Revised 12-15-11
1. (a) Adoptive home recruitment program. Adoptive home recruitment events are ongoing and coordinated with resource specialists in each county. The desired outcome of recruitment events is to increase available Bridge resource families. Adoption staff participate in the development of county and area recruitment plans and events. The comprehensive recruitment plan includes, but is not limited to:
(1) descriptions of the characteristics of children requiring placement;
(2) specific strategies to reach all parts of the community;
(3) diverse methods of disseminating both general and child-specific information;
(4) strategies for ensuring that all prospective resource parents have access to the home study or assessment process, including location and hours of services that facilitate access by all members of the community;
(5) strategies for dealing with linguistic barriers; and
(6) procedures for a timely search for prospective resource parents for a child.
(b) Response by Adoption Services Section to adoption inquiries. The crucial coordination issue for planning recruitment activities is the extent to which the adoption staff is prepared to respond quickly and energetically to prospective Bridge resource applicants who contact Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) as a result of recruitment efforts. At a minimum, adoption specialists are prepared to fully discuss:
(1) the adoption process;
(2) the types of children waiting for adoptive homes; and
(3) answer prospective applicants' questions during the applicant's first contact with OKDHS.
(c) Requests to adopt a specific child.
(1) Requests to apply to adopt a specific child are referred to the Child Welfare (CW) specialist assigned to the child and may be reviewed through a criteria staffing, to assess whether this is an appropriate plan for the child.
(2) When an approved Bridge resource parent requests to adopt a specific child the request is communicated and a copy of the approved resource home assessment is provided to the CW specialist assigned to the child.
2. Recruitment of minority resource parents.
(1) One Church, One Child (OCOC). The (OCOC) Minority Adoption Recruitment program is a special minority recruitment program designed to recruit parents for African-American children who need permanent homes. The program informs the African-American community about children who need adoptive homes, dispels myths and misconceptions regarding the adoption process, and identifies families interested in adopting children. Program activities are conducted statewide. An adoption specialist in Tulsa, Commanche, and Oklahoma counties is assigned to work with the program.
(A) The needs for adoptive homes is presented in churches in the African-American community. Each church is challenged to recruit from its members at least one family to adopt a child. When a family expresses interest in adopting, a referral is made to the OCOC recruiter or to a master adoption coordinator to schedule an intake interview.
(B) Master adoptive parents (MAPs):
(i) are experienced adoptive parents who have completed the adoption process and serve as a resource to prospective adoptive applicants, some of whom are trained in the OCOC program;
(ii) share information regarding the adoption process with prospective adoptive applicants from an adoptive parent perspective; and
(iii) may bridge the gap between the time a prospective adoptive applicant expresses an interest in adoption and a contact is made by an adoption specialist or OCOC recruiter. Referrals to MAPs are coordinated by the OCOC adoption coordinator.
(2) Indian adoptive home recruitment. In accordance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), efforts to recruit Indian adoptive homes are coordinated with tribal social workers who provide a connection to Indian families.
3. Media recruitment. Options for media recruitment may include, but are not limited to television, newspapers, and public service announcements (PSA).
(1) Waiting Child television feature.
(A) A child is referred to the Waiting Child television feature program by the Area VI Adoption Unit when:
(i) a statewide adoption staffing for the child has been completed and no recommendations are received from the adoption specialists;
(ii) the child is legally free for adoption; and
(iii) there is no placement resource available to meet the child's needs.
(B) Each inquiry received following a Waiting Child broadcast is documented as a KIDS Pre-Resource and transferred to the appropriate adoption specialist.
(C) Referrals to Waiting Child and the resulting inquiries are recorded in the child's KIDS Adoption Efforts screen.
(2) Newspaper. Referrals to appear in newspaper features are coordinated with the appropriate area Adoption Services Unit.
(3) Public service announcement (PSA) and Swift phone line 1-866-612-2565. Oklahoma families expressing an interest in adopting are referred to the area adoption supervisor by Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) Adoption Services Section. An adoption specialist is assigned to contact these families.
4. National adoption recruitment via adoption exchanges. OKDHS uses a variety of adoption exchanges providing the best opportunities to identify adoptive resources.
(1) Sections 7510-2.1 through 7510-2.5 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes require that the child be placed on an adoption exchange when the child:
(A) is legally free for adoption; and
(B) has not been placed for adoption within 90 calendar days after the termination of parental rights proceeding making the child eligible for adoption.
(2) Referrals for the child who meets the criteria for placement on
(3) The CW specialist assigned to the child discusses the listing with the child and notifies the area adoption supervisor if the child objects. Children are required to be legally free for adoption prior to listing on an exchange.
(4) Photographs of the child listed on the exchange are updated no less than annually and when any significant change occurs in the child's appearance. Profile information is updated no less than annually and when any significant change occurs in the child's general functioning.
5. Website photo listing.
(1) OKDHS maintains an online photo listing of children waiting for adoptive homes. A child is referred to the OKDHS Adoption Program Information website at www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/adopt/ and www.adoptUskids.org when:
(A) a statewide adoption staffing has been completed for the child;
(B) no adoptive home was identified for the child; and
(C) the child does not object to being listed on the Internet or other exchanges. A child who does object is exempt.
(2) A child is exempt from listings on the Internet or other exchanges when:
(A) the child is 12 years of age or older and chooses not to be adopted. The child's decision to not be adopted is addressed on an ongoing basis with the child, with emphasis on providing the child information about the adoption process. Documentation of the child's refusal to be adopted is included in the child's case record each time the issue is discussed with the child or at a minimum every 12 months;
(B) the child is a runaway whose present location is unknown;
(C) the child's permanency plan is planned alternative permanent placement and not adoption;
(D) the child is not ready for adoption due to medical or psychological reasons as determined by a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, or physician; or
(E) the child is currently in an adoptive placement.