If you provided your name and contact information when you called the hotline, you are entitled to call back and check on the status of the referral. "Child" means an unmarried person under the age of 18. The resource specialist or RFA contractor: (1) documents all information from voluntary and other provided references. When evaluating placement in a resource home, consideration is given to the number of children and: (1) each resource parent's capabilities and skills; (2) the number and ages of the resource parent's own children; (3) if the home can physically accommodate the children; (4) the known behavioral patterns of the resource parent's own children, the children in foster care currently residing in the home, and the prospective child; (5) the presence of additional adult caregivers in the home beyond the approved resource parents; and. Q: What is CPS or Child Welfare?A: Child Protective Services (CPS) and Child Welfare refer to OKDHS services that identify, treat and prevent child abuse and neglect. Appropriate supervision is required when the child in OKDHS custody is in the presence of the family's animals. (a) Placement in a resource home. When we discuss custody, there are two types of custody at issue: legal custody and physical custody. (H) When the required references do not total at least six, the resource specialist obtains additional personal references. Pool alarms are installed and operating when the pool is not in use; (v) removable ladders. 1. The home is clean and safe and any structures on the property that are accessible to a child are in a safe condition. (2) The resource parent notifies the resource specialist within 24-hours of any household change including, but not limited to: (C) the resource parent's death or serious illness; (i) When the resource parents divorce, separate, or the relationship ends, the person who continues to foster retains the existing resource number and information. When a reference provides information requiring further explanation from the other adult, the resource specialist or RFA contractor discusses the nature of the information without revealing the source; and. (E) A child in OKDHS custody, with the exception of an infant who is younger than 12 months of age, does not share a bedroom with an adult in the household. When animals are vaccinated by someone other than a veterinarian, documentation includes the: (B) vaccine lot number and expiration date; and. Once the referral is completed, the centralized hotline worker can give you a summary of the outcome. Typically, this support comes in the form of money paid by a parent who does not have physical custody of the child to the parent who does have custody. We don't charge a cent until we put money in your pocket. "You're bringing chaos to order," Stewart said at one point. When a child in OKDHS custody is placed in a tribal home and placement exceeds six children, overfill procedures are followed. The home and surroundings are evaluated regarding possible safety concerns and addressed with a plan of supervision, when applicable. (4) Tribal membership. Like many other states, Oklahoma has child support laws to help ensure that children receive sufficient financial support. Oklahoma City, Ok73105 Some states allow bed sharing or co sleeping with infants. Parents can share physical custody or one parent may have sole physical custody while the other parent has visitation rights. In fact, most people who adopt waiting children work in everyday jobs. Per OAC 340:75-7-18(c), the resource specialist and RFA contractor conduct an evaluation of the applicant's residence to assess the location, condition, and capacity to accommodate the child in OKDHS custody, on Form 04AF004E. 12. For Minors Under 16: 8 hours of work per day, 40 per week, 6 days out of the week are permitted when school is off. Oklahoma City, Ok73105 The family disaster plan includes: (A) a list of emergency phone numbers posted in an accessible and conspicuous place. If you know where the children are, you should seek the assistance of a local law enforcement agency for help enforcing your custody order. In some cases, the service may even be free. An employer found to be in willful violation of the law will be guilty of a misdemeanor, and for each offense, subject to a fine of $500, imprisonment for a . The immediate danger was denied but the judge granted a hearing for the modification motion. 10A O.S. (j) Application denial. If the referral is considered a priority one referral, it must be initiated by midnight the same day. "Abandonment" means: a.the willful intent by words, actions, or omissions not to return for a child, or. 13. A Child's Best Interests in Oklahoma While abortion laws also are included in this section, it may also be considered a matter of health care law. Although it is not required, it helps to have identifying information such as your neighbors name. E. Except as otherwise provided by the Oklahoma Child Supervised Visitation Program, court-ordered supervised visitation shall be governed by the Oklahoma Child Supervised Visitation Program. What are the details? In most cases, this is one or both of the child's parents unless the court determines that one or both of the parents are unfit. (b) Exception to the number or age limit of children placed in a resource home. (iv) requests approval of the Family Assessment Line in KIDS. (2) Maximum number of children younger than 2 years of age allowed in a resource home. 401 et seq. (iii) address where the monies are mailed. (1) The home's location. 2. This is a quick summary of child support guidelines in Oklahoma. (D) All applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, and insurance requirements for pools are followed. This is an 85% crime. (4) The resource specialist emails a vendor update with a copy of the Social Security card to *STO.Finance.VUR for name changes. 9. 4-8 Years. If you do not know where your children are, you should still contact the local law enforcement agency to file a report. Oklahoma Child Care Statutes (current through July 2016) Content Pending; Child Care Highlighting Protocol. (i) copies the KIDS Pre-Resource to a Resource for each approved resource home except when the child in OKDHS custody is in a kinship placement, per OAC 340:75-7-24; (ii) end dates the KIDS Pre-Resource after conversion to a KIDS Resource; (iii) scans the signed assessment and documentation into the KIDS Resource document management system (DMS); and. Oklahoma child custody laws differentiate between physical and legal custody. What happens if I do not have a custody order? Being a parent means having certain rights. However, both parents must agree that you are the father. The resource specialist or RFA contractor uses Form 13HI003E, Authorization to Disclose Medical Records, to obtain permission from the other adult to receive his or her behavioral health information. Current Oklahoma law already requires hospitals to keep a written policy that allows families to decide on the disposition of their child's remains. This means that children of any age - infants, toddlers, young children and teenagers - are permitted to share a room with their siblings, and parents are not prohibited from providing shared sleeping quarters for the children in their household. Q: What is foster care?A: Foster home care is a temporary placement providing 24-hour-a-day substitute care for children in OKDHS custody. The court can also make a temporary custody order. Let us know what you think of our site or make requests for new content. Once a Motion to Modify has been filed, the court will set a hearing date. When a court awards custody, the court will, generally, award visitation to the other parent. Contact OHSO. Approximately 24 state equivalency agencies use two persons per bedroom as the presumptively reasonable standard. depicting of a child in those acts by a person responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the child. A Foster Care and Adoptions deputy director consults with the regional deputy director for the child's case and notifies the field manager of the decision. References are obtained for any individual in the home, 21 years of age and older. Since this can be a difficult process, one should probably seek the help of an attorney before filing a Motion to Modify Custody. 4. When parents are married custody is decided as part of the Divorce. Relevant OKDHS rules or procedures are cited and attached to the letter. (6) When a resource parent dies, the resource specialist consults the surviving HOH, when applicable, to determine his or her interest in continuing to foster. I called the hotline and reported all the information I have. These services are provided to protect the safety of children and help families with any difficulties that put the safety of their children at risk. This handbook includes a summary of the duties of Guardians, legal notices, timetables, required . If the non-custodial parent has not modified the final custody order and fails to return the child then they are violating the law. Here are the recommended guidelines for parents: Infants and children under 6 years of age should never be left alone without adult supervision. (F) Soft sleeping surfaces, such as soft mattresses, waterbeds, sofas, pillows, beanbag chairs, and inflatable mats are prohibited. Note: The Oklahoma Constitution and Oklahoma Statutes were last updated on November 2nd, 2022. (K) 04AF043E, Resource Family Application Other Adults in the Home, when applicable. Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers. 11-1112. Only a trained resource specialist or an RFA contractor solicits and reviews information received from references the applicant provides regarding the applicant's parenting strategies and skills. OKLaw is a joint project with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc., Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, the Legal Services Corporation and Pro Bono Net. The written assessment describes the family based on complete, consistent, and truthful information the resource specialist or RFA contractor gathers in conjunction with the family, following an application review and a background information summary. The Oklahoma Foster Care Independent Living Tuition Waiver provides tuition to any Oklahoma college or university for any youth who was in OKDHS custody for a nine-month period after 16 years of age. When parents are unwed, the Petition for Custody is usually included in a Paternity case. (i) maintains a vehicle in safe working order that is capable of transporting children and: (I) carries the statutorily mandated vehicle liability insurance; (II) possesses a valid driver license; and, (III) has a current, valid vehicle license tag; or. Grade school children should never be left to care for younger children. Use theChild Care Locator/Summary of Program Monitoringtoview a summary of program monitoring reports for your a child care program or to search for quality child care in Oklahoma. 8 & 9, (f) Assessment of applicant's marital and relationship history. The maximum punishment in prison is life imprisonment. Among other things, youll need to attend 27 hours of pre-service training, have a home study completed, and have fingerprint background checks. The applicant must have the three personal references in (1)(A) and the references (1)(B) through (H) of this Instruction to Staff (ITS), when applicable. (D) The applicant's home provides separate bedrooms for children 7 years of age and older of the opposite sex. The applicant completes Form 04AF010E, Resource Family Financial Assessment, and provides documentation of employment, income, and expenditures as an assessment component. The centralized hotline supervisor will review all of the information for the referral, including the priority level. Form 04MP061E, Water Safety Agreement, is completed for all applicants. (D) The resource specialist provides needed information to the Resource Unit for submission to Child Welfare Services Finance and Business Operations. (ii) 10CO135E, Vendor Information (Substitute W-9). OKDHS is responsible for protecting waiting children from abuse, and because of this, there are many laws that require paperwork, background checks and lots of questions. Please enter your city, county, or zip code. Box 25352 Oklahoma City, OK 73125 COMMENTS REGARDING LICENSING REQUIREMENTS Licensing Requirements for: Reference:(Please give the cite and topic of the specific requirement to which you are referring, such as Section 2, re. The needs of the child placed in the resource home may restrict the home's capacity regardless of the approved number of foster care beds in the home. (3) The field manager approves or denies the request and signs Form 04AF042E and a Foster Care and Adoptions deputy director is consulted when needed. (A) An applicant or parent is responsible for ensuring the safety of a child in OKDHS custody who comes within close proximity to: (ii) an individual in possession of a firearm or other weapon. Age-appropriate child care equipment, such as beds, high chairs, or toys are available, clean, and in good repair. These services may be provided by OKDHS or other community resources. Once you are certified as a Bridge Resource Parent, the amount of time it takes to adopt a child depends on the child you want to adopt and his/her situation. There is an 8-hour maximum on non-school days. The range of fine is $500-$5,000. (ii) provides an acceptable transportation plan for the child in OKDHS custody. Q: My wife and I are interested in adopting a child. Q: I know my cousins children are being neglected. This motion will ask the court to change the order and will state the reason why. (C) Prior to the initiation of foster care maintenance payments, the applicant, per OAC 340:75-7-52, signs the foster care contract. Every attempt is made to preserve the family; however, if a childs safety is uncertain, court intervention may be necessary and may include removing the child. Legal Aid helps people who are low-income with civil legal problems. 3. Be prepared with everything documented. At least one in-home visit is required per quarter, unless additional home visits are part of an overfill support plan; (B) reviews the plan to address any additional needs, services, and supports; and. (405) 522-5050, Background Investigations and Fingerprinting, Apply for Emergency Financial Assistance (TANF), Family Support Assistance for Children with Disabilities, Apply for Help with Utility Services (LIHEAP), Financial Help for Medicare and Medicines, Provide Protection for a Vulnerable Adult, Ombudsman (Advocacy for residents in Long Term Care facilities). 10. House Bill 2318 adds findings of child abuse or neglect that is heinous and. Title 1. 2400 N Lincoln Boulevard Your call can remain anonymous. Under Oklahoma car seat laws, all children under the age of 8 years and who are shorter than 4'9" must be restrained in an appropriate child restraint. In Oklahoma, the mother of a child born out of wedlock has custody of the child unless there is a court order that says otherwise or some other law applies to their situation. ); and. (7) In the event the request is for the resource home to care for a total of eight or more children, the field manager reviews the request and, when in agreement, forwards the request to a Foster Care and Adoptions deputy director and the regional deputy director for the child's case for approval. If the referral is accepted, it will be sent to your cousins county and assigned to a Child Protective Services (CPS) worker in that county. No More Than 2 People Per Bedroom A bedroom should generally not have more than two children in it. (5) reviewed at each annual update or reassessment. (10) The CW and resource specialists or the OKDHS RFP liaison document the decision and plan for additional services and supports in the child's and resource case KIDS Contacts. The resource specialist or RFA contractor uses Form 13HI003E, Authorization to Disclose Medical Records, to obtain permission from the applicant to receive his or her behavioral health information. Can noisy household be evicted from 1-bedroom unit? Legal custody is the right to make major decisions about your child (under 18 years old). (B) The definition of a water structure or water mass includes, but is not limited to: (C) Any activity that involves a child in OKDHS custody wading or swimming is supervised at all times. Title 10A. The adoption generally takes longer than six months in other circumstances. Form 04AF004E includes an assessment of (1) through (13) of this subsection. Certain crimes are referred to as 85% crimes because people convicted of these offenses are required to serve no less than 85% of any . (405) 522-5050, Laws, Rules, Standards, Guidelines & Competencies, Background Investigations and Fingerprinting, Apply for Emergency Financial Assistance (TANF), Family Support Assistance for Children with Disabilities, Apply for Help with Utility Services (LIHEAP), Financial Help for Medicare and Medicines, Provide Protection for a Vulnerable Adult, Ombudsman (Advocacy for residents in Long Term Care facilities), The Criminal History law of the Child Care Development Block Grant Act of 2014, Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD), Child Care Advisory Committee (CCAC) Minutes - June 10, 2021. The resource specialist or RFA contractor: (1) documents all information provided by voluntary and applicant- provided references. (3) The CW specialist documents the exception request and request date in the child's case KIDS Contacts. Oklahoma Statutes Title 10 7102, et seq. (3) OKDHS makes the final determination of application denial, which may occur at any point during the process. (iii) scans it into the KIDS Pre-Resource or Resource DMS and files a copy in the resource file. (II) that connects to the top of an above-ground pool and extends two feet above the pool or follows other specified safety guidelines; (ii) pool covers. During the assessment, the applicant is advised of any condition that does not conform to resource requirements, per OAC340:75-7 Part 2. Resource family assessment (RFA), (a) RFA. If you have a specific preference for the child you would like to adopt, such as age, sex, etc., it could take longer. In addition to Form 04AF012E, the resource specialist requests behavioral records from the behavioral health professional. Checking other adult references. What will happen now?A: First, thank you for your concern. Q: What happens to a child who is never adopted? (2) within 24 hours of any change in the household including, but not limited to: (A) the address or the home's location, including emergency home displacement; (B) any significant change in the home that impacts the family's day-to-day living; (C) the death or serious illness of a resource parent; (F) individuals moving in or moving out of the home for any reason; or. (C) has other concerns about his or her ability to parent. Physical custody refers to where and with whom the child lives. The resource specialist verifies the applicant's tribal membership or tribal affiliation by obtaining a copy of the tribal membership card and submitting Form 04TB001E, Resource Family Applicant(s) Letter to Verify Tribal Membership, to the tribe to identify valid placement resources for the Indian child pursuant to the Indian Child Welfare Acts, per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC)340:75-19. Legal custody refers to a parents right to make decisions about the childs education, medical care, religion, etc. For additional information, please contact the Oklahoma Independent Living Program at (405) 521-3778. Family accused of exceeding apartment occupancy limit. (D) Mattresses are tight-fitting with no more than one inch between the mattress and crib, port-a-crib, or playpen. A man, later identified as Ty Copeland, reportedly broke into a Tulsa, Oklahoma home in the middle of the night, forcing his way inside through a child's bedroom window and prompting a call to the police. Water safety. What should I do?A: Please call the OKDHS Statewide Hotline at 1-800-522-3511. party pursuant to the Oklahoma child support guidelines at Sections 118 or 119 of Title 43 of the Oklahoma statutes. Definitions.) Is there a lot of red tape? (iv) The Out-of-House Date and Reason are entered in KIDS Resource Homes screen. (g) Household income. (F) Any activity the child in OKDHS custody participates in that involves a weapon must have appropriate adult supervision at all times. Just like medical patients, their parental rights are protected by SQ 788. No more than two people per bedroom. On Feb. 28 around 2 a.m., officers responded to a. (11) one or more factors concerning any household member or conditions in the home, as described in the denial letter, renders the applicant or home environment inappropriate as a resource home. Only a trained resource specialist or an RFA contractor solicits and reviews information received from references the other adult provides about his or her parenting strategies and skills. Agriculture (1977KB) Title 3. To apply for help from Legal Aid, visit our website at www.legalaidok.org or call toll free (888) 534-5243. The resource specialist or RFA contractor explains the program's expectations and the needs of children who come into OKDHS care to each person who is contacted as a reference. 13 The applicant or parent must notify the resource specialist or RFA contractor: (A) charges, arrests, or any alleged illegal activity committed by the applicant or any household member; and, (B) proceeding for a protective order filed by or against the applicant or any household member; and. The judge, district attorney and the childs attorney must be informed of the placement before the child is moved. (6) When the home will provide care for up to seven children, the resource supervisor forwards the request to the field manager for approval or denial and notifies the resource supervisor of the decision. Q: What does it mean when they say the child abuse was unsubstantiated? 1. (D) The resource specialist denying the relative placement: (i) completes Form 04MP056E, Notice to the Court of Relative Denied Placement that includes clear documentation of the safety concerns and risks to a child; (ii) provides original Form 04MP056E to the requesting CW specialist who is responsible for submitting to the court of jurisdiction the assessment of the relative placement; and. When the resource specialist or RFA contractor is completing the RFA, the information is written on Form 04AF003E, Resource Family Assessment. I recently filed a motion to modify the judgment in our child custody case and temporary guardianship under immediate danger. Can they go to college? Attorneys and State Bar (29KB . A water structure or water mass is fenced to prevent unsupervised access. The amount of weight the court gives the childs preference depends on the judge and the age of the child. Under no circumstances is a child of any age authorized to sleep with an adult. (b) Disposition results. Our goal is to provide the public with easy internet access to basic legal information and legal resources in Oklahoma. (2) The applicant and the resource specialist discuss in detail the applicant's plan to store and secure weapons and firearms or ensure their inaccessibility at all times to children in the home. The resource specialist: (1) reviews Forms 04AF002E, Guidelines for Resource Family Assessment, and 04AF003E, Resource Family Assessment, for content; (2) shares the RFA with the applicant for his or her input prior to the decision to select if he or she is in or out of the resource program; and. A: A finding of unsubstantiated means an OKDHS Child Protective Services worker conducted an investigation and did not find sufficient evidence to fully determine whether child abuse or neglect had occurred. (B) Cribs with decorative cutout areas in crib-end panels or tall decorative knobs on the corner posts that may entrap a child's head or catch the child's clothing are not allowed. A copy of the current marriage license, each divorce decree, legal separation, and annulment document, when applicable, is obtained. (C) Cribs with drop-side latches must have the manufacturer-provided kits to lock the crib side in the upright position due to safety hazards. Q: What does it mean when they say the child abuse was unsubstantiated? An assessment is completed and conducted in the home regarding the parent's ability to continue providing care for a child in OKDHS custody. Form 04AF042E is scanned into the KIDS Resource DMS. The RFA is approved or denied within 60-calendar days after receipt of completed Form 04AF001E, Resource Family Application. A Paternity case that includes a custody order will often include a child support order too. He said the price of 1-gram cartridges of . (vii) scans the documentation into the KIDS Pre-Resource or Resource DMS and closes the Pre-Resource or Resource. Adequate and safe indoor and outdoor space for play activities is available. TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) The Tulsa Police Department says they arrested a man for allegedly breaking into a home through a child's bedroom window. (8) Infant sleeping arrangements. Therefore, if the father and mother cannot agree on custody, the father would still need to file a Paternity case in order to obtain a court order of custody. A court should not deny visitation unless exceptional circumstances exist. References Writer Bio In these cases, your name is submitted with other available families across the state and the childs worker selects the family he or she feels will best meet the childs needs. After receiving a call regarding a first-degree burglary in progress at a home near Pine and Memorial, officers arrived on the scene at . (3) To determine the safety issues for children, the resource specialist or RFA contractor contacts the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife or the veterinarian of record when the applicant has an exotic animal and documents the information in the KIDS resource. In this situation, OKDHS is responsible for following up with a written affidavit within 23 hours. First, it is important to know that when a court decides custody, it is deciding both physical custody and legal custody. If the mother does not believe that you are the father, you cannot use a paternity affidavit to establish paternity. Infant sleeping arrangements. (11) Animal and household pet safety. 6. Throughout their discussion, Stewart pushed Dahm to explain how removing regulations on gun purchases makes anyone safer. The people who provide temporary care are certified Bridge Resource Parents, or foster parents. Kevin Pattah, a Michigan native who came to Oklahoma to get into the cannabis business, now operates six Mango Cannabis retail locations across the state. Effective November 1, 2021, significant changes to Oklahoma's "Policy for Equal Access to Minor Children by Parents" found in 43 O.S. This is an 85% crime. Infants and children under 6 years of age should never be left alone without adult supervision. The children range in age from birth to 18 years and are all races, cultures and religions.