Waiver Services, arranged by DDSD staff, are available to meet the child's identified needs and may be provided in most placement settings.
- (3) Early identification, expedient application, and joint planning between CW and DDSD staff, and timely service delivery, per Part 2 of OAC 340:75-8, facilitate appropriate referrals and service plan development for a child with a developmental disability.
(b) When a child's needs can no longer be met in less restrictive forms of care, such as own home, relative home, adoptive home, or any type of foster family care, the child is assessed and referred for grand staffing.
(c) The grand staffing process is a monthly meeting conducted by DDSD and Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) to review, assess, and determine service and placement needs for children who present significant challenges that prevent services in a family setting.
- (1) The DDSD case manager or the CW worker makes a referral for grand staffing. • 1
- (2) Children staffed in grand staffing:
- (A) require:
- (i) 24-hour supervision by trained staff;
- (ii) professional crisis management; and
- (iii) intensive support services to establish and maintain life in a community-based setting; and
- (B) have ongoing severe and persistent emotional and behavioral disturbances.
- (3) Children in emergency shelter settings are grand staffed when DDSD area staff or CW staff are unable to identify appropriate placement or service resources. The CW county of jurisdiction worker immediately requests a grand staffing for any child in an OKDHS operated emergency shelter who meets or is suspected to meet DDSD eligibility criteria. • 1
- (4) Referrals to provider agencies for residential service options are initiated through grand staffing. • 1 through 3
(d) The DDSD programs manager or designee for Residential Services must authorize all pre-placement visits and all placements of children in OKDHS custody with any DDSD contracted provider.