1. (a) Recruitment. Recruitment events are ongoing and coordinated with resource specialists in each county. The desired outcome of recruitment events is to increase available foster and adoptive family resources. The comprehensive recruitment plan must include, 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) The crucial coordination issue for planning recruitment activities is the extent to which the adoption staff are prepared to respond quickly and energetically to prospective adoptive 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 when the first contact is made with OKDHS.
(c) Requests to apply to adopt a specific child are referred to the child's Child Welfare (CW) worker and may be reviewed through a criteria staffing, to assess whether this is an appropriate plan for the child. The inquiry is documented in KIDS Pre-Resource Contacts screen.
(d) A request by an approved adoptive family to adopt a specific child are communicated to the child's CW worker along with a copy of the completed approved adoptive home assessment.
2. Minority recruitment.
(1) The One Church, One Child (OCOC) Minority Adoption Recruitment program is a special minority recruitment program designed to find parents for children who are African American and need permanent homes. The program seeks to inform the African American community about children who need adoptive homes, dispel myths and misconceptions regarding the adoption process, and identify families interested in adopting children. Program activities are conducted statewide. An adoption specialist in both Tulsa and Oklahoma counties is assigned to work with the program.
(A) Presentations are made in churches in the African American community regarding the need for adoptive homes. Each church is challenged to recruit from its members at least one family to adopt a child. A referral is made to the OCOC recruiter or to a master adoption coordinator regarding the family's interest so that an intake interview may be scheduled.
(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.
(1) Waiting Child television feature. Children are referred for Waiting Child through the Area VI Adoption Unit, after they have been staffed, and are legally free, and no placement resources are available to meet the children's needs. Each inquiry received following a Waiting Child broadcast is documented as a KIDS Pre-Resource and transferred to the appropriate adoption specialist. Referrals to Waiting Child and the resulting number of 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 1‑877‑OKSWIFT. Oklahoma families who express an interest in adopting are referred to the area adoption supervisor by Children and Family Services Division Adoption Services Section. An adoption specialist is assigned to contact these families.
4. National adoption recruitment.
(1) Referrals to appear on
(2) The child's CW worker discusses the listing with the child and notifies the area adoption supervisor, if the child objects. Children must be legally free to be listed on an exchange.
(3) Photographs of children listed on the exchange are updated annually, at a minimum, and when any significant change occurs in the child's appearance. Profile information is updated annually, at a minimum, and when any significant change occurs in the child's general functioning.
5. Web site photo listing. The Oklahoma Adoption Exchange Web site is
(1) are age 12 years or older and do not choose to be adopted pursuant to Section 7503-2.3 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes (10 O.S. § 7503-2.3). The child's decision not to be adopted is addressed on an ongoing basis with the child, with emphasis on giving the child information about the adoption process. Documentation of the child's refusal to be adopted is included in the child's case record that is updated yearly;
(2) are runaways whose present location is unknown;
(3) do not have adoption as the permanency plan, for example, permanent placement with relatives or long-term foster care is the permanency plan;
(4) due to medical or psychological reasons as determined by a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, or physician, are not ready for adoption; or
(5) are currently in adoptive placement pursuant to 10 O.S. § 7505‑6.3.