OKDHS.org - OAC 340:75-15-124. Post adoption services

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340:75-15-124. Post adoption services

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Revised 6-26-03

Post adoption services are an essential component of the adoption program. OKDHS provides post adoption services designed to assist the adoptive family in maintaining the child in the home and to support the adult adoptee and birth family members to deal with the lifelong impact of adoption. Post adoption services available through OKDHS include (1) through (7). • 1

(1) Adoption assistance. OKDHS administers the federal and state adoption assistance programs. The program is designed to assist with the adoption of children with special needs. [OAC 340:75-15-128]
(2) Comprehensive Home-Based Services. OKDHS provides comprehensive services for adoptive families through Oklahoma Children's Services. [OAC 340:75-1-176]
(3) Medicaid services. Children who are approved for adoption assistance are eligible for services within the scope of the Medicaid program. In these cases, the adoptive family is responsible for any medical services provided to the child which are not within the scope of the Medicaid program.
(4) Respite vouchers. Eligible individuals may request respite vouchers to be used to prevent adoption dissolution. • 2
(5) Disclosure of information after finalization. [OAC 340:75-15-104]
- (A) Adoptee and birth family. OKDHS provides, upon request, a copy of Form ODH 347, Medical and Social History Report for Adoption, and any additional medical and social history information in its possession to:
  - (i) the adoptive parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the minor adopted child;
  - (ii) an adult adoptee age 18 or older;
  - (iii) an adult whose biological parents' parental rights were terminated and who was never adopted.
- (B) Direct descendant. OKDHS provides medical information only upon request to:
  - (i) an adult direct descendant of a deceased adopted person or of a deceased person whose biological mother's and biological father's parental rights were terminated and who was never adopted; and
  - (ii) the parent or guardian of a minor direct descendant of a deceased adopted person or of a deceased person whose biological mother's and biological father's rights were terminated and who was never adopted.
- (C) Genetic information. OKDHS provides, upon request, a copy of significant supplemental genetic information about an adopted person, or about a person whose parental rights were terminated, which became available after the issuance of the final decree of adoption or the termination order to:
  - (i) a biological parent or biological relative of an adopted person; and
  - (ii) a biological parent or biological relative of a person whose biological mother's and biological father's rights were terminated and who was never adopted.
- (D) Post finalization. If any additional information about an adopted child, the adopted child's biological parents, or the adopted child's genetic history is submitted to OKDHS after the adoption is finalized, this information is retained in the adoption record for as long as those records are maintained. A copy of this supplemental information is filed with the clerk of the court that issued the decree of adoption, to be made a part of the court's permanent record of that adoption.
- (E) Tribal information. OKDHS may not provide identifying information directly to an adult adoptee to establish tribal rights or membership, but will provide identifying information to the tribe, the court, or Secretary of the Interior for purposes of establishing Native American heritage. • 3
- (F) Inheritance. Termination of parental rights does not terminate the child's right to inherit from the biological parent(s). OKDHS assists with locating heirs and will act as an intermediary, upon request.
(6) Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry. This registry allows adult adoptees and persons separated from birth family members through termination of parental rights proceedings to receive assistance in locating birth family members. [OAC 340:75 15-132] • 4
(7) Confidential Intermediary Search Program. Eligible persons may request the services of a Confidential Intermediary to search for members of their birth family. [OAC 340:75-15-133]

INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-15-124

ITS only revised 5-26-05

1. Post adoption services.

(1) When an adoptive family requests post adoption services, such as Comprehensive Home-Based Services (CHBS), a case is opened and Form CWS-KIDS-26 (new form number 04KI015E), Adoption Post Placement Service Plan (APPSP), is developed with the family.

(A) If the family adopted through Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), the KIDS number assigned at the time of placement is utilized.

(B) The original case record is not released from Children and Family Services Division Adoption Section due to confidentiality requirements.

(2) Information regarding the child's background and medical history may be obtained upon request from the Adoption Section.

(3) The Adoption Section manages the review and claims processing of the adoption assistance case.

2. Respite. The adoption specialist refers the family to Oklahoma Areawide Services Information System (OASIS) for a respite application. An eligible family has finalized adoption of a child with special needs through OKDHS, and is at risk of adoption dissolution. Respite vouchers are not used for a family with a child in foster care or a child whose adoption is not final.

3. Native American heritage information. Requests to the Adoption Section for Native American heritage information from federally recognized tribes are made on tribal letterhead.

4. Disclosure of medical and social history. Eligible persons may request their non-identifying medical and social history on Form DCFS-22 (new form number 04CI002E), Oklahoma Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry.

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