OKDHS.org - OAC 340:75-15-43. Sibling placements

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340:75-15-43. Sibling placements

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Revised 5-15-09

(a) Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) supports the relationship of sibling groups by placing them together in out-of-home care when possible unless a joint placement would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings. Siblings who are not placed together in out-of-home care are afforded regular visitation and other ongoing interaction with each other, unless such visitation and contact would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings. Siblings who are separated are moved into the same placement at the first available opportunity. Siblings with the permanency plan of adoption are staffed for adoptive placement as a sibling group.

(b) Exceptions to placing siblings together for adoptive placement include children who:

(1) are placed with relatives; and

(2) have a documented need for separation due to extreme behavior that is or would be harmful to a sibling on a long-term basis, per OAC 340:75‑6-85.3. • 1

(c) When separation is approved by the Children and Family Services Division Sibling Separation Committee, a plan for continued contact is provided to and agreed upon by the caregivers of the children. The Child Welfare worker explains to the prospective adoptive parent(s) that authorization to separate the children for placement does not sever the sibling relationship.

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-15-43

Revised 5-15-09

1. Sibling separation. Requests to separate siblings for the purpose of adoptive placement are:

(1) submitted via e-mail, after review and approval by the supervisor, to the Sibling Separation Requests folder in Outlook for review by the Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) Permanency Planning Section;

(2) screened by the Sibling Separation Request Committee Chair to determine if the request needs to be reviewed by the Sibling Separation Committee that meets monthly and is comprised of representatives from CFSD:

(A) Child Protective Services;

(B) Permanency Planning;

(C) Foster Care;

(D) Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC);

(E) Indian Child Welfare; and

(F) Adoption;

(3) rendered a decision of agree, disagree, or need more information;

(4) required to include:

(A) each child's KK number, name, and date of birth;

(B) a brief summary of the reasons why separation is in the children's best interest;

(C) each child's current placement, and efforts made to place the siblings together in foster care or to reunite into one home;

(D) description of diligent search efforts;

(5) justified. Reasons for the separation request and behaviors referenced in the request are thoroughly detailed. For example, rather than stating that a child is difficult, specific behaviors must be identified; and

(6) supported with appropriate documentation, as applicable, such as letters from counselors or therapists, psychological evaluations, court‑appointed special advocate (CASA) recommendation, criteria staffing notes, Permanency Planning Review forms, and Form 04AN026E, Assessment of Child by Caregiver.

(A) Letters from the child's TFC counselor must be signed by the TFC agency director.

(B) Documentation identifying an ongoing plan of visitation and contact among siblings may be requested by the Sibling Separation Committee.

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