Okla. Admin. Code § 377:10-7-3.5

Current through Vol. 42, No. 8, January 2, 2025

Section 377:10-7-3.5 - Foster parent responsibility

(a)General. Foster parents shall provide OJA any information related to compliance with all requirements and allow OJA access to any member of the household and entry into all rooms within the home. Foster parents:

(1) are responsible, mature, healthy adults capable of meeting the needs of the juveniles in foster care;

(2) demonstrate a capacity for setting realistic expectations for behavior that is based on the ages, abilities, and special needs of the juveniles;

(3) may be married couples, single persons, or family members with a stable living arrangement; and

(4) ensure that all members of the household are informed of and agree to accept the juvenile into the home.

(b)Notifications. Foster parents shall comply with the requirements pertaining to notifications. Foster parents shall notify OJA:

(1) in writing, prior to allowing any person to take up residence for more than two weeks in the foster home;

(2) immediately of the occurrence of:

(A) the death of the juvenile;

(B) a serious injury or illness involving medical treatment of the juvenile;

(C) unauthorized absence of the juvenile from the home as defined by OJA policy;

(D) removal of the juvenile from the home by any person or agency other than OJA, or attempts at such removal;

(E) loss of income that affects the family's ability to meet the needs of the juveniles in foster care;

(F) any involvement of the juvenile with legal authorities;

(G) any fire or other emergency requiring evacuation of the home;

(H) lack of heat, water, or electricity; and

(I) removal of the juvenile from the county for an overnight stay; and

(3) as soon as possible of:

(A) any serious illness or death in the household;

(B) the departure or return of any member of the household;

(C) a move to another residence;

(D) any other circumstance or incident seriously affecting the juvenile or care of the juvenile; and

(E) any allegations of child abuse.

(c)Cooperation. Foster parents shall work cooperatively with OJA representatives as members of the treatment team responsible for planning, providing, and discussing the total care and services provided to each juvenile. Foster parents shall:

(1) fully disclose all information related to a juvenile's problems or progress to OJA;

(2) treat any personal information about a juvenile or the juvenile's family in a confidential manner;

(3) participate in an annual review with OJA to mutually evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the foster home, as well as OJA's relationship with the foster parents; and

(4) agree to not accept a non-relative juvenile from any source without the approval from OJA.

(d)Medical services. OJA requires that the juvenile in foster care receive appropriate medical services.

(e)Nutrition. Each juvenile is provided a balanced, nutritious, and developmentally appropriate diet. The food is wholesome in quality, ample in quantity, and of sufficient variety.

(f)Transportation. Juveniles in foster care are transported in compliance with applicable state law, 47 O.S., § 11-1112. The transporting vehicle shall be covered by liability insurance as required by Oklahoma laws. The foster family has emergency transportation available.

(1)Driver qualifications. Drivers transporting juveniles in foster care have an operator's license that is valid in the driver's state of residence and is of the type appropriate for the vehicle.

(2)Passenger restraints. Juveniles who are transported are properly secured in an individual seat belt.

(g)Financial disclosure. The foster parent shall immediately make available to OJA the cost of the juvenile's care, all income, other than part-time employment income earned by the juvenile, and resources (including, but not limited to Social Security or SSI or other federal or state benefits, inheritance, trust funds, insurance benefits, Indian trusts, or other monies to which the juvenile may be entitled) that are received by the foster parent(s) on behalf of the juvenile.

Okla. Admin. Code § 377:10-7-3.5

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 31, Issue 24, September 2, 2014, eff. 9/12/2014