Okla. Admin. Code § 340:75-15-6

Current through Vol. 42, No. 3, October 15, 2024

Section 340:75-15-6 - Adoption program services

(a)Adoption services for the child in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) custody. Adoption services are provided to the child in DHS custody when reunification efforts with the parent or legal guardian failed or are not in the child's best interests, and permanency may be achieved through an adoptive placement. Adoption is considered for each child in DHS custody who cannot return home regardless of the child's age or special needs.

(b)Pre-adoption services. DHS pre-adoption services assist the prospective adoptive family incorporate the child into the adoptive family during the pre-adoption placement period prior to the legal finalization of the adoption, and include, but are not limited to:

(1) pre-finalization adoption assistance;

(2) individualized service planning;

(3) disclosure of identifying or non-identifying background information;

(4) medical services;

(5) counseling; and

(6) child care, when eligibility requirements are met.

(c)Post adoption services.

(1) DHS services provided to the child and family after the adoption finalization assist with maintaining the child in the adoptive home, and include:

(A) adoption assistance;

(B) Medicaid;

(C) counseling; and

(D) family preservation services.

(2) The Mutual Consent Voluntary Registry and Confidential Intermediary Search Program may connect, in certain instances, biological family members. The programs provide assistance to:

(A) an adult who as a child was placed for adoption in Oklahoma;

(B) members of the adoptee's birth family; and

(C) a person who was separated from birth family members through termination of parental rights.

(3) Counseling and assistance with reunions is provided.

(4) DHS assists an adoptive parent utilize the:

(A) Centralized Paternity Registry;

(B) Oklahoma Children's Adoption Resource Exchange; and

(C) Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance.

(d)Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) adoption services. ICPC is an agreement between states to provide protection and services to the child placed across state lines for adoption.

(1) A fee is required for processing independent and private agency adoptions and is paid directly to DHS by the independent adoption attorney or the private adoption agency.

(2) The deputy compact administrator (DCA) is authorized to conduct the necessary investigation of the proposed placement to assure all statutorily mandated home assessment requirements are met.

(3) After the placement is approved by the DCA, the DCA is administratively responsible for overseeing the placement until the adoption is finalized, or when applicable, disrupts, and the child is moved from the placement. This administrative oversight includes:

(A) processing supervisory reports from the receiving state;

(B) facilitating communication between the states or parties involved; and

(C) notifying the agency or individual of an adoption disruption or finalization per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:75-1-86.

(e)Inter-country adoption. DHS does not complete adoptive home assessments for persons requesting to adopt a foreign national child through inter-country adoption. Inquiries regarding inter-country adoption are referred by DHS to licensed child placing agencies in Oklahoma who provide inter-country adoption services.

(f)Independent adoptive home investigation. Per Section 7505-5.4(D) of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, DHS is not required to make a home study and report to the court on adoptive placements made by private adoption agencies or persons providing private adoption services.

Okla. Admin. Code § 340:75-15-6

Added at 11 Ok Reg 651, eff 11-15-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 3281, eff 6-27-94; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 998, eff 1-24-97 (emergency); Amended at 14 Ok Reg 2288, eff 6-12-97; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 417, eff 11-1-97 (emergency); Amended at 15 Ok Reg 1663, eff 5-11-98; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3067, eff 7-12-01; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2072, eff 6-26-03; Amended at 23 Ok Reg 1024, eff 5-11-06; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1092, eff 3-26-10 (emergency); Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1865, eff 7-1-10 ; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 635, eff 6-1-12; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 839, eff 7-1-13

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 32, Issue 24, September 1, 2015, eff. 9/15/2015.