(a) Agency responsibility.  The licensed foster home agency (agency) retains legal responsibility for supervision, decision making, and ensuring continuity of care.  The agency is responsible for certification of the foster home to Division of Child Care (DCC) Licensing, on forms provided by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) that verify the foster home meets minimum requirements.

• (1) Criminal history investigations.  The agency conducts a criminal history investigation for each member of the foster family who is 18 years of age or older.  
• (A) Authorized agencies.  A criminal history investigation is obtained from:
• (i) the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI); and
• (ii) the authorized agency in a person's previous state of residence if the person has resided in Oklahoma less than one year.
• (B) Sex Offenders Registry.  The OSBI report includes a search of Department of Corrections files maintained by OSBI pursuant to the Sex Offenders Registration Act.
• (2) Certification.  A copy of the certification is maintained in the foster home file.
• (A) Certification of the foster home applies only to the location of the residence at the time the home study is made.
• (B) If the family moves, the agency certifies the new location.
• (3) Policy.  The agency provides foster parents with agency policy relative to foster care.
• (4) Medical services.  The agency ensures the child in foster care receives appropriate medical services.
• (5) Case planning.  The agency is responsible for case planning.
• (6) Supervision.  The agency provides supervision at least once a month to each child in foster care, including private visits with the child in foster care and on-site visits to the home, to assess the continued suitability of the foster home environment.
• (7) Written agreement.  The agency has a written agreement with the foster family, and provides the foster parents a copy of the agreement.  The agreement includes statements:
• (A) regarding the financial agreement, if applicable, between the agency and the foster home;
• (B) that the foster home will not:
• (i) accept a non-relative child from any source other than through the foster home agency without the approval of the certifying agency; or
• (ii) provide child care on a regular basis;
• (C) that the  agency has the right to remove the child at its discretion;
• (D) that the child in foster care is discharged from foster care only with the consent of the agency;
• (E) that visitation by the child's parents or relatives must be approved by the agency;
• (F) regarding absences of the child from the home, including respite care, as per agency policy;
• (G) that the foster parents agree to cooperate with agency staff in evaluating the foster home and in the ongoing supervision of the foster home; and
• (H) that the foster parents agree to contact the agency when a household member is alleged to have committed an act described in OAC 340:110-5-8(e).
• (8) Grievance policy and procedure.  The agency has written grievance policy and procedure for foster parents and children.

(b) Foster home certification.  Certification of the foster home includes written documentation of:

• (1) application for foster home certification that includes prior child care experience with other agencies;
• (2) appropriate immunizations for the foster parents' children;
• (3) a statement from a health professional certifying that all members of the household have had a physical examination within one year prior to application, verifying that they:
• (A) are in good health; and
• (B) do not have a condition that would interfere with their ability to care for children;
• (4) three written references from non-relatives who have knowledge of family functioning;
• (5) a current, completed foster home study before the home is approved; and
• (6) a criminal history investigation conducted by the OSBI for each household member who is 18 years of age or older, per OAC 340:110-5-57(a)(1).

(c) Foster home study.  The agency prepares a written home study before approving the foster home and prior to placement of a child that contains, at a minimum, information regarding:

• (1) interviews and home visits.  Interviews and home visits, include documentation of at least one:
• (A) separate face-to-face interview with each parent, school-age child, and any other household member;
• (B) joint face-to-face interview; and
• (C) home visit;
• (2) household composition.  Information regarding household composition includes each person residing in the home;
• (3) criminal history investigation.  A criminal history investigation is conducted by the OSBI on each household member who is 18 years of age or older, per OAC 340:110-1-57(a)(1), prior to initial approval of the home and when a new household member, age 18 or older, moves into the home;
• (4) foster child preferred.  The foster home study includes statements regarding the applicant's preference for age, gender, and special needs of the child;
• (5) motivation, attitudes, and expectations.  The foster home study includes motivation and attitudes toward foster care and expectations regarding children in foster care;
• (6) health.  Health information for each household member includes:
• (A) present physical health;
• (B) emotional stability;
• (C) medical history; and
• (D) any history of drug or alcohol use;
• (7) family functioning;
• (8) foster parents' marital status.  The foster home study includes information regarding the marital status of the foster parents, such as present marital status, history of previous marriages or significant relationships, date of present marriage, and description of the marriage or relationship;
• (9) employment.  The foster home study includes the employment history of family members;
• (10) financial information.  Financial information in the foster home study includes documentation of annual income.
• (11) education.  The foster home study includes information regarding the education of family members.
• (12) religion.  Information regarding religion includes the family's religious preference and practices;
• (13) description of the home.  The description of the home includes the:
• (A) type of dwelling and physical description; and
• (B) location of the home and description of the neighborhood;
• (14) weapons and firearms.  The foster home study includes the location of weapons and firearms, if any, and an explanation of safety precautions;
• (15) transportation.  Information regarding transportation includes the family's means of transportation and verification of:
• (A) a valid driver's license for each family member who will transport a child in foster care;
• (B) license tag;
• (C) insurance; and
• (D) an agreement to transport all children and adults in compliance with applicable state law, per 47 O.S. § 11-1112;
• (16) family history.  The foster home study includes information regarding family history, including:
• (A) names of parents and siblings;
• (B) dates and places of birth;
• (C) physical health and mental stability;
• (D) relationship with family members;
• (E) social, cultural, and religious orientation; and
• (F) information regarding their childhood including how they were disciplined;
• (17) written references.  The foster home study includes three written references from persons who have information relative to the family's ability to provide foster care that include:
• (A) name, address, and telephone number;
• (B) when and how the person became acquainted with the applicants;
• (C) how often the person has contact with the family;
• (D) information regarding family functioning; and
• (E) opinions regarding personal qualities and ability to provide care for children in foster care; and
• (18) recommendation.  The foster home study includes the recommendation whether to approve the home that:
• (A) is signed and dated by the person who conducted the foster home study and the child placement supervisor; and
• (B) if approved, contains the type of child preferred and number of children for which the home is approved.

(d) Annual home study updates.  The foster home study is updated annually to include:

• (1) documentation of a home visit;
• (2) documentation of a face-to-face interview with each parent, school-age child, and any other household member;
• (3) current vehicle insurance verification; and
• (4) reports of any significant changes from the initial home study.

(e) Foster parent training.  The agency provides and documents that each foster parent has received at a minimum:

• (1) six hours of orientation or preservice training prior to approval of the foster home or placement of a child and includes at a minimum:
• (A) organizational structure of the agency;
• (B) agency policy;
• (C) program philosophy;
• (D) confidentiality;
• (E) mandatory reporting of child abuse;
• (F) grievance process;
• (G) emergency medical procedures; and
• (H) fire and disaster plans;
• (2) six additional hours of training within the first calendar year of certification that is relevant to the needs of the child placed in their care and is documented by the agency to include, but is not limited to:
• (A) normal child development;
• (B) behavior management;
• (C) separation and loss; and
• (D) infection control and injury prevention; and
• (3) 12 hours of training each calendar year thereafter that is relevant to foster parents' roles and responsibilities and may include workshops and video presentations.