Okla. Admin. Code § 340:75-7-10.1

Current through Vol. 42, No. 2, October 1, 2024

Section 340:75-7-10.1 - Resource parent framework

(a)General.The requirements in Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:110-5 serve as the framework for families and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) in the mutual assessment process used to select the most suitable home for the child in DHS custody in need of foster care. Each child in DHS custody has the right to a safe, affirming, and family-like placement. As a result, resource parents:

(1) are responsible, mature, healthy adults capable of meeting the needs of the children in DHS custody;

(2) apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard;

(3) demonstrate a capacity for setting realistic expectations for behavior and performance based on the ages, abilities, and unique needs of the children;

(4) have stable relationships and a living arrangement whether married, single, separated, or divorced; and

(5) ensure all members of the household are informed of and agree to accept the child into the home.

(b)Age. A resource parent must be at least 21 years of age. Per Section 1-4-705 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes (10A O.S. § 1-4-705), when a potential resource parent meets the minimum age required per this Section, DHS may not use the age of an otherwise eligible individual as a reason for denial of placement.

(c)Income and employment. Resource parents must have sufficient income to meet their needs and ensure the security and stability of the household without relying on the foster care maintenance payment.

(d)Foster principles. A resource parent commits to demonstrating to each child in DHS custody basic fostering principles that include:

(1) understanding and meeting the child's unique needs;

(2) actively supporting each child's connections and ongoing relationships with family, kin, culture, and community;

(3) understanding the impact of separation, grief, loss, and trauma the child has suffered;

(4) partnering with the child's professional team to focus on his or her safety, permanency, and well-being;

(5) recognizing that foster care is a planned, temporary placement for a child whose goal is family reunification or other permanency plan;

(6) actively mentoring the parent to help improve the parent's ability to safely care for the child, when safe to do so; and

(7) recognizing the impact of secondary traumatic stress and the importance of the resource parent's self-care.

(e)Relationship with DHS. The resource parent acknowledges, cooperates, and agrees to abide by applicable statutes and DHS rules regarding the child in care that include, but are not limited to:

(1) DHS, as the legal custodian of the child, has the right to move any child from any resource home at any time, when in the child's best interests and, per statutes governing movement of the child in DHS custody;

(2) the necessity to maintain and respect the confidential nature of all information regarding a child placed in the resource home. A breach of confidentiality may be grounds for resource home closure and termination of the foster care contract; and

(3) the requirement that DHS investigate, in the same manner as any other abuse or neglect investigation conducted by DHS, allegations of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment of any child in DHS custody placed in an approved resource home;

Okla. Admin. Code § 340:75-7-10.1

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 35, Issue 24, September 4, 2018, eff. 9/17/2018